Local group comments on what improvements can be made during National AccessAbility Week
Work continues to make everyday life more accessible for those with disabilities across Waterloo region, and the need for that is especially highlighted on National AccessAbility Week in Canada.
The non-profit group, KW AccessAbility in Kitchener, supports adults with physical disabilities and advocates for accessibility improvements in Waterloo region.
Edward Faruzel, the executive director at KW AccessAbility, said while there have been improvements over the years, there are still hurdles that require more attention.
“Transportation is getting better all the time. There seem to be a lot more door openers and ramps, so all the basics are being looked after,” said Faruzel.
Faruzel said employment for people with disabilities could be improved locally.
“People are afraid of the unknown, and they think if they hire somebody with a disability that they're not going to be as productive or it's going to cost a lot of money to accommodate them when most of the time, that's not the case,” he said.
Faruzel hopes more doors can be opened and emphasized the importance of speaking up for those with disabilities.
“And make sure that people know that we're out there and we'd like to contribute to society and be a part of society still,” Faruzel said.
CITY OF WATERLOO RESPONDS
Amy Ross, the accessibility advocate for the City Of Waterloo, said they’re trying to help.
“We are, as a municipality, looking at an opportunity to work with organizations like KW habilitation for a supported employment program,” Ross said.
Ross admitted progress is in its infancy when it comes to addressing accessibility challenges outlined under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
“The five real AODA standards, they don't cover all aspects of life, and what is there - it doesn't set the bar high enough,” Ross said.
Accessible housing is another key issue Ross said requires renewed focus.
“If you had one unit per floor that was dedicated as a barrier-free space, that's an amazing advancement,” Ross said.
CITY OF WATERLOO RESPONDS
The City of Kitchener pointed to its new accessibility plan, which they said builds on the previous plan by focusing on how to think and plan accessibility first.
“Since there are no new accessibility legislation requirements, this new plan emphasizes how the new plan will go beyond accessibility legislation requirements,” a spokesperson for the City of Kitchener said in part in an emailed statement.
Kitchener staff said they are also part of in-person site visits with agency experts and persons with lived experiences to hear about any barriers and to implement changes where needed.
The City of Kitchener welcomed new members of its Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee, bringing its membership to 15 people.
Kitchener is also offering a free webinar series on National AccessAbility Week that aims to focus on how businesses can be more inclusive and how to approach accessibility from a hiring, accommodations, and customer service and city design perspective.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.