City hall’s special needs advisory committee is no more, and instead, the accessible community advisory committee is now providing advice about how to make the community more welcoming.
During a recent regular city council meeting, council voted unanimously to accept Bylaw No. 5687, the accessible community advisory committee bylaw. This changes the name of the group and aligns it with the accessibility principles within the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the new federal Accessible Canada Act.
“Accessibility involves designing systems to optimize access while being inclusive and is about giving equal access and opportunities to everyone regardless of their abilities (and) to ensure all people have the same opportunities and experiences in all aspects of life, including education, employment, transportation and social activities,” the committee said.
The committee initially passed a recommendation last October authorizing the city clerk to review the bylaw to update the name and language to focus on improving accessibility and inclusion for all residents, including those with disabilities. Council later adopted the recommendation as a motion.
“We thought the bylaw was dated and needed refreshing … ,” Coun. Jamey Logan, council’s rep on the committee, said recently.
The committee wanted to be more inclusive, while it wanted other community organizations to be eligible to join, he continued. Some suggested groups included Diversified Services, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Moose Jaw Families for Change, Special Olympics and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Some of the committee’s updated duties and functions include:
- Advise council on strategies to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of services, programs, venues and other infrastructure, including persons with disabilities, children, youth, and seniors
- Advise on the development, implementation and evaluation of guiding principles, policies and strategies to position Moose Jaw as an accessible community focused on the inclusion of all residents
- Identify and liaise with stakeholders, including other levels of government, to establish partnerships and collaboration related to improving access and inclusion
- Review potential barriers to accessibility and inclusion within city services
- Provide recommendations on city capital projects, including infrastructure upgrades and retrofits and implementation of accessible features at new and existing city buildings
- Review federal and provincial directives, regulations, and legislation about accessibility and inclusion and identify implications for the city
- Research potential community accessibility issues and current leading practices for eliminating barriers to participation
- Provide advice on public awareness campaigns to promote the city’s efforts to make its services and venues accessible and inclusive
- Provide engagement opportunities for residents with disabilities to raise issues and concerns with decision-makers
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 12.
