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A barrier is anything that keeps someone with a disability from participating in our community! Accessibility is the ability to access and everyone has that right!
Greater Napanee's Commitment to Accessibility
We are dedicated to meeting the needs of people with disabilities and to creating a welcoming environment that all people may have equitable access to Town programs, goods, services and facilities. We are committed to meeting accessibility needs for people in a timely manner and in a way, that respects one's dignity and independence.
Accessibility Act
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, AODA, is provincial legislation that was enacted into law in 2005. Under the AODA, all private, public, and non-profit organizations are legally obligated to comply with Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation.
Policies & Best Practices
Our policies reflect on customer service, information and communication, employment, transportation, new design build and human rights. Please take a look at the policies below:
This Multi-year Accessibility Plan outlines the role that each Town department plays in improving opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (JAAC)
The JAAC advises the Councils of the County of Lennox and Addington, the Township of Addington Highlands, the Town of Greater Napanee, Loyalist Township, Stone Mills Township and the Board of Governors of Lennox and Addington County General Hospital on the preparation and implementation of annual accessibility plans in order to remove barriers for people with disabilities and ensure that no new barriers are created.
The roles of the JAAC includes reviewing and advising the Councils and the Hospital Board on the following areas:
Site plans of new and existing municipal buildings
Major capital purchases
Significant renovations to municipal facilities
Leased facilities or any other facility used as a municipal building
Goods and services provided by the municipality or agents providing services under contract with the municipality
Browse Aloud provides you with speech, reading and translation support.
Please call our Emergency Services Department at 613-354- 4289 if you have any accessible concerns, suggestions or feedback. Working together will help us achieve the Provincial goal of a fully accessible Ontario!
"Accessibility Matters!" Awareness Tips
Our goal is to spread awareness of the importance of accessibility and promoting an accessible community.
These accessibility tips can help you promote a lifestyle at home and at work that is inclusive for all.
Traditional language has ascribed words and phrases that demean people with disabilities are no longer acceptable. Attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities is changing, and so is the appropriate language to use. People with a disability are people. People without disability are also people. We are all people first! Put the person before the disability and describe what a person has, not who a person is. Say “person with a disability” rather than a “disabled person.”
Accessible parking permits are issued to a person or business and not a vehicle. Permit holders must be in the vehicle and the permit displayed on the dashboard in order to park in an accessible parking space. Accessible parking spaces that serve a particular building or facility are located at the shortest accessible route from parking to an accessible entrance.
Learn more about some of the health conditions that individuals may face that requires the use of accessible parking. Think before you judge; just because someone doesn't look disabled, doesn't mean they are not disabled.
Making Public Spaces Accessible
It is hard to imagine a childhood without play time, but for many children with disabilities or accessibility challenges, this has been the case.
In the past, the idea of an accessible playground in Greater Napanee was putting an inclusive swing on the swing set. But in the Spring of 2017 our vision was to make as much as the playground inclusive as we could!
Now we can proudly boast about our beautiful Rotary Playground, with components that address physical play, social interaction, creative thinking, sensory, cognitive imaginative and interactive play, and quiet retreats.
Learn more about the ways parks have created inclusive spaces in which everyone can use.
Service & Therapy Animals
A service or therapy animal is any animal trained to assist a person with a disability.
That typically is a guide dog for the visually impaired, but could include other roles, like alerting persons of an oncoming seizure, assisting people with autism, epilepsy, mental health disabilities, and physical disabilities. An emotional support animal offers comfort and calm to help with fear and anxiety
While the most common service animals are dogs; however other species, such as monkeys, ferrets, snakes or miniature horses are also used to provide support.
So much of our world today is about Information and Communications, from chatting with your children, to reaching out to colleagues.
But imagine what it would be like if all of those lines of communication suddenly became blocked. If, when surfing the Internet, some pages just don’t work. When you open up a document that contains information you need, it’s unreadable. Let’s not create information or communication barriers! Consider some best practices to be accessible to those with disabilities. It benefits us all!
Signage is essential in helping all people safely navigate in a building or its surroundings. When properly designed and installed, it can reduce barriers for all who use them regardless of age, disability or even language.
Signs should be explicit, concisely worded and contain easily understood symbols and diagrams. Tactile, braille and signs with internationally recognized pictograms make it inclusive for everyone.
Ensure signs are clearly legible from a distance. For easy readability avoid signs with a shiny or glossy finish. Consider the font style, and don’t use italic.
Do not mount the sign on the door! Consider the person in a wheelchair, or a person who is blind needing to feel the signage. Permanent identification of rooms and spaces should be located 47” from the floor. Remember not to place objects like planters or chairs beneath the sign which obstructs the ability to access.
Place consistently on the latch side of a doorway reinforces continuity.
By considering people's diversity along with legislated requirement, inclusive design provides an environment which addresses a wide spectrum of needs.
New signage offers smart phone technology that make it inclusive and interactive. Unique features like audible content, translation in other languages, ability to control font size, contrast, and speech rate takes us to a whole new level of accessibility for all!
Learn how signs work with smart phone technology:
Meeting & Event Planning
We have a legal and moral obligation to ensure one’s experience at a meeting or an event can be equally enjoyed by all.
It’s a good idea to do some advanced planning and ensure that accommodation needs of people with disabilities are considered ahead of time. Encourage universal design that everyone can use! Check out some meeting and event planning tips to consider the next time you plan a public function.
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disability
December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disability. This day demonstrates and celebrates what people with disabilities can achieve when they have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams and to reach their full potential.
Start a Conversation
The Town of Greater Napanee strives to achieve progress and development for all. It is our hope that through our “Accessibility Matters” campaign this year we have raised awareness to the residents, businesses and organizations of the importance and benefits of accessibility. Did we change the way we think, judge, talk and act about disabilities? Have you taken note, identified and eliminated obstacles or barriers to accessibility?
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