Accessibility Advisory Committee

Purpose

The Accessibility Advisory Committee advises and helps the Municipality develop strategies toward a barrier-free Clarington for people with disabilities. The goal is to review Municipal policies, programs and services to make sure they follow provincial accessibility standards. The Committee works to identify, prevent and remove any barriers faced by people with disabilities.

Terms of reference

• View the Accessibility Advisory Terms of Reference (PDF)

Composition

The Accessibility Advisory Committee is comprised of nine voting members appointed by Council, including

• Eight citizen members
• One member of Council

Committee requirements:

• The majority of Committee members (at least 50 per cent) shall be persons with disabilities. If this requirement is not met, the Committee can still meet while vacancies are being advertised
• Members must be residents of Clarington
• Members must have awareness and knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its standards
• Members must have awareness and knowledge of disability and accessibility issues
• Members must be familiar with Clarington’s goods, services, and facilities

Personal support workers are welcome to attend meetings to provide support to a person with a disability. However, personal support workers may not participate in discussions independently and do not have voting rights.

Term length

Members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee serve the same four-year term as Council or until their successor is appointed.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee meets once per quarter or at the call of the Chair. Exceptions to this may include:

• July and August
• During a municipal election, meetings may be cancelled in the last quarter of the year
• Where a quorum is not reached

Meeting locations will be determined by the Committee.

Remuneration

Not applicable

Committee vacancies

There are no current vacancies. To apply, for a future vacancy, fill out the  Appointments to Boards and Committees Application Form.

Committee contact

Accessibility Coordinator
905-623-3379 ext. 2131

Agenda

• View Accessibility Advisory Committee agendas

Minutes

• View Accessibility Advisory Committee minutes

History

The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, came into force on September 30, 2002. Under the Act, Municipalities must establish or continue to have an accessibility advisory committee. The Committee advises Council on all matters related to its accessibility plan. According to the Act, the majority of the members on the committee must be people with disabilities. Before purchasing, leasing, or constructing a building or structure, Council must first ask the committee to evaluate all accessibility-related issues.

The Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee was established in March 2003, when Report CLD-11-03 was adopted.

Documents and publications

• Clarington's Accessibility web page
• Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2024 to 2028 (PDF)
• Customer Service Standards - Report #CLD-001-17

Information from other sources

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
• Integrated Accessibility Standards (Ontario Regulation 191/11)