2004-Disability Plan 2004-08-25
Schedule “A”
To By-Law No.2004-07

CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LIMERICK
ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

AUGUST 2004

Submitted to:
Reeve and Council
Township of Limerick

Submitted by:
Carlene Baker
Clerk Administrator
Coordinator Accessibility Working Group

Accessibility Plan August 2004

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ____________________________________________________________________________________

The purpose of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) is to improve opportunities for people with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identifications, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the Province. To this end, the ODA mandates that each Municipality prepares an annual accessibility plan.

This is the second year plan (2004) prepared by the accessibility working group of the Township of Limerick.
The report describes the measures the Township has taken in the past and the measures the Township will take during the current year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities who use the facilities and services of the Township, including staff and members of the community at large.

This year the Township committed itself to the continual improvement of access to municipal facilities including the electronic (World Wide Web) premises as well as the actual physical premises.

The working groups identified barriers to people with disabilities. The most significant findings were that the outside washroom and change rooms at the township docks and beach are not fully wheelchair accessible. The municipal office washroom does not have user friendly door handles, and may impede ingress/egress, and it does require a toilet hand bar.

AIM
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This report describes measures that the Township of Limerick has taken for the 2004 year and the measures that the Township will take for the 2005 year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities who utilize the facilities and services of the Township, including staff.

OBJECTIVES
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This report:

1. Describes the process by which the Township of Limerick will identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.
2. Review earlier efforts to remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.
3. List the facilities, polices, programs, practices and services the Township will review in the coming year to identify barriers to people with disabilities.
4. Describe the measures the Board will take in the coming year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.
5. Describe how the Township will make this accessibility plan available to the public.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LIMERICK
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The Township of Limerick is a small rural area located in Eastern Ontario. The Town of Bancroft (formerly Dungannon Township in part) borders the Township on the north, on the west by Wollaston Township, on the east and south by Tudor & Cashel Township.

The Township is approximately 20269 hectares in area, has a population of 316 persons (taken from July 2003 Ontario Population Report), and approximately 900 seasonal residents.

The Township has a Community Centre on 620-Hwy, which is utilized by many groups and the public at large for weddings, meetings, etc. There is a public boat launch on St. Ola Lake and a public beach at Steenburg Lake. The Township Office(s) – Council Chambers is attached to the same building complex which houses the Volunteer Fire Department and the Roads Department Garage.

COUNCIL COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING
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The Council of the Corporation of the Township of Limerick is committed to:

• The continual improvement of access to all municipally owned facilities, premises and services for all those with disabilities
• The provision of quality services to all members of the community with disabilities

The Council has authorized the Clerk Administrator to prepare an accessibility plan that will enable the Council to meet these commitments.

INFORMAL SITE AUDIT OF THE MUNICIPALLY OWNED BUILDINGS
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This year a review was completed of the municipally owned buildings and in particular to assess any barriers that may exist and with that any solutions to removing those barriers in order to comply with the current legislation under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act.

Barriers identified in the Municipal Office and/or at the public beach/boat launch areas have been dealt with accordingly.
BARRIER IDENTIFICATION METHODOLOGIES
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In order to identify barriers the following methodology is being used:

Methodology Description Status

Staff, Volunteer Committees and Council members were surveyed.

Members were verbally surveyed to help identify any barriers and/or concerns at the Municipal Office, Roads Dept., Fire Hall and Community Centre.
The survey is ongoing., with barriers and/or concerns being identified dealt with accordingly.
2004: :mats in Municipal Council Chamber were identified as a possibly “tripping” hazard

Seek advice from Limerick Township ratepayer’s for general input.

Approached ratepayers, specifically those with knowledge in the field of health care and/or knowledge of anyone with a possible disability.
No suggestions were made and/or identified at this time

BARRIERS IDENTIFIED
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The survey is ongoing and the barriers will be listed below. Over the next several years, Council will have to decide which barriers should be addressed each year keeping in mind budget restraints and feasibility.

Barrier

Type of Barrier
Strategy for removal or prevention
Handicap parking spots identified at Municipal Complex or the Community Centre.
NO new barriers identified in 2004 year Architectural Have a spot designated for handicap parking at the Municipal Office and Community Centre, which will be enforced by by-law. Completed in 2003.
Change room at St. Ola Boat Launch was in an unsafe state of repair, as identified in 2003.

NO new barriers identified in 2004 year, as building gone. Architectural & Physical Have the building demolished due to lack of use does not warrant dollars to repair.
Completed in 2004 as planned

Door knobs in Municipal Office which were not user friendly to arthritic/elderly in 2003
NO new barriers identified in 2004 year Physical

Purchase new style of door handle to be installed in current year.
Completed in 2003
A.P.2004
Barrier

Type of Barrier
Strategy for removal or prevention
Re “handicap” signage on buildings as identified in 2003 year.

NO new barriers identified in 2004 year. Communications OBC states that there is to be
Accessibility Signs installed where necessary to indicate location of entrance and/or exits. There are signs indicating entrance/exit on our buildings, just not “handicap status” signs i.e. “wheelchair accessible”.

2003-COMPLETED
Washroom facility at Steenburg Lake Beach was not accessible to wheelchairs, and interior too small to house a wheelchair, as identified in 2003 year.

NO new barriers identified in 2004 year as building was remodeled.

Architectural & Physical Now: 1-building with 2-small “his and her” step up washrooms. Strategy:
a) Knock wall out between,
making one large area with a 1-hole facility and an open area for wheelchair accommodation. Also installing a ramp and rails; or
b) Demolish building and build new.
Options dependent on costs.
Completed in 2004 as planned.

As identified in 2004: Municipal Council Chambers – throw mats needed replaced as older type and could trip on.

Physical

Old type throw mat(s) thrown out and replaced with new mat with flat rubber edges.
Completed in 2004 as planned.

AREAS ALREADY ADDRESSED IN PREVIOUS YEARS
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Both the Municipal Building complex and the Community Centre have been wheelchair accessible for years, either with ramps and rails being installed or paved walkways to ground level doors.

The Community Centre washrooms, open areas, hallways, signs, doors, etc. have all been reviewed over past years and if a barrier was perceived to be there it was identified and addressed accordingly.

The Municipal Building complex is accessible by all, as is on ground level with no steps up or down to enter/exit. Large print is used wherever possible for notices, minutes, advertising, etc., and we have page size magnify sheets to assist the seeing impaired if required.

Council and staff realize the Disabilities Act covers many areas and forms of disabilities which most may not consider, and it is the Township of Limerick’s intent to break any and all barriers wherever possible.

BARRIERS TO BE ADDRESSED IN 2004
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Council will address what should be first priority in this exercise acting accordingly, and budget for remainder of those barriers addressed to be completed in 2005 if required.

REVIEW AND MONITORING OF THE PROCESS
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Council is committed to following through with this plan. The plan shall be reviewed each year, thus allowing Council, staff and the public to monitor the barriers identified and the direction to which the Township is moving to remove these barriers as addressed. The Municipality will continue on an ongoing basis to consult with all parties to identify, remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities, as defined under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, and which have been identified as a problem in any of Limerick Township’s buildings.

COMMUNICATION OF THE PLAN
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This plan will be available on the web site as well as at the office and we will make every attempt to make it available to those with disabilities for their perusal and review. Should a copy in Braille be requested, Council will try to accommodate by having staff contact the CNIB to inquire if it could be translated.