Jeff Adams named new Chair of
Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario joining eight additional
appointees
TORONTO,
Nov. 18 /CNW/ - Brampton Olympian and Paralympian, Jeff Adams,
was named the new Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario (AAC),
along with eight additional members appointed today by Citizenship
Minister, Carl DeFaria. The AAC plays a critical role in advising the
minister on implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
Minister DeFaria also appointed Barry McMahon, a disability activist from
Ottawa, as vice-chair.
"I am delighted with the calibre of the individuals who have
agreed to participate on the Accessibility Advisory Council," said
DeFaria. "Together, they represent a depth of experience in issues
affecting people with disabilities, and I know they will make a
significant contribution to create a barrier-free province for the 1.9
million people with disabilities."
Adams recently made headlines with his September 2002 CN Tower
Climb in a specially designed wheelchair billed as 'Step Up to Change'.
The event was held to raise awareness about the abilities of people with
disabilities and to highlight the barriers that people with disabilities
face every day.
Adams replaces former Chair Dave Shannon, who has accepted a new
full-time position with the federal government and is unable to continue
his work with the Council. "It is with great regret that I recently
had to accept Dave's resignation," said DeFaria. "As Chair, Dave
brought a great deal of enthusiasm and expertise to the Council. I would
like to publicly thank him for the work he did in getting the Council off
to a good start."
Today's appointments include Valerie A. Baker, chief facilitator
for V.A. Baker & Associates in Waterloo; André F. Bélanger,
a senior executive in charge of finance, human resources, information
services and labour relations with the Conseil scolaire de district
catholique Centre-Sud; Kathryn E. Bremner, office manager with the Durham
College Student Association; Barbara Fowke, a community worker with the
Opening New Doors program in the Waterloo Region; Uzma Khan, a second year
Ryerson University student active in campus accessibility; Karen Liberman,
consumer survivor and recognized spokesperson on mental health issues;
Tracy MacCharles, vice-president of human resources for Manulife
Financial; and Kristin Snodden, Coordinator for the Ontario Cultural
Society for the Deaf and a Director of the Canadian Hearing Society.
Dean La Bute, of Windsor; and Duncan Read, of Ajax, were appointed
last May.
The Accessibility Advisory Council was established following the
February 2002 proclamation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
Under the act, a majority of Council members must be people with
disabilities, chosen for their broad range of skills and experience in,
and sensitivity to disability issues.
The Council will advise the minister on implementing the act and
preparing regulations, as well as provide input on programs of public
information related to the act and the accessibility for people with
disabilities to services provided or funded by the government of Ontario.
The Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2001 is Canada's most
far-reaching and comprehensive legislation for people with disabilities.
It builds on the government's multi-billion dollar commitment to programs
and services for people with disabilities.
The act requires municipalities, universities, colleges, school
boards, hospitals, public transportation organizations, and the Ontario
Public Service to develop plans to make their buildings, programs and
services more accessible to people with disabilities. It also allows for
regulatory codes and standards for the private sector.
Members
of the Accessability Advisory Council of Ontario
Following are brief biographical sketches of the members of the
Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario, appointed by Minister of
Citizenship Carl DeFaria.
Jeff Adams, chair, is a two-time
Olympian, four-time Paralympian, six-time World Champion and has held
numerous World Records. He is a 12-year member of Canada's national
wheelchair racing team. When not in training and competition, Adams is
also a motivational speaker and corporate efficiencies
consultant.
Barry McMahon, vice-chair, was for nine years, an
executive producer of film and video with Public Works and Government
Services Canada. Prior to working with the federal government, he ran his
own production company for 12 years, as well as working as a
producer/director with companies in Canada and England. Post-polio
Syndrome, with its typical symptoms of fatigue, weakness,
and
pain, caused him to permanently retire in 1996.
Valerie A. Baker, chief facilitator for V.A. Baker &
Associates, has developed and taught courses in self-development at
Conestoga College, and written numerous articles related to disability
issues. She has also co-facilitated on oral communication courses to
clients with disabilities as well as attendants working with people with
disabilities.
André F. Bélanger,
a senior executive in charge of finance, human resources, information
services and labour relations with the Conseil scolaire de district
catholique Centre-Sud, has been active in the Canadian College of Health
Services Executives, the Canadian Association of Health Care Human
Resource Management, and the Human Resources Professional Association of
Ontario.
Kathryn E. Bremner, office manager with the
Durham College Student Association, has served as chair of both the Words
in Whitby writers' festival and Breaking the Barriers Forum on disability
issues in Durham Region. She also founded the Whitby & District Sledge
Hockey Association to provide opportunities for athletes with physical
disabilities to play hockey with able-bodied athletes.
Barbara Fowke, a community
worker with the Opening New Doors program in the Waterloo Region, was a
research assistant at the Centre for Research and Education in Human
Services, a project that explored strategies for linking people with
disabilities with community life.
Uzma Khan, a second year Ryerson University student
active in campus accessibility, was a member of a Ryerson Student Advisory
Committee for Ryerson's Access Centre, and dealt with campus issues
related to accessibility, including an accessibility audit at the
university.
Karen Liberman, consumer survivor and
spokesperson on mental health illness, executive director of the Mood
Disorders Association of Ontario, who has been honoured as a "Health
Hero" by Chatelaine magazine for her work in combating the stigma of
mental illness in Ontario.
Tracy MacCharles, vice-president of human resources for
Manulife Financial, has been an active volunteer for numerous charities
including the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division Board of
Directors, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Big Sister's
Association of Ajax-Pickering and the United Way.
Kristin Snodden, co-ordinator for the
Ontario Cultural Society for the Deaf's ASL and Early Literacy Consultant
program, a Director of the Canadian Hearing Society, and Secretary for the
Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, was a member for GOAL: Ontario
Literacy for Deaf People, and a member of the Student Advisory Committee
for Accessibility Services at the University of Toronto.
The
following members were appointed by Minister DeFaria last May:
Dean La Bute, has a strong history of
advocacy work on disability issues. He is the founding Chairman of the
Windsor-Essex Chapter of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, as
well as the regional representative for the provincial committee. La Bute
also serves with the Windsor Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, and
is the founding Chairman of the Health Services Sub-committee.
Duncan Read is a deputy judge for the
Ontario Small Claims Court, Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He is
experienced in dispute resolution. In 2001, he opened the Law Office of
Duncan P. Read in Ajax, an office dedicated to representing small
business. Read is a former President of the Ontario March of Dimes and has
acted in many capacities with that organization. He has an extensive
knowledge of disability issues.
THE
ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2001
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) was passed on
December 14, 2001. A partial proclamation of several sections of the act
took place on February 7, 2002 (section 19, establishing the Accessibility
Advisory Council of Ontario and section 20, establishing the Accessibility
Directorate of Ontario). The proclamation of these two sections was the
essential first step that needed to be taken before the balance of the act
could be proclaimed.
Proclamation of additional sections on September 30, 2002 brought
into law obligations on the part of the government of Ontario,
municipalities, public transportation organizations, school boards,
hospitals and colleges and universities. Ongoing ODA implementation
demonstrates the government's commitment to people with disabilities,
reaffirms the seriousness of this
commitment
and ensures that relevant sectors comply with the legislation by
implementing the necessary changes.
Key
Dates
Passage of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 - December 14,
2001
Partial Proclamation - February 7, 2002
Notice to Proclaim posted in Ontario Gazette - July 6, 2002
Further Proclamation - September 30, 2002
Government Internet accessibility - December 31, 2002
Affected
Organizations Municipalities
Municipalities (10,000 + population) are required to have municipal
accessibility advisory committees in place. All municipalities are
required to develop annual accessibility plans and make them public within
one year of proclamation, i.e. September 30, 2003.
Hospitals, school boards, colleges, universities, and public
transportation organizations. These organizations are required to prepare
annual accessibility plans in consultation with people with disabilities
and make them public within one year of proclamation. The plans will
address the identification, prevention and removal of barriers to people
with disabilities in the organizations' by-laws and its policies,
programs, practices and services.
A resource package is available to provide guidance to those with
obligations under the ODA.
For
more information visit:
http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship
http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility
For
further information: Ginette Whitten-Day, Communications,
(416) 314-7389; Mike Campbell, Minister's Office, (416) 325-1891