Accessibility Advisory Committee

Mandate

The mandate of the Accessibility Advisory Committee is defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act; briefly it is to advise Council and staff to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same level of access to municipal services and programs as do those without disabilities.

Responsibilities

The Accessibility Advisory Committee shall be responsible for:

  1. providing advice and recommendations to City Council on the preparation, implementation and effectiveness of the City's Accessibility Plan prepared pursuant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). This shall include, but not be limited to:
    1. consultation with the community, groups and organizations to capture and communicate emerging issues to City Council and the City administration;
    2. evaluation of:
      1. by-laws and regulations which have an impact on citizens with disabilities such as parking, zoning, sidewalk ramping, obstructions on sidewalks, etc.);
      2. policies and programs which promote awareness of, and equal access to, municipal services for citizens with disabilities in the areas of communication and delivery of goods, services, accommodations, employment, membership and participation within the City.
  2. reviewing site plans and drawings and providing advice to Council on accessibility issues relating to buildings, structures or premises:
    • owned or leased by the City of Ottawa; or
    • which are subject to a Municipal Capital Facilities Agreement; and
    • any other project that is specifically identified by City Council as a P3 project.

Organization

The Accessibility Advisory Committee shall have a maximum citizen membership of between 9 - 15 citizen members, including:

  • to 14 residents at large will represent the full range of disabilities i.e. blind/visually impaired; mobility limited; deaf/hearing impaired; developmentally delayed; learning disabled; mental health disability; and environmental sensitivity. A majority of the members of the committee shall include persons with disabilities
  • member from the Disabled Persons' Community Resources
  • minimum of one citizen appointment representing the rural community

Both the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee and Ottawa City Council shall approve all appointments to the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

In addition, the Accessibility Advisory Committee shall also have in a resource, liaison and/or advisory capacity, the following:

  • Staff representative from the Corporate Services Department (non-voting)
  • addition, staff resources from the following departments will be invited to attend Committee meetings, as required: Corporate Services Department, Employee Services Branch, Planning, Transit and the Environment Department, (Transit Services); Community and Protective Services Department (By-law Enforcement Services) (non-voting)

Lead Department/Reporting Relationship

The lead department for the Accessibility Advisory Committee shall be the Corporate Services Department. The Accessibility Advisory Committee shall report through the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee to Ottawa City Council, however may report to another Standing Committee where appropriate, depending on the issue.

Workplans and Annual Reports

The Accessibility Advisory Committee must report annually to City Council through the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee (timing to be determined by the Chair, Advisory Committee Coordinator and City Clerk) on the activities of the Committee in the current year and on the Committee's workplan for the following year.

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Links

Advisory Committee Meetings, Agendas and Minutes

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