Making Haldimand County Accessible For People with Disabilities
The Corporation of Haldimand County is committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in a manner that respects dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.
Haldimand County recognizes the diverse needs of all of our residents, customers, and visitors and strives to provide services and facilities that are accessible and inclusive to all.
Haldimand County is dedicated to meeting, and exceeding the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility. Haldimand County will meet the accessibility requirements set out under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005).
The Accessibility Plan describes the measures that Haldimand County will take in the term of the plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities who utilize the goods, services and facilities of Haldimand County.
The Plan will:
Describe the process by which the County will identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities
Review earlier efforts to remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities
Review the facilities, policies, programs, practices and services in the County to identify barriers to people with disabilities
Describe the measures the County will take in the term of the plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.
The purpose of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) is to improve opportunities for people with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the province.
The goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is to ensure that all Ontarians with disabilities have full access to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, building structures and premises by January 1, 2025.
This goal will be achieved through the development, implementation and enforcement of provincially-set accessibility standards.
These standards are all part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg 191/11) . The regulation sets out the requirements for each of the five standards, as well as general requirements that apply to all, such as:
Developing accessibility policies and plans
Training employees and volunteers, and
Considering accessibility when purchasing goods or services.
Who does the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply to?
The regulation applies to public, private, and not-for-profit businesses and organizations that:
Provide goods, services or facilities either directly to the public or to other businesses or organizations, and have at least one employee in Ontario
The requirements will be phased in over time between 2011 and 2021. This will give organizations the time they need to build accessibility into their regular business processes.
The legislated Accessibility Advisory Committee is made up of County resident volunteers, one Councillor and one County staff member. This committee represents their community and provides practical knowledge on a wide-range of accessibility and disability concerns including: physical, visual, hearing impairment, intellectual, mental health, senior’s issues and communication.
The committee meets regularly to review and make accessibility recommendations on municipal capital projects and County services.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee does not review or make recommendations to private businesses within Haldimand County.
Mission statement
Haldimand County’s Accessibility Advisory Committee is dedicated to promoting a barrier-free environment for all persons, regardless of needs, to participate as fully as possible in all aspects of community life.
Haldimand County’s Accessible Design Standards aim to make all County-owned or leased spaces, buildings, infrastructure and elements accessible to Haldimand’s residents, employees and visitors, as part of any new construction or redevelopment activities. These were created in 2023 and a key component of our 5 year Accessibility Plan.
Mandatory for all new construction and redevelopment of existing spaces and facilities, owned, leased or operated by Haldimand County;
Intended to apply to the greatest extent possible for retrofit, alterations or additions to existing spaces and facilities owned, leased or operated by Haldimand County
Encouraged to be implemented by other sectors and organizations within Haldimand County
Recognized as addressing the needs of diverse users, with or without disabilities, to ensure inclusive environments for all.
The Haldimand Abilities Centre has community based support services and recreational programs geared towards individuals with dementia, an acquired brain injury, or visual impairment.
Examples of programs and groups offered: Seated fitness, Power hour circuit training, Chair yoga, Chair zumba, Canvas and Mocktails, Start with Art, Meditate and Paint, Grief Support Drop-In, ABI Support Group, and Vision loss support group.
Special Olympics Haldimand provides quality sport training programs and competitions for athletes living with an intellectual disability in the district of South Central Ontario.
Senior Support Services offers services for Seniors over the age of 60 and individuals with disabilities over the age of 18. They have an adult day program as well as activities and events that can be found on their website.
Personal Support
Best Care Agency offers in home support services and leisure/hospitality transportation. (Transportation offered does not accommodate wheelchair or mobility devices.)
Home and Community Care Unit – Mississauga’s of the First Nation offers home support services and supports for older adults, and adults with disabilities. They help people remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible and provide culturally appropriate services for Indigenous peoples. Some services include: foot care, homemaking, in-home nursing, in-home personal support, and meal delivery.
Senior Support Services offers programs like Meals on Wheels, frozen meals, Diner’s Club, transportation, home maintenance, friendly visiting, telephone reassurance, Adult Day Program, Hospice Palliative Care, safety at home, caregiver support, and Adult Day Program virtual activities.
Transportation
Mr. J’s Taxi company offers wheelchair accessible transportation.
Senior Support Services offers accessible transportation to individuals over the age of 60 as well as to individuals with disabilities over the age of 18.
Accessible Parking Permits
There is no cost to renewing or obtaining an Accessible Parking Permit Application. Vehicles used by persons with disabilities are required to display an Accessible Parking Permit to park in an accessible parking space. Accessible Parking Permits can be issued to a person or company vehicle that is used to transport a person with a disability.
To apply for an Ontario accessible parking permit, you must have:
have a physical or mental health disability, expected to last one year or longer, that substantially limits your ability to work, look after yourself or carry out daily activities.
Haldimand County requires mandatory Accessibility training for volunteers as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
If you become a volunteer, you will be required to complete the following three Accessibility training courses:
Please submit your acknowledgement of training below and send notice of completion and date to your direct volunteer supervisor to be recorded. If you have any questions or require a different format, please contact: accessibility@haldimandcounty.on.ca.
All contractors and their employees who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Haldimand County have specific obligations under the AODA and are required to take accessibility training.
Training Records:
Contractors must keep records of all training, including dates when training was provided, the number of employees who received training and individual training records for their business. Contractors are required to make this information available to the County and/or the Province upon request.
In 2020, Haldimand County Council approved an Inclusive Hiring initiative through the Tax-Supported Operating Budget, with funding allocated to hire four individuals with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) across the county’s 4 arenas (Caledonia, Cayuga, Hagersville, and Dunnville). The primary goal of the initiative is to provide employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities and further the county’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The initiative officially launched in 2021 with four new hires in total. Job duties and orientation plans were developed for each new staff member and tailored to their unique abilities, with consideration given to any workplace accommodations or supports they might require. County staff worked closely with organizations like Community Living Haldimand throughout this process, and continue to do so.
All four staff members hired as part of the Inclusive Hiring initiative work within the Facilities, Parks, Cemeteries and Forestry Operations business unit. The positions provide added coverage in heavily-trafficked community facilities and have helped meet increasing demands for service. Specifically, these individuals provide up to 8,320 hours of additional coverage county-wide, annually.
Staff Stories
Crystal
MEET CRYSTAL
Facility Helper
We met Crystal on one of the sunniest days we have seen since Spring began. She was wearing her Haldimand County reflective outdoor wear and just finished her lunch break with her co-workers. The cemetery she was working at was right on the water. Crystal noted she appreciated it being a “quiet and peaceful” place. On a brief tour of the cemetery, she showed us the beautiful black wrought iron fence that borders it and took her a month to paint. It was evident that a lot of time, effort, and pride went into that tedious project.
Crystal works primarily in the arenas and cemeteries. Her favourite part of work is bringing the garbage to the dump with the whole crew. She is a self-proclaimed “people person” and says things like taking the garbage out with everyone gives her a sense of belonging and community.
When we asked Crystal what she enjoyed the most about working for Haldimand County she mentioned that she loves being able to give back to her community. Outside of work, Crystal volunteers with Community Living Haldimand and other advocacy groups for individuals with disabilities. Crystal wants to share her experiences and stories with others to inspire people to “not let their disabilities stop them.”
Crystal’s career goals include working towards becoming a Facility Operator. She believes that while the role created with “Ready, Willing, and Able” has been a great opportunity, she would like to do more and have more responsibility. Her work ethic was evident as she shared with us about her side business making jewelry for her business “Crystal’s Creations.”
It was also evident when she detailed to us the care she shows after cutting the grass around the tombstones, she makes sure to get the weed blower so that nothing is covering the names on the graves. “These were relatives of people and I want people to feel cared for.”
Tyler
MEET TYLER
Facility Helper
I met Tyler at the Hagersville arena on a blustery cold morning. He welcomed me at the doors and was eager to give me a tour of the facility he takes care of. Ever the gracious host, he set up a storage room for us to sit and continue with the interview.
Tyler currently works at the Hagersville arena and loves that it’s close enough to bike to work. The proximity to his job helps reduce a common barrier to employment – transportation.
During the arena tour, Tyler detailed the rich history of Hockey here in Hagersville. Hockey is a big part of his life and he has the knowledge to prove it. Before working with Haldimand County, Tyler was involved with the Hagersville Hawks for the last twelve years and has continued his work with them by selling 50/50 tickets, providing water to the players, and enjoying their games. Tyler has attended over 450 games!
He takes care of the arena by maintaining the lawn outside, cleaning the dressing rooms, using the leaf blower (a favourite of his), cleaning the windows, and more. He has expressed interest in learning new skills to help with his day-to-day work, including using new tools.
Outside of work, Tyler continues to pursue his love of hockey, however, due to recent and longstanding events, he changed his allegiance from one team to another. Tyler said he “gave up on the Leafs” and now displays the team logo of the Vancouver Canucks as his iPhone cover. One of his personal goals is to see a Toronto versus Vancouver game one day while wearing his Stanley Cup jersey. Aside from hockey, you can often find Tyler enjoying his favourite video games, seeing a movie at the theatre or planning his next camping trip with family and friends.
Tyler is excited to celebrate his second anniversary working for Haldimand County this May!
Blair
MEET BLAIR
Facility Helper
Blair King has been a dedicated employee of Haldimand County for many years now. You will often hear a kind greeting from Blair as he makes his way through the building to complete his tasks. Previously, Blair worked at the arena in Cayuga but the last couple years have been at Haldimand County’s Administration Building (HCAB). Working at the Administration Building has been a personal goal of his, and now that he is here we want to celebrate this achievement with him!
Blair shared that some of his work responsibilities include dusting, getting the coffee ready, replacing the cream and sugar, taking out the garbage,and cleaning the floors on the third floor. He mentioned that he really enjoys dusting at work and at home as well. When asked what his favourite part about working here at HCAB is, he replied, “I like having people around me, that’s why.”
Outside of work, Blair is an active member of the community and loves to volunteer his time as well as attend various events that he’s interested in. He has participated in the Special Olympics bowling tournament (leaving with third prize!) and he volunteers as a “Lion Tamer” for the Cayuga Lion’s club. Blair recently applied to Community Living Haldimand’s, “Jennie Deagle Dream Fund” and won the prize of his choice, a trip to WWE Wrestling in Toronto. Congratulations to Blair!
One recurring theme in our conversation was that Blair loves being around others. Like most people, having community and coworkers around him is an important part of his daily life and wellbeing. His job at HCAB has given him the opportunity to work and interact with other staff more frequently and be included in County events. He is currently looking forward to participating in the County’s golf tournament again this summer. As for the future, Blair has expressed an interest in learning more about the inner workings of Building and By-Law as well.
Message from the Mayor and Staff
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley
“In recent years, Council has deliberately invested in making county services, facilities, amenities and employment more accessible for everyone. Through policy, funding and programs like the Inclusive Hiring Initiative, Haldimand is working to remove barriers so people with disabilities can equitably participate in their communities and be celebrated for their unique strengths.”
Megan Jamieson, General Manager, Corporate and Social Services
“The County is committed to exploring opportunities for a diverse and welcoming workforce. Introducing the Inclusive Hiring Initiative, with the support of both Council and CUPE Local 4700, has been an exciting step forward in demonstrating that commitment. In turn, the individuals hired under this program have had a positive impact on our services and shared organizational culture.”
Haldimand County Council has dedicated $50,000 to enhance existing capital assets with accessibility shortfalls and introduce new accessible features that meet the community’s evolving needs while abiding by provincial laws.
Caledonia is the fastest growing community in Haldimand County with a diverse population. The Centre in Caledonia sees a lot of use, and currently, two major access points are not available; there will be an accessible door opener installed from the lobby to Pads A & B.
Dunnville Kinsmen Park
Dunnville Kinsmen Park is heavily utilized & could use a number of accessibility improvements. As a first step, staff will create two accessible parking spaces with a path to bleachers in front of the main baseball diamond.
Hagersville Memorial Arena
Hagersville is the second-fastest growing community in Haldimand County with high usage. It currently lacks an accessible entrance to spectator area and to a washroom. Staff will install an accessible door opener from the lobby to the spectator area and on one washroom.
Cayuga Kinsmen Community Centre
Kinsmen Community Centre is a venue centrally located in Haldimand that is used regularly for wedding receptions, club events, and by senior citizens. Staff will restore the accessible ramp and install one accessible door opener at main entrance.
Esplanade Park in Port Maitland
Esplanade Park is a beautiful but high traffic area with pre-existing accessible parking and a pathway leading to a parkette. An Accessible picnic table will be installed to create a more accessible environment.
Trail through Grandview Lodge/Lion's Park in Dunnville
The trail through Grandview Lodge and Lion’s Park in Dunnville is heavily utilized area by seniors and individuals with strollers or mobility devices. There will be a bench placed along the trail to meet rest area requirements as mandated by the new Accessible Design Standards (every 500m where possible).
