Monthly Archives: June 2023

Cadet Group Builds 16 Accessibility Ramps for Local Businesses

Cadets from Stratford (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church build doorway ramps for local businesses in the church’s woodshop. JUNE 16, 2023
KRISTEN PARKER

Sixteen businesses in Stratford, Ont., are more accessible thanks to a project led by 14-year-old Nathaniel as a part of the Servant Leader Award for Calvinist Cadets.

Nathaniel has just completed his final year of Calvinist Cadets with Stratford Christian Reformed Church, where his dad, Jonathan DeWeerd, served as co-head leader. Cadets is the boys’ club ministry offered in many Christian Reformed churches. Participants in the ministry are encouraged to complete tasks to earn badges and awards.

Nathaniel and his dad got the idea to create accessibility ramps for Stratford businesses last summer when they were walking downtown. Nathaniel noticed some existing ramps and asked his dad about their importance.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/cadet-group-builds-16-accessibility-ramps-for-local-businesses/

Opinion: It’s Time for A Humane, Empathetic and Respectful Disability Benefit

Opinion: The application process is so long, onerous and costly, Canadians with disabilities often feel it’s designed to drive them away, rather than help them. It’s time for a benefit without barriers.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/opinion-its-time-for-a-humane-empathetic-and-respectful-disability-benefit/

Tenant with Disability Files Human Rights Complaint Against Winnipeg Public Housing Project

When it opened in 2012, the 37-unit rental property was heralded as a place designed to be barrier-free with enhanced accessibility that would improve housing conditions for people with disabilities.

But it was built with only eight indoor underground parking spaces, while the remainder – about 40 spots – are outdoors.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/tenant-with-disability-files-human-rights-complaint-against-winnipeg-public-housing-project/

Sign Up to Tell Toronto’s June 28, 2023 Infrastructure and Environment Committee Meeting Not to Allow Electric Scooters

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All People with Disabilities Website: https://www.aodaalliance.org
Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com
Twitter: @aodaalliance

June 22, 2023

SUMMARY

Frustrating as it is, the e-scooters issue just won’t go away in Toronto. On June 5, 2023, the Toronto Infrastructure and Environment Committee was to consider a City Council member’s proposal to re-open Toronto’s ban on e-scooters for which people with disabilities and seniors had fought so hard. We had a mere one week to rally to file a brief and prepare to make an oral presentation.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/sign-up-to-tell-torontos-june-28-2023-infrastructure-and-environment-committee-meeting-not-to-allow-electric-scooters/

Canada’s Parliament Finally Passes Bill C-22 – But Impoverished People with Disabilities Still Don’t Know Who Qualifies for the new Canada Disability Benefit, How Much the Benefit Will Be, or When the First Cheque Will Come

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE

June 21, 2023 (Toronto): A major but interim milestone for people with disabilities languishing in chronic poverty in Canada was reached on June 20, 2023, when the Senate took a final vote to pass Bill C-22, the new Canada Disability Benefit Act. In a Throne speech three years ago, the Trudeau Government commendably promised to lift people with disabilities out of poverty by creating a new social benefit, an addition to Canada’s safety net.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/canadas-parliament-finally-passes-bill-c-22-but-impoverished-people-with-disabilities-still-dont-know-who-qualifies-for-the-new-canada-disability-benefit-how-much-the-benefit-will-be-or-when-t/

AODA Alliance Calls on Trudeau Government to Rapidly Proclaim in Force Bill C-22 Once Passed, and to Spearhead a Campaign to Get All Provinces and Territories to Pass Legislation Banning Private Insurance Companies from Clawing Back the Canada Disability Benefit

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All People with Disabilities

Website: https://www.aodaalliance.org
Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com
Twitter: @aodaalliance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aodaalliance/

June 19, 2013
SUMMARY

Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, has almost finished its long journey through Parliament. We want the Senate to vote this week to ratify Bill C-22 before it rises for the summer. Once the Senate gives it this final vote, we want the Trudeau Government to take two important actions.

First, we want the Government to ensure that it gets immediate Royal Assent. After that, we want the Federal Cabinet to immediately proclaim Bill C-22 in force. It does not go into effect until that takes place.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/aoda-alliance-calls-on-trudeau-government-to-rapidly-proclaim-in-force-bill-c-22-once-passed-and-to-spearhead-a-campaign-to-get-all-provinces-and-territories-to-pass-legislation-banning-private-insur/

Accessibility News June 17,2023 Update

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/acnewsca

AbleDocs Inc. is excited to be joining the Accessibility News team to ensure all documents are made accessible and compliant.

AbleDocs is the only organization to guarantee the compliance of the files we produce and back that up with a $10,000,000 guarantee.

We look forward to working with you and Accessibility News for years to come. For more details, please come to https://www.abledocs.com for more information about our revolutionary approach to document accessibility.

The AODA Clock is Ticking

There is 1 year, 28 weeks, 2 days until a fully Accessible Ontario! Will you be compliant?

In this Issue

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/accessibility-news-june-172023-update/

Teenager On Autism Spectrum Communicates Through His Artwork

Viktor Bevanda sings while he works, the oil pastel in his hand dashing across the paper as he fills in a sketch of a basset hound with bright, vivid colors.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/teenager-on-autism-spectrum-communicates-through-his-artwork/

Supreme Court Hands Down ‘Major Victory’ For Disability Rights

Disability advocates are hailing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case that they feared could lead to severe restrictions on the rights of people who rely on Medicaid and other government programs.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/supreme-court-hands-down-major-victory-for-disability-rights/

More GO Transit Riders Flag Issue with Accessibility at Exhibition Station

By Shauna Hunt
Posted Jun 13, 2023

Just one day after CityNews reported on the accessibility issues plaguing the Exhibition GO Station, another wheelchair user said they were left stranded on the platform.

Calls are now growing louder for Metrolinx to provide a better solution for those who rely on the elevators while they remain out of service.

Hannah, who relies on a wheelchair, was left stranded on Friday night after taking the GO train from Oshawa to see a concert at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.

Before arriving at the North Platform at Exhibition Station, she was informed the elevators were out of service. Her friend Sara called GO Transit directly to find a solution.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/more-go-transit-riders-flag-issue-with-accessibility-at-exhibition-station/