2006-2007 Accessibility Plan - Halton District School Board

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Halton District School Accessibility Plan 2006-2007 We partnered with Community Living Oakville, Erinoak, other service providers and the Halton Catholic District School Board to design a Disabilities Showcase for agencies and service providers in Halton region. The Showcase occurred on April 27, 2006 at the Milton Sports Centre. The Showcase featured displays by more than 50 community groups addressing accessibility services and support programs for people with disabilities. With more than 150 members of the public attending the Showcase, this event will be held again in the Spring of 2007 with more vendors to address the service/programs gaps identified by the Showcase participants. A very successful event. To facilitate communication with members of the public, students and board employees, the Accessibility Working Group with support from Don Marshall, HDSB research consultant, designed a web-based accessibility survey which was launched from April 10 th through April 28th through CHATT and board website. This survey assisted us with reaching out to our public to gather information about accessibility and accessibility issues within the Halton District School Board. The information gathered influenced our plans for this coming year and will assist with long-term accessibility planning. One of the findings that strongly influenced this year’s plan was the lack of knowledge of what inclusiveness means as well as limited knowledge of the Accessibility Handbook, 2004. Many of our schools have been renovated to improve accessibility with the inclusion of automatic door openers on school interior and exterior doorways, elevators in most secondary schools with multiple stories, ramps for school front and rear access points, accessible washrooms, parking spaces designated for people with disabilities and renovations to some schools to accommodate track lifting for students with physical disabilities, to name a few. The Accessibility Working Group revised the annual School Facilities’ Accessibility Survey to provide a more comprehensive look at individual school and board offices’ accessibility features. See Appendix A. Since 1991, the designs of new schools have architectural features that incorporate the principles of universal design meeting government accessibility requirements. Current renovations to existing buildings have accessibility for people with disabilities addressed in the plans, as resources permit. Several months after a new school opens, Facility Services personnel and members of SEAC accompanied by children with a variety of disabilities tour the school to test the accessibility features. Recommendations for architectural improvements are added to the Halton District School Board’s Building Manual on an ongoing basis. The Board Room at J. W. Singleton Education Centre has a Hearing Assist system in place for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to facilitate their participation when attending board meetings. The following chart is a synopsis of some of the major accomplishments outlined as action items in the Annual Accessibility Plan 2005-2006. 8
Halton District School Accessibility Plan 2006-2007 Type of Barrier Strategy for Barrier Removal Action Taken 2004-2005 Policy Accessibility policy revised to reflect the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 Completed Fall 2005 and posted on the board website Information The Newcomers’ Guide to Elementary and Secondary Education in Ontario outlines important information about our educational system in 18 languages. A copy of these documents and url access (www.settlement.org/edguide) for printing in 18 languages was sent to every school administrator and Completed in November 2005 Communication and Information school council chair. Activated the Accessibility Survey from April 10 th through April 28 th on the board website and through chatt to provide our employees, students and members of the public who use our buildings, programs and services with an opportunity to provide input about our board and accessibility topics. Completed April 28, 2006 and results analyzed in June to create action plans for the 2006-07 Accessibility Plan. Physical Attitudinal Architectural Halton Showcase featuring services and programs for people with disabilities was held. Facilities Checklist for accessibility update annually Accessibility Handbook and Planning Meetings for Accessibility made to available to all new employees HDSB building Manual is continuously updated to reflect accessible design Showcase ran April 27, 2006 Completed, June 2006 ongoing ongoing 7. Measures in Place: Preventing new barriers The guiding principles of inclusive practice inform school board programs, policies, practices and services to reduce and minimize barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities. We strive to create an environment that is accessible through the annual accessibility planning process to ensure continuous improvement in accessibility. 9
Page 1 and 2: Annual Accessibility Plan for the H
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Page 21 and 22: Appendix C ABOUT DISABILITY The Dis
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2006-2007 Accessibility Plan - Halton District School Board

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