City of Waterloo celebrates Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee’s 20th anniversary
The City of Waterloo recognizes 20 years of lived experience guidance from the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) toward making our community more inclusive and accessible.
GRAAC was praised by Waterloo Council and staff tonight for their ongoing project and strategic advice to guide the City’s investments in accessibility and inclusion initiatives to enhance belonging.
“GRAAC’s advocacy for improvements to sidewalk snow clearing, accessible playgrounds and washrooms, city facility design and retrofits, input on strategy and plans being developed, as well as for more accessible workspaces is important and invaluable,” said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “There is more to do, and we continue to welcome and to count on GRAAC’s expertise and advice.”
Accessibility advocate for Waterloo, Amy Ross, highlighted 20 of the many projects GRAAC has influenced and improved for the City over the years, including:
- Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (WMRC) Expansion – Community Pavillion, Fitness Core, Universal Changeroom, Civic Front, gender neutral washroom corridor design
- Button Factory elevator installation
- Autonomous accessible washroom in uptown Waterloo
- Eastside Library Branch development – interior features, new universal washroom corridor design
- Facility Accessibility Design Standards development (in progress)
- Waterloo Park – central promenade, west splash pad, wayfinding signage, Eby Farm playground expansion
- Waterloo Public Square development
- ION station areas
- Municipal election planning
- Community Pavillion ramp to Luther Village on the Park replacement
- Automated door opener installations at Waterloo Public Library – John M. Harper Branch/Stork Family YMCA
- Transportation Master Plan 2011 and Transportation Master Plan update in 2020
- Lexington Road sidewalk construction
- Mary Allen Park redevelopment and Alexandria Park expansion
- Accessibility Standards 2016 development
- Northdale Parkettes creation
- City-wide municipal facility accessibility audits
- Barriers in the built environment experiential accessibility tours for staff, leadership and Council
- Copper Street Leash Free Dog Park development (in progress)
- Workspace planning and meeting room renovations
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is the law that sets out a process for developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards. Under the AODA, municipalities with a population of 10,000+ are required to have an Accessibility Advisory Committee. The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) is a legislated committee required by AODA.
GRAAC was created in 2004 to provide advice on accessibility initiatives to the councils of the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo and the townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries. GRAAC is made up of 15 individuals who are living with disabilities, caregivers of those with disabilities, and/or representatives of various disability organizations. The members are from seven of the municipalities in the Region of Waterloo, including four current members from the City of Waterloo.
“We are committed to an enhanced sense of belonging within all City buildings, operations and service delivery in ways that strengthen relationships with and within equity-denied groups,” said Divya Handa, Director of READI (Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion) for the City of Waterloo. “Waterloo aims to be a leader in accessibility and inclusion, this requires proactive efforts to understand lived experience and take action on what we learn.”
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Media contact:
Stacey Abbott
Communications Manager, City of Waterloo
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca