Accessibility & Our Accessibility Advisory Committee

People with disabilities represent a significant and growing part of our population. Statistics Canada reports that about 1.9 million Ontarians have disabilities or approximately 16% of the population.  In less than 20 years, with an aging poputalion, it is estimated that approximately 20% of the population will have disabilities. One in seven people in Ontario have a disability. Creating a community where people every people who live and visits the community can fully participate makes good sense - for our people, business and community.  Accessibility simply means helping people with disabilities take part fully in life's activities, and removing barriers that people face in their day to day lives.

The Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) was enacted in January 2001 with the purpose of improving access and inclusiveness for people with disabilities. The act was built on the strong foundation of the Human Rights Codewhich protects the rights of all Ontarians. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed in 2005. Its goal is to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. Through province-wide accessibility standards, we will improve accessibility by identifying, breaking down and preventing barriers to accessibility.

Standards related to Accessibility have been and are in the process of being created.· The first standard that was developed was the Customer Service Standard.  The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service applies to all organizations (public, private and non-profit) that provide good or services either directly to the public or to other organizations in Ontario and that have one or more employees in Ontario.

Accessible Customer Service Policy

Accessible Customer Service Feedback Form

Ontario’s next three accessibility standards will remove barriers in three areas including Transportation (making it easier for people with disabilities to get where they need to go), Employment (expanding Ontario's labour pool and welcoming people with disabilities into more workplaces), and Information and Communications (giving people with disabilities access to more of the information we all depend on).

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Town of Bracebridge has an Accessibility Advisory Committee that·is dedicated to promoting equal opportunity, independence and access for all persons to participate in all aspects of community life.· Pursuant to Section 12 of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, S.O. 2001, "the Council of every municipality having a population of not less than 10,000 shall establish or continue an accessibility advisory committee and the Council of every municipality having a population of less than 10,000 may establish or continue an accessibility advisory committee".

Committee Mandate:

To promote equal opportunity, independence and access for all persons to participate in all aspects of community life, and to assist Council in advising, reviewing and making comment and recommendations on Federal and Provincial Legislation and Municipal By-law of the Town of Bracebridge in the interest of people with disabilities.