Accessibility

The City of Quinte West recognizes that persons with disabilities represent a significant and growing part of our population. The inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities requires a commitment from all levels of government. The City of Quinte West is committed to ensuring that people of all ages and abilities enjoy the same opportunity as they live, work, visit, or play in our community. We are working actively to provide increased accessibility in the City of Quinte West through the prevention of new barriers and reduction and removal of existing barriers.

All City of Quinte West documents are available  in accessible format upon request.

Background

The Province of Ontario enacted the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) on June 13, 2005. The AODA focuses on improving Accessibility in areas such as buildings and spaces, employment, customer service, communications and transportation.

The AODA includes:

• Development of  mandatory standards to address the full range of disabilities and barriers
• Introduction of timelines to ensure that the standards are implemented
• Allowance for the standards to be incorporated in business and capital planning cycles to help manage the cost impact
• Development and implementation of an enforcement tool to ensure compliance with the AODA

The AODA repealed the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001. However, until the standards of the new legislation have been established by the Province, there is a transition period during which the City is required to continue to fulfill its obligations under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2001.

The Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07 became law on January 1, 2008. It is the first accessibility standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. The Regulation establishes accessibility standards for the provision of goods and services to members of the public. This regulation is an important step to create a barrier-free and accessible Ontario by 2025. The City has complied with the requirements of this regulation.

• Quick Reference Guide to Accessible Customer Service Standard changes (July, 2016)

Accessibility Committee

For information regarding the City of Quinte West Accessibility Advisory Committee, including scheduled meetings and members, please click here.

Citizen Self Reporting

The OPP is pleased to announce the expansion of the Citizen Self Reporting program and the new capacity to receive calls for service via Text with 911 (T9-1-1) from people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired and for which the OPP is the Primary Public Safety Answering Point.

To visit the Citizen Self Reporting website, click here. 

Emergency Procedure Standards

• Click here to view the emergency action plan to be taken under various emergency situations

Feedback

If you would like to provide feedback to the City regarding the accessibility of City properties, facilities or services, please direct your comments to the City Clerk.

PRISM-Care

PRISM-Care is a geo-referenced database that notes if the owner / tenant of a subject property has special needs that would required additional assistance in the event of an evacuation or other emergency. Using the City's GIS mapping system, people who register with PRISM-Care will be noted on the map indicating their medical or special needs issues. This information is confidential and will only be used by First Responders (Fire Department and OPP). If you or someone you know in Quinte West needs to be registered with PRISM-Care, please complete the registration form and submit to City staff. If you have any questions about PRISM-Care, please click here to contact us.

How to Register with PRISM-Care

• Call the City at (613) 392-2841. Ask for extension 4545 and provide your contact information in the voice mailbox.
• Complete the PRISM-Care Registration Form and drop it off or send it to:  City of Quinte West PRISM-911 7 Creswell Drive, P.O. Box 490 Trenton, ON  K8V 5R6
• Email your completed PRISM-Care Registration Form to the City

Accessibility for Businesses

The AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act) requires all organizations and businesses to comply with various Regulations under the Act. Please click here for all of the information you may require to comply.

• Click here for information on what to do if businesses or organizations are not providing accessible customer service.
• Integrated Accessiblity Standards Regulation
• Funding: Enabling Accessibility in Workplaces
• Funding:  Ontario 150 Partnership Program

Collaborative Access Development Service Agencies 

City of Quinte West Documents

• City of Quinte West Multi Year Accessibility Plan
• City of Quinte West Multi Year Accessibility Plan - Status Update 2019
• City of Quinte West Accessible Customer Service Policy 
• City of Quinte West Accessible Employment Policy

Access-a-thon

The Access-a-thon is designed to raise awareness and helps recognize the need for accessibility within Quinte West.  This event showcases the difficulties that many individuals face accessing facilities on a daily basis.  Teams of able-bodied members navigate through an undisclosed route within Quinte West while riding in a wheelchair and accompanied by an assistant. 

• Click here to View Pictures from our Events

YouTube Accessibility Channel

We are pleased to tell you about the new YouTube channel brought to the people of Ontario by accessontario which features amazing stories about accessibility and other original content that we hope will get you talking and sharing.  Check it out at www.youtube.com/accessontario .