ODA Committee Update
dated May 11, 2004
posted August 3, 2004

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMMITTEE UPDATE Ontario Government Makes Public The Feedback Received During Its ODA Consultation Public Forums May 11, 2004 Summary The Ontario Government has posted summaries of the feedback it received during its open ODA consultation public forums on the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration's website. See text of that posting below. This is a very positive step for two reasons. First, the feedback documented in this summary strongly supports the need for the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 to be strengthened along the lines that the ODA Committee has proposed, and in accordance with the Liberal Government's 2003 election pledges. The feedback reported below is very similar to that which the ODA Committee has received whenever it has consulted the disability community over the past nine years. It is noteworthy that many of those who took part in these public consultations were not necessarily individuals and organizations which have been involved with the ODA Committee for a long time, or at all. This shows that our message is continuing to be endorsed very broadly. It must be remembered that the current Government's public consultation forums, unlike any held by the previous Conservative Government, were open to anyone, and were not invitation-only. Second, it is very commendable that the Government has put forward what certainly appears to be an accurate account of the feedback it received, and has made it public. In contrast, when the previous Conservative Government held public consultations on the ODA, it didn't release any documentation on those consultations until required to do so in response to demands under the Freedom of Information Act. Moreover, in 1998, when then citizenship Minister Isabel Bassett gave ODA Committee representatives a briefing on the results of her ODA consultations, her summary didn't reflect the broad support for strong legislation that she received, and instead was tailored to make it sound like the feedback received generally supported the Conservative Government's opposition to passing strong and effective ODA legislation. The previous Conservative Government never made public consultation result summaries like those set out below. We thank and congratulate everyone who took the time to give the Ontario Government their feedback and ideas during this public consultation process. Send us your thoughts. Contact us at: oda@odacommittee.net ONTARIO GOVERNMENT SUMMARIES OF FEEDBACK RECEIVED DURING WINTER/SPRING 2004 ODA CONSULTATION PUBLIC FORUMS ODA Public Meeting Summary Windsor, February 4, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in numerous sectors - both public and private. Dr. Kular reinforced the government's firm commitment to implementing meaningful measures that will allow people of all abilities to fully participate in the life of the province and achieve their potential. Sandra Pupatello, Windsor West MPP, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, addressed the attendees at the outset of the meeting. She underscored the importance of these meetings, especially since disability issues affect the business of her ministries in providing services to Ontarians. Summary of Key Issues Speakers were given approximately 3 minutes each to speak about ways to eliminate or prevent barriers that people with disabilities face. Key issues included: Standards Many participants raised the need for barrier-free standards and guidelines, specifically concerning the Ontario Building Code, with flexibility around timelines to allow time for compliance. Other issues included TTY services, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, audio/visual alarms, accessible signage, snow removal and enforceable standards for a suitable quantity of affordable, accessible housing. A speaker representing people who are blind and have low vision indicated that low cost options such as tactile signage, safer traffic intersections and colour contrasting are easy to implement, but there is a lack of municipal support for such initiatives. Numerous speakers raised the need for enforceable standards pertaining to equal access to job opportunities, given the stigma around hiring people with disabilities. Best Practices Participants felt that best practices should be publicized and shared among sectors to avoid "reinventing the wheel". Organizations that prepared successful accessibility plans should be recognized and rewarded. Enforcement Some speakers raised the need for penalties if barriers are not removed. Organizations representing the deaf community talked about enforcement mechanisms needed to ensure provision of qualified ASL interpreters. Employment Several speakers mentioned that people with disabilities are frequently not able to access gainful employment and have to rely on social assistance if they cannot break down those barriers. It was felt that corporations and government facilities need to set in place policies and procedures that would be non-discriminatory and would encourage hiring people with disabilities who can contribute to their workforce. One Windsor employer equipped a worker who is deaf with a pager and visual messaging, which helps him do his job. He and his colleagues are able to communicate with each other via e-mail and text paging so that they are always in touch. Employers could also hire qualified ASL interpreters for training and orientation purposes. Awareness and Sensitivity Training There is a need for more public awareness and sensitivity training to change attitudes towards people with disabilities. One specific area of concern is workplace sensitivity training: a woman who is deaf has minimal to no interaction with her colleagues who do not know ASL. She would like to get to know them and talk about their everyday lives. Funding Several speakers outlined the need for increased funding to be available to people with disabilities, visible and invisible, through increased Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments and funding sources for housing and transportation needs. ODSP was mentioned a number of times: most speakers agreed that ODSP financial support is not sufficient. One speaker criticized the length of time it takes to start getting payments, and another indicated that if a person with a disability starts working and goes off ODSP, it is impossible to get back on. Transportation Issues about transportation barriers included the need for interjurisdictional or regional transit systems to allow accessible buses to travel outside city limits, the lack of transportation assistance for people with mental illnesses and the need for additional funding to purchase accessible transit buses, which are 30% more expensive than standard buses. Other * Several speakers mentioned that government ministries could work together more effectively and efficiently to remove barriers to accessibility. * Others raised the issue that there is no local child psychologist and a high rate of suicides among youth. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions. He felt that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary Ottawa, February 12, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in numerous sectors - both public and private - in order to improve accessibility in Ontario. Summary of Key Issues Speakers were given approximately three minutes each to speak about ways to improve accessibility in their communities. Key issues included: Awareness and Sensitivity Training It was felt that strong measures such as sensitivity training are needed to educate the public and service providers on access, as attitudinal barriers are much harder to remove than physical ones. For example, there is a need for awareness and training to change attitudes about mental illness, which is increasingly common in youth and young adults. The public needs to be aware of the definition of "disability", whether or not the disability is visible. Universal Design Speakers mentioned that the government and professional schools should bring together knowledge of human factors, universal design, and usability into the university curriculum for the next generation of product designers, engineers, computer scientists and MBA graduates. There were suggestions to amend the Ontario Building Code to include principles of universal design. Education and Youth There was specific reference to young people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) whose needs are not accommodated in school because they do not qualify for special educational services under the Education Act. Accommodation provided to students with special needs usually focuses on the mainstream classroom, whereas students with CFS would benefit from services such as part-time school, home instruction, or electronic instruction through the Internet. As well, speakers mentioned that school boards do not provide interpreters for parents who are deaf who want to attend parent/teacher meetings or school council meetings, thereby restricting the involvement of these parents in the future development of their children. Employment Some participants felt that mechanisms are needed to ensure people with disabilities have access to education and different job opportunities and career choices. Specific reference to the need for employment equity included examples like Oregon and California, where affirmative action programs have been successful for some time. ODA Legislation A number of speakers raised issues directly related to the ODA, including: * introducing mandatory enforcement provisions and time for the private sector; * legislated standards and audits for accessibility plans and timelines to ensure municipalities are implementing their plans; * the Ontario government leading by example by making all of its programs and buildings fully accessible to people with disabilities; * accessibility standards that include quality of life issues, including adequate basic income for people below the poverty line; * audits/surveys of facilities to determine existing barriers; * provisions in the ODA should be consistent with the 11 principles and the amendments made by the Liberal Party when in Opposition; * elevating the status of the ODA so that it supersedes other legislation, and * regulatory consistency among provinces through a federal disabilities act. Invisible Disabilities It was felt that individuals with developmental disabilities, especially those who live at home with their families, should have access to annual funding that is similar to funding available to individuals with physical disabilities. As well, ministries could take an integrated approach to developing programs for children of all ages who have disabilities, instead of prescriptive programs for children under or over the age of six. Funding Several speakers outlined the need for increased funding for people with both visible and invisible disabilities. The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) was mentioned a number of times: most speakers agreed that ODSP financial support is not sufficient. Speakers recommended removing the benefit claw back provision from ODSP and allowing people to work and keep more funding support, e.g. ODSP or federal child support payments. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions. He felt that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary Hamilton, February 19, 2004 Context and Remarks The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, and Parliamentary Assistant, Dr. Kuldip Kular, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. A province-wide consultation is underway to get input from people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in numerous sectors - both public and private -in order to improve accessibility in Ontario. Summary of Key Issues Speakers were given approximately three minutes each to present ways to improve accessibility in their communities. Key issues included: Workplace Accessibility Participants spoke of the need for the ODA to address accommodation in the workplace, including imposing penalties for organizations or employers who do not comply. Some felt that all workplaces should be audited to assess what employment barriers exist, and develop measures and timelines for barrier removal. Accountability and Enforcement It was suggested that the ODA include a mandatory provision to create a judicial body that would educate, mediate and arbitrate on matters concerning barriers to accommodation and measures to address existing and potential future barriers. Speakers also called for fines for failure to remove snow from disabled parking spots and amendments to address separate, designated parking spaces - one for wheelchairs/scooters and the other for canes, walkers and seniors, since the amount of space differs with various mobility devices. Standards While the Ontario Building Code outlines accessibility requirements for new buildings, standards for retrofitting are still not comprehensive. It was suggested that the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) work with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to further develop provincial building standards that would help break - or bridge - silos among the Planning Act, Building Code and other related legislation that impacts on daily lives. As well, it was suggested that MCI work with professional associations specializing in barrier-free issues to develop professional competence in accommodation. Participants also felt that accessibility standards should apply to the private sector. Funding The funding issues presented by various speakers included: provincial criteria for capital funding should require inclusion of accessibility features in structures; effective funding for public education to improve accessibility for students of all abilities; and, providing more choice in publicly-funded services for individuals with disabilities. Developmental Disabilities Speakers voiced concerns about problems that speech services for autistic children are fragmented with long waiting lists, and that services to children are cut off at the age of five. Others mentioned fragmentation in services, particularly mental health services, for children with developmental disabilities - there is poor communication within the system and no medical focus. As well, many parents of adults with developmental disabilities cannot work because they have to care for their adult children, due to lack of programs and job opportunities. Income Support Many participants raised the concern that recipients of income support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) have not received any payment increases in 11 years. In fact, many people with disabilities who depend on this income supplement live below the poverty line. Those who are successful in finding employment lose a substantial portion of their ODSP payment if they earn more than $160 per month. Other ODSP issues included the need for the program to cover the cost of adaptive technology for people with learning disabilities, and sensitivity training for income support specialists who interact with ODSP clients. Housing Some speakers felt that families who renovate their existing homes for accessibility should receive the same partial assessment exemption as those building custom homes, as they are helping to fill a need for decent, affordable and accessible housing for people with disabilities. Transportation The need to book accessible public transit a week or more in advance prohibits any kind of spontaneity for peoples with disabilities. This also has a substantial impact on youth with disabilities, who cannot enjoy the same kinds of activities with friends who are not dependent on accessible transportation. Closing Remarks Dr. Bountrogianni thanked all participants for their time, valuable input and active discussion of issues associated with accessibility and inclusion. In closing, the Minister assured participants that their input would play an important role in helping the government develop viable measures to make the ODA strong and effective for all Ontarians, delivering real, positive change, and creating a province where full accessibility benefits everyone. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary Peterborough, February 26, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers, as well as other interested parties in the public and private sectors. Summary of Key Issues Enforcement and Compliance Some speakers felt that the government should introduce penalties and fines to ensure compliance and accountability. Others mentioned the possibility of introducing more grants and tax incentives for all sectors to encourage accessibility. Facilities Various speakers mentioned that ODA accessibility requirements need to include the private sector and a number of frequently accessed facilities, including: day care centres, private medical clinics, doctors offices, nursing homes, police and fire stations. Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Support and Accessibility Planning Participants identified ways to better support accessibility planning. It was felt that the AACs should seek public input through open meetings, have authority to approve municipal accessibility plans and impose recommendations, and share best practices and information among AACs in other municipalities to address regional needs such as transportation. Transportation Speakers pointed out that lack of accessible transportation is a major barrier to attending school, finding employment, accessing medical services and incorporating spontaneity in social activities. As well, there are policies that prevent parents with disabilities from travelling with their children. Participants also said that the Ministry of Transportation needs to regulate accessible taxis, which would increase transportation options for people with disabilities and improve service. Health Some felt that the ODA needs to be more specific in addressing the needs of people with disabilities seeking health care. For example, hospitals should provide interpreters for people who are deaf and nursing homes need to address specific cultural and accommodation needs of residents with disabilities. Several speakers representing the deaf community expressed concerns about possible cutbacks to the Assistive Devices Program (ADP), which will have a negative impact on affordability of hearing aids, TTYs and other equipment required for full inclusion in society. Education/Training Many participants felt that more work is needed to be done to break down attitudinal barriers in the workplace, specifically regarding mental health illnesses and interacting with people who are deaf. Awareness programs should be introduced to the younger generations to prevent them from having attitudinal barriers as adults. There was also concern about a general lack of education and awareness of accessibility issues among professionals in the community, which contributes to attitudinal barriers. Funding Some speakers focused on the need to attach approval criteria to provincial capital funding, ensuring that barriers are not created by projects that are provincially funded. As well, obligated organizations facing fiscal constraints need additional funding to implement their accessibility plans and achieve full accessibility in their communities. Housing Speakers mentioned the need to amend the Ontario Building Code to better address the accessibility requirements of people with disabilities. As well, it was felt that the government needs to address the long lists of people with disabilities waiting for affordable, accessible housing, of which there is a shortage. Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) A number of people raised concerns about ODSP, including the need to: raise income rates which are currently below the poverty line; review or eliminate the $160 cap on monthly employment income; provide sensitivity training for income support specialists; simplify the ODSP application process and forms; improve access to information to help caregivers act as advocates on behalf of people with disabilities, and allow ODSP benefit payments to caregivers or family members in need. People over the age of 65, and no longer eligible for ODSP, lose certain disability-related benefits that are not covered by other programs targeting seniors (i.e., costs for dental work and glasses). Education Challenges facing students with disabilities were outlined, including: choosing a school based on accessibility, not program preference; carrying heavy debt loads; additional barriers created by the Grade 10 literacy test, which some felt discriminates against some students with learning disabilities; the need to review minimum college literacy requirements, particularly for people who are deaf; and changing the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to offer grants, not loans, to students with disabilities facing additional costs in pursuing post-secondary education. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions. He felt that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real, positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary Sudbury, March 17, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on ways to make the ODA strong and effective. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in numerous sectors - both public and private. Summary of Key Issues Ontarians with Disabilities Act Many felt that the roles and responsibilities of the Accessibility Directorate and the Accessibility Advisory Council need to be clarified. The ODA should also be clear about accessibility planning support available for obligated sectors, and should ensure that municipal cost-savings initiatives do not cause barriers (e.g. reduction of snow removal services). Other suggestions included: * monitoring municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents for accountability and compliance with the requirements of the Act; * promoting a cross-government approach to ensure government buildings, programs and services are accessible and that policies are co-ordinated and consistent, and * ensuring that ministries consult with stakeholders when preparing their accessibility plans. Enforcement Some speakers suggested an enforcement mechanism to monitor the progress of sectors obligated under the ODA and oblige the private sector to make their products, services and locations accessible. As well, it was felt that Section 21 of the Act, dealing with penalties, should be proclaimed so that organizations that do not prepare plans are fined. Issues Facing People Who are Deaf, Deafened or Hard of Hearing Many speakers agreed that people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing are still struggling with inaccessibility in many areas, such as hospitals and airports (no TTY service, inadequate paging systems, no visual fire alarms). The government should develop standards to ensure that the deaf community can travel safely and have access to services in each community. This includes availability of qualified American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes quebecoise (LSQ) interpreters. Lack of these affects participation in school, meetings, and volunteer work. Standards Many remarks touched on the need to set and monitor common standards for accessibility plans, construction and renovation under the Ontario Building Code, and improved accessible transportation (taxis, buses) in the North. It was felt that if the province does not establish standards, people with disabilities will be forced to leave Northern communities and move to Southern communities that are more accessible. Education/Training Some speakers suggested that the ministry offer sensitivity training to organizations obligated under the Act. As well, the ministry should provide more information and training on invisible disabilities. Funding It was felt that government ministries are creating barriers by not aligning services for people with disabilities. Many programs and policies offered by ministries do not complement each other and only cover partial service or cost, e.g. Assistive Devices Program (ADP), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).Various funding programs (such as "Direct Funding Program" and home care programs) need to be reviewed and enhanced so that people are not forced to move into institutionalized care if they require only a few hours of assistance per week, or be without services while on a waiting list. OSAP's grace period for students with disabilities should be extended from the current period of six months as it creates barriers to recent graduates with disabilities who cannot find employment. Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Many participants expressed concerns with the ODSP, which is administered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The following issues were raised: * Need for increase in income support to secure the basic necessities of life (food, transportation, medication) much less participate in the community; * Earnings exemption should be increased to allow clients who do work to retain more of their wage without deduction; * Quarterly cost of living increases for Canada Pension Plan disability payments should not be deducted from ODSP entitlement; * Transportation (bus pass) should be included as a benefit to ODSP; * Over the counter drugs should be covered by the ODSP health benefit; * Annual cost of living increase should be included in ODSP payments; * Application forms and process for ODSP benefits should be simplified. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions. He felt that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary GTA, March 23, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in numerous sectors - both public and private. Summary of Key Issues Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) Many felt that the ODA is a good starting point, but needs to be strengthened to include the private sector, including enforcement, timelines and standards. As well, the ODA should focus not only on physical disabilities, but also hidden disabilities, including mental health and emerging environmental disabilities. Some speakers recommended expanding the reference to service dogs in the Act 's definition of disability to include guide dogs in training. Currently, service dogs in training are not allowed in taxis and some establishments, which inhibits situational exposure in preparing them to work as guide dogs. Standards It was suggested that implementation timelines and standards be phased in, noting, "every community is not a cookie cutter just as each individual is not a cookie cutter". Others noted that guidelines, such as the new CSA barrier-free design standards that are about to be released, should be reflected in the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and other guidelines. Education and Awareness Speakers felt that large corporations and government agencies should mirror steps taken by colleges and universities to establish special needs offices to accommodate people with disabilities. This may help to promote awareness, as would positive media coverage, a dedicated Disability Awareness Month, widespread public education campaigns and, potentially, a ministry dedicated to disability issues. Enforcement Several people called for a new central office or agency to investigate whether people with disabilities were having their needs met. There was also a suggestion to create province-wide requirements for designated parking for people with disabilities, which would regulate fines and penalties for illegal parking in designated parking spaces. Funding Many speakers mentioned the need for more funding for families supporting individuals with serious disabilities, autism and early intervention programs, audiology and speech-language support programs, and for communication devices available through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP). Others suggested that a portion of the fuel tax be designated to resolving transportation issues faced by people with disabilities. Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) A number of speakers raised concerns related to the ODSP, including: * promoting the availability of income support; * raising the rates - which have not been increased in 11 years; * reviewing and amending policies related to allowable earned income, taxation levels and subsidized housing charges; * stopping the delisting of medication covered by ODSP; * providing subsidies for post-secondary education courses; * allowing ODSP payments to continue past age 65, and * providing training for ODSP staff on how to treat clients when dealing with sensitive matters. Provincial Identification Cards Several individuals stressed the need for the government to introduce a provincial ID card that would have the same status as a driver's license and be as widely accepted. Non-drivers, including people who are blind, must carry their passports with them for daily activities like banking, because they do not have a driver's license to verify their identity. Transportation Many called for broader eligibility criteria for parallel transportation and for designated parking, to include people other than those who are unable to walk a certain distance. Others outlined suggestions for allowing escorts/attendants on public transit, issuing transit passes for people receiving ODSP payments, addressing problems with travel across regional boundaries, and ensuring that accessible public vehicles meet safety standards. Employment Many speakers stressed the need for initiatives under the ODA to address rates of underemployment and unemployment for people with disabilities, particularly among people who are deaf. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions. He felt that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all. ***** ODA Public Meeting Summary Thunder Bay, March 25, 2004 Context and Remarks Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, opened the meeting by underlining the government's commitment to working with Ontarians with disabilities on strong and effective legislation. As part of its province-wide consultation process, the Ministry is talking to people with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers as well as other interested parties in both the public and private sectors. Summary of Key Issues Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) Many speakers felt that the ODA should supersede other acts to ensure greater accessibility, include the 11 principles put forward by the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee (ODAC) and include the private sector to address issues associated with private sector business and facilities. As well, the government should consult with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to strengthen the Act. Standards and Guidelines Stronger Ontario Building Code (OBC) standards for accessibility were recommended in response to current concerns that the new hospital in Thunder Bay is inaccessible in many respects, but meets standards in the OBC that are "open to interpretation". Enforcement It was recommended that the ODA be enforceable through the Ontario Human Rights Commission and should compel organizations to remove barriers and prevent new ones. While some felt that incentives are better than a strict enforcement process, others suggested governments should not have to provide incentives to organizations when they are already required by law to provide access to goods and services. Some speakers said that the act has to be strong and that consequences, such as fines, have to follow when obligations are not met. Education Various speakers raised issues about attitudinal barriers facing students, including: * classification of exceptionalities, which are based on medical terminology and do not necessarily capture all types of disabilities; * labelling - there should be emphasis on capabilities, not incapabilities; and * exclusion - all courses and programs in universities should be accessible to people with disabilities. For example, people with physical disabilities and mental disabilities are excluded from the Outdoor Education program at Lakehead University. Issues Facing People who are Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing There is a need for general availability of TTY services for people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing to decrease reliance on American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. As well, the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) should include more devices such as TTYs, the costs of which are often prohibitive. Another suggestion was to include ASL in the school curriculum as a language credit course. Funding Speakers raised the following funding issues: * The government should financially support organizations working to improve accessibility, especially in small communities whose budgets are limited. * Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) policies related to allowable earned income should be reviewed and amended to eliminate the claw back of payments in relation to earned income. This would encourage ODSP recipients to find work, reach their potential and contribute to society. * There should be a fundraising event in Thunder Bay -- similar to the Terry Fox Run and the Ride for Heart event in Toronto -- to raise awareness and money to help remove barriers for people with disabilities. * Organizations such as Persons United for Self-Help (PUSH) and Independent Living Centres, which provide expertise to organizations preparing accessibility plans, are facing financial hardship and should receive financial support from the government. * ODA should address financial hardships facing families who raise children with disabilities and the negative impact this has on family income. New Zealand legislation makes specific reference to education and children. General Comments Comments and suggestions put forward by participants that did not fall into one of the themes identified above include: * the need to change attitudes about disabilities through a public awareness campaign, sharing best practices and addressing the stigma of invisible disabilities; * expanding programs, like those offered by the Independent Living Centre, that encourage employers to hire people with disabilities; * addressing the issue that many newborns with disabilities die because of improper diagnoses and lack of appropriate treatment; * revisiting Workers' Compensation, ODSP and the Human Rights Code to better accommodate the needs of injured workers, who want to remain productive members of society; and * introducing programs that encourage students to volunteer to assist people with disabilities - from elementary to university level. Closing Remarks Dr. Kular closed the forum by thanking everyone for their time, comments and suggestions, noting that the meeting was an important step in the process of collecting information about accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Kular reminded participants that with their input, the government will deliver real, positive change in creating a province where full accessibility benefits us all.

 

Top of Page

 

Website maintained by Barbara Anello

Please email your feedback on the website.

Page last updated August 3, 2004