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Durham Regional Council Passes 2016 Accessibility Report

WHITBY, ON December 14, 2016

Durham Regional Council has passed The Regional Municipality of Durham’s 2016 Accessibility Report, a document that outlines completed initiatives that will help to further eliminate barriers across Regional operations.

“In order to preserve dignity and independence for individuals of all abilities, we are continually working to achieve an inclusive and accessible environment,” said Roger Anderson, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “One of our top priorities remains creating a safe and fully inclusive community for our residents.”

The Region of Durham first implemented an Accessibility Plan in 2003, and since that time, employees have been working to achieve a more accessible environment through identifying, removing and preventing barriers related to attitudes; information and communication; policies and procedures; customer service; employment; programs and services; transportation; and the design of public spaces. Updates to the 2016 report include:

  • An Accessible Maps Initiative, which will ensure that web-based maps are made accessible to the public.
  • A new Durham Region Transit (DRT) Specialized Services customer newsletter.
  • Completion of the Clarington Police Complex, which was designed in accordance with accessibility requirements and features accessible washrooms, parking and service counters.
  • A new Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) Records Unit at Regional Headquarters that features six fully accessible service counters, an electronic display queuing system, and electric door openers.
  • Renovations to social housing facilities, such as automatic door openers, bathroom modifications (including bathtubs with cut outs and grab bars), wheelchair ramps, strobe lights, and the installation of an accessible kitchen.
  • Installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals, in addition to sidewalk, curb and pavement improvements at various locations in Oshawa, Pickering, Ajax and Whitby.

Under provincial legislation, the Region must prepare an annual status report on the progress of measures taken to implement an accessibility strategy; and establish a multi-year accessibility plan that outlines the organization’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers to people with disabilities. These plans are to be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. This report does not reflect any changes to the current multi-year plana document that will be updated and released for a term of 2016 to 2021.

For more information, or to review the Region’s accessibility plans, visit http://www.durham.ca/accessibility.

Original at http://www.durham.ca/news.asp?health=no&type=NR&nr=dnews/2016/Dec14162.htm