Status Report 2016 - 2019
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People & Equity Division City of Toronto Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Progress Status Report 2016 - 2019 Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, Progress Status Report ....................................... 4 1.2 Contact Us ......................................................................................................... 4 2 Statement of Commitment .................................................................................... 5 3 Accessibility Advisory Committees ..................................................................... 5 4 Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR) ..................................... 6 4.1 IASR General Requirements .............................................................................. 6 4.2 Information and Communications Standards ..................................................... 7 4.3 Employment Standards ...................................................................................... 8 4.4 Transportation Standards ................................................................................. 11 4.5 Design of Public Spaces Standards ................................................................. 13 4.6 Customer Service Standards ........................................................................... 14 5 Compliance Reporting ......................................................................................... 16 6 Conclusion............................................................................................................ 16 Multi-year Accessibility Plan: Progress Status Report (2016 – 2019) 2 Statement of Commitment to Creating an Accessible City Diverse communities and groups make up the population of Toronto. The City of Toronto values the contributions made by all its people and believes that diversity among its people has strengthened Toronto. The City of Toronto is committed to building an inclusive society and providing an accessible environment in which all individuals have access to the City’s services and programs in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. The City of Toronto supports the goals of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and will establish policies, practices and procedures which are consistent with the accessibility standards established under the AODA, including accessible customer service, information and communication, employment, the built environment and transportation. The City of Toronto will continue to prevent barriers by designing inclusively and supporting positive attitudes that address “ableism” – attitudes which devalue and limit the potential of persons with disabilities. In working towards its goals under this Statement, the City of Toronto is committed to meeting the requirements of existing legislation and to its own policies and goals related to the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities and becoming a barrier free city. Multi-year Accessibility Plan: Progress Status Report (2016 – 2019) 3 1 Introduction The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) calls for the development, implementation and enforcement of accessibility standards and regulations to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities in all areas of society. The AODA requires the City of Toronto to identify, prevent and remove barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing City goods, services and facilities. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) (Ontario Regulation 191/11), under the AODA requires the City to develop and maintain a Multi-year Accessibility Plan to outline the overall strategies of how the City will meet and exceed accessibility standards under the AODA. 1.1 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, Progress Status Report This status report includes the years 2016-2019 and provides a summary of the progress of measures taken by the City of Toronto to implement the City's Multi- year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) and meet requirements under AODA. The City of Toronto is currently compliant with all of the requirements in the IASR under the AODA. An updated MYAP for the period of 2020-2025 has been developed in consultation with the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and City divisions. The plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every 5 years. Annual progress reports will be provided to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and posted on the City website. The City undertakes accessibility improvements beyond legislated requirements, and is committed to an accessibility by design approach as outlined in the 2020-2025 MYAP. 1.2 Contact Us For general inquiries about this report or to request an alternate format, please contact the City's Accessibility Unit at [email protected] or via phone at 416-338-2632. Multi-year Accessibility Plan Progress Status Report (2016 – 2019) 4 2 Statement of Commitment In 2009, Toronto City Council adopted the Statement of Commitment to Creating an Accessible City. In 2018 Toronto City Council adopted the City of Toronto Corporate Accessibility Policy, which establishes a framework for compliance with the City's commitment and AODA. 3 Accessibility Advisory Committees In accordance with Part VII of the AODA, municipalities over 10,000 people must have an Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). The City of Toronto's AAC was formerly known as the Disability Issues Committee. The committee was renamed in 2017 to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC) to align with legislation and consistent with other municipalities in Ontario. This committee has existed in various forms since 2001. TAAC provides advice to City Council on the requirements and implementation of AODA and on the identification, prevention and elimination of barriers faced by people with disabilities in order to achieve accessibility with respect to City goods, services and facilities. TAAC acts as a liaison with external bodies to remove barriers to participation in public life and to advance the achievement of social, cultural and economic well-being of people with disabilities. Multi-year Accessibility Plan: Progress Status Report (2016 – 2019) 5 4 Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR) 4.1 IASR General Requirements AODA Requirements: IASR General Requirements Implementation Status Accountability Establishment of Accessibility Policies (IASR Section 3) Compliant . People & Equity . Develop, implement and maintain policies governing how the . The City's Statement of Commitment to Creating a Barrier Free City is posted . All City Divisions organization achieves accessibility on the City's website, and available in alternate formats upon request . Include a statement of organizational commitment to meet . The City of Toronto Corporate Accessibility Policy was adopted by City Council accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in 2018 and is posted on the City's website . Document policies and make them available to the public, and . Divisional and corporate policies and procedures are also in place provide them in an accessible format upon request Accessibility Plans (IASR Section 4) Compliant . People & Equity . Establish, implement and maintain a multi-year accessibility plan . The City's 2020-2025 MYAP was adopted by the TAAC on November 1, 2019 . All City Divisions which addresses strategies to prevent and remove barriers and presented to Toronto City Council in December 2019 . Post multi-year accessibility plan on website . The 2020-2025 MYAP is available on the City website . Review and update plan every 5 years . This report is the progress status update on measures taken to implement the . Prepare and post annual status reports on progress IASR from 2016-2019 . Make documents available to the public and available in an accessible format upon request Procuring or Acquiring Goods, Services or Facilities (IASR Compliant . People & Equity Section 5 and 6) . Accessible procurement requirements are incorporated in contracts and call . Purchasing and . Incorporate accessibility design, criteria and features when documents and in place for meeting accessibility obligations in procurement Material Management procuring or acquiring goods, services, facilities, and kiosks . Requirements are embedded within Corporate Accessibility Policy . All City Divisions . If not practicable to incorporate accessibility design, criteria and . Social procurement policy is in place features, provide an explanation, upon request . Accessibility language for procurement documents have been developed as resources for City employees Multi-year Accessibility Plan: Progress Status Report (2016 – 2019) 6 AODA Requirements: IASR General Requirements Implementation Status Accountability Training (IASR Section 7) Compliant . People & Equity . Ensure training is provided on IASR requirements and the Ontario . Training is provided and tracked . All City Divisions Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities, to all . Third parties are required to conduct their own training and declare compliance employees, volunteers, policy developers, and all other parties with the requirements of AODA providing goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the City . Training is currently being reviewed and updated as part of a new Toronto for . Update training when AODA Standards or policies change All Employee Learning