Monthly Archives: April 2023

Accessibility News April 29,2023 Update

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The AODA Clock is Ticking

There is 1 year, 35 weeks, 2 days until a fully Accessible Ontario! Will you be compliant?

In this Issue

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/accessibility-news-april-292023-update/

2023 By-Election for Mayor of the City of Toronto- will it be accessible?

By Allan Shaw – 2023-04-26

If you’re a person living with a visual disability in the City of Toronto, you are all too aware of the challenges encountered when trying to vote in a municipal election, everything from the accessibility of the polling location, training of onsite staff and inaccessibility of the ballot and lack of accommodations.

Will this election be accessible, NOT A HOPE IN HELL!

Over the past several municipal elections and their inaccessibility I’ve followed up with my local counsel member and city representatives and were still dealing with the same issues and below is the recent response:

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/2023-by-election-for-mayor-of-the-city-of-toronto-will-it-be-accessible/

France Under Pressure Over Disabled Rights as Olympics Loom

Pascale Ribes and other campaigners for the rights of people with disabilities in France have an invite to meet the French president Wednesday. But because she uses a wheelchair, Ribes won’t risk traveling by public transport to the conference at the presidential Elysee Palace.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/france-under-pressure-over-disabled-rights-as-olympics-loom/

Trail Expected to Become More Accessible With Potential Upgrades

By Beatriz Baleeiro, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Fri., April 21, 2023

The Murgatroyd Trail could undergo reconstruction and upgrades to become more accessible if West Lincoln is successful in its grant application to the province.

Applications for the province’s Inclusive Community Grants Program were announced in March by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, aiming to help older residents and people with disabilities to get more involved in the community.

After reviewing the program’s guidelines, West Lincoln township staff decided the Murgatroyd Trail reconstruction project would be suitable for this funding opportunity.

If the application for the grant is successful, West Lincoln could receive up to $60,000 to improve the trail’s overall condition.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/trail-expected-to-become-more-accessible-with-potential-upgrades/

Advocates Want Promise of Alberta Accessibility Legislation in Election Platforms

Advocates want action on law to remove barriers for people with disabilities

Alberta is one of the last provinces without accessibility legislation prompting advocates for people with disabilities to get the issue on the agenda in the upcoming provincial election.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/advocates-want-promise-of-alberta-accessibility-legislation-in-election-platforms/

Pennsylvania Launches Program to Teach Students Disability Inclusion

School districts across the state, including those in Western Pennsylvania, could soon implement new curriculum focusing on political and historical contributions made by people with disabilities.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/pennsylvania-launches-program-to-teach-students-disability-inclusion/

Unlikely Friendship Sees Paul Schembri Jr Help Transform Accessibility in the Cane Industry

It started with a frank but friendly conversation between strangers at the local pub.

Paul Schembri Jr was asked a question that was to-the-point and, in a way, changed his life.

“So, you’re on a bike , what sort of idiot are you?”

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/unlikely-friendship-sees-paul-schembri-jr-help-transform-accessibility-in-the-cane-industry/

Accessibility FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE NEWS RELEASE

Trudeau Government’s Proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act Must Be Strengthened, Disability Coalition to Tell Senate Standing Committee 1 PM Today

April 27, 2023 Ottawa: Today at public hearings streamed live starting 11 am EDT, in Room C-128, Senate Building, 2 Rideau St., Ottawa, the non-partisan grass roots AODA Alliance will press SOCI, the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, to amend the weak Bill C-22 (the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act). They want to ensure that this bill lifts hundreds of thousand of people with disabilities out of poverty, as the Trudeau Government promised. AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky’s testimony begins at 1 pm.

This disability coalition applauds creation of the Canada Disability Benefit, but will slam the weak Bill C-22 as full of holes, because it:

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/accessibility-for-ontarians-with-disabilities-act-alliance-news-release/

Senate Public Hearings on Bill C-22 (Canada Disability Benefit Act) Conclude With Strong Showing that the Bill Needs Some High-Impact Least-Intrusive Amendments, Including Testimony by AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update United for a Barrier-Free Society for All People with Disabilities Web: https://www.aodaalliance.org
Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com
Twitter: @aodaalliance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aodaalliance/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

April 28, 2023

SUMMARY

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs (SOCI Committee) held its seventh and final day of public hearings on Bill C-22, the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act. This bill is meant to lift people with disabilities out of poverty. However, it is so weak that it may not lift any people with disabilities out of poverty. We want it strengthened.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/senate-public-hearings-on-bill-c-22-canada-disability-benefit-act-conclude-with-strong-showing-that-the-bill-needs-some-high-impact-least-intrusive-amendments-including-testimony-by-aoda-alliance-c/

Reflections on the First Six Days of Senate Public Hearings on Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update United for a Barrier-Free Society for All People with Disabilities Web: https://www.aodaalliance.org Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com Twitter: @aodaalliance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aodaalliance/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

April 26, 2023

SUMMARY

Here are the AODA Alliances reflections on the first six days of evidence presented at the Senate Social Affairs Standing Committee (SOCI) public hearings on Bill C-22, the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act. The SOCI Committee heard from individuals and organizations on March 22, 23, 29 and 30, and on April 19 and 20.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/reflections-on-the-first-six-days-of-senate-public-hearings-on-bill-c-22-the-canada-disability-benefit-act/