Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
DI2.1amended
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chair, Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee will give a presentation to the Committee on recent initiatives and updates.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee: 1. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to: a. consider the new designation of an accessible taxi brokerage, outlined in the submission from Checker Taxi, as part of the report to the General Government and Licensing Committee on June 24, 2019; and b. provide an update to a future meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.
DI2.2received
Accessibility Feedback on Preparing the City of Toronto for Automated Vehicles
Ryan Lanyon, Manager, Transportation Policy and Innovation, and Chair, Interdivisional Working Group on Automated Vehicles will give a presentation on Preparing the City of Toronto for Automated Vehicles, in order to hear feedback from the Committee. The presentation will include an update on the progress of the Automated Vehicles Tactical Plan.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI2.3received
Update from the Accessibility Team, People, Equity and Human Rights
Deirdre Boyle, Accessibility Consultant, People, Equity and Human Rights will present to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee to provide an update on current work and initiatives of the Accessibility Team and seek feedback on the proposed structure and guiding principles for the Multi Year Accessibility Plan.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI2.4received
Accessibility Feedback on Official Plan Review - Transportation
Michael Hain, Senior Planner, Policy and Modelling Unit, City Planning Division will provide an update on the transportation component of the City of Toronto's Official Plan Review. The Review is in its second of two phases and is currently focussed on the review of policies related to: transit, cycling, automated vehicles and shared mobility, and street related map and schedules. Staff are seeking feedback regarding how accessibility has been incorporated into the Official Plan's transportation policies.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI2.5adopted
On June 20th, 2018 the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received for information a presentation by the Policy Development Officer, Poverty Reduction Strategy, Social Policy, Analysis and Research, Social Development, Finance and Administration on the Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy - Update on 2018 Community Engagement Initiatives. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.DI20.5 In an effort to ensure accessibility considerations are embedding in the implementation of the Poverty Reductions Strategy I request that a representative from the Poverty Reduction Strategy make a presentation to provide an update on poverty reduction activities and seek feedback from the committee at a future 2019 Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee: 1. Requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to make a presentation prior to the end of 2019 to update the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Staff recommendation as filed
Michael Miceli recommends that: 1. The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to make a presentation prior to the end of 2019 to update the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
DI2.6amended
Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee Outstanding 2014-2018 Agenda Items
In an effort for the new Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee members to gain an understanding of the work undertaken in the last term of the committee and the outcomes of committee decisions, I am requesting the Accessibility Consultant, Equity, Diversity and Human Rights to provide a review of decisions and report on outstanding agenda items for the 2014-2018 term at a future 2019 Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee: 1. Recommends to the Executive Committee that the Executive Director, People, Equity and Human Rights be requested to provide the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee with an update on: a. Item 2018.EX36.41 Persons with Disabilities Employment Strategy - Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee Working Groups Update considered by the Executive Committee on July 17, 2018, requesting the development of a Persons with Disabilities Employment Strategy with the purpose of ensuring that persons with disabilities are employed at the City of Toronto at a level reflective of their representation in the population of the City; b. 2018.EX30.28 Employment Accessibility at the City of Toronto; c. the current representation rates of employees who self-disclose as having a disability within the City of Toronto workforce; and d. what the City is doing to better allow for self-disclosure by employees who have a disability. 2. Requested the Accessibility Consultant, Equity, Diversity and Human Rights to report to its July 12, 2019 meeting to provide an overview of items considered by the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee during the 2014-2018 term and an update on outstanding items.
Staff recommendation as filed
Michael Miceli recommends that: 1. The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee request the Accessibility Consultant, Equity, Diversity and Human Rights report to its July 12, 2019 meeting to provide an overview of items considered by the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee during the 2014-2018 term and an update on outstanding items.
DI2.7referred
Accessibility in Dog Off-Leash Areas
One of my constituents, who is visually impaired and uses a cane, took a serious fall while using the Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA) at Greenwood Park. My constituent was understandably hesitant to use the DOLA and was then given a ticket by the City for having her dog off-leash in the park. This unfortunate incident brought to my attention the need for a review of accessibility standards for Dog Off Leash Areas in city parks. The Rick Hansen Foundation describes pea gravel surfaces as inaccessible and calls for them to be replaced in play surfaces. A 2005 Safe Kids Canada report notes pea gravel surfaces "can be hard to walk on and cannot be used with wheelchairs or other mobility aides." I also have a constituent using the same dog park who is in a wheelchair and he does not feel that the concrete strip along the south side of the fence gives him the access he needs. In April, City Council approved a plan to redo the DOLA with artificial turf, bringing it in line with accessibility standards from other cities. I am sure this issue goes beyond Greenwood and impacts resident and DOLA's across Toronto. As you are a citizen group giving advice to Council I wanted to bring this matter to your attention. I am sure you will be interested in the outcome of the renewed surface of the dog park.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee: 1. Referred the item to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation with the request to: a. consider a study on the feasibility of implementing artificial turf or other solutions in all dog off leash areas in Toronto, to improve accessibility; and b. consider accessible signage at dog off leash areas to indicate any inaccessible elements and any potential hazards; and to post the information online; and c. provide an update to a future meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.