The Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills is committed to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in a manner that respects dignity, independence, integration and equality of opportunity.
Disabilities can be physical, visual, auditory and non-visible and affect key areas of daily living. People with disabilities represent a major and growing part of our population. By 2026, as the population ages, it is estimated that 16 per cent of people in Canada will have a disability.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
About AODA |
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The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) became law on June 13, 2005. This Ontario law aims to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario must follow accessibility standards to become more accessible. The goal of the act and the standards is to make the province accessible for all people with disabilities by 2025. The AODA accessibility standards recognize five areas of daily life:
Transportation, Information and Communication and Employment Standards are part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). Besides requirements specific to each standard, the IASR includes the following general requirements:
The requirements apply to public, private, and non-profit organizations that provide goods, services or facilities to the public. |
AODA Compliancy at the Town |
Town AODA compliancy efforts
Mandatory training
Notification of disruption of serviceThe Town will inform customers of any temporary service disruptions as soon as possible. We will post notices at the facility or location, and on the Town’s website. Notices will include all known information about the disruption. For example, reason for disruption, duration, and alternate methods of service. Accessibility Advisory CommitteeThe Accessibility Advisory Committee is a citizen volunteer committee. The Committee advises the Mayor and Council on matters related to the identification, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities. Visit the Accessibility Advisory Committee web page for more information. Service animals at Town facilitiesYou are allowed to bring your service animal into areas that are open to the public unless the animal is excluded by another law. Service animals are not petsAccording to the AODA’s Customer Service Standards, one of two conditions must apply for your animal to be considered a service animal:
If your guide dog/service animal does not wear a vest or harness, you can show documentation from one of these regulated health professionals:
In some cases, the law does not allow service animals. |
Accessible customer service |
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Accessible customer service is now the law and came into force on January 1, 2008. This means that organizations that provide goods or services must make their customer service operations accessible to people with disabilities. As a municipality, the Town of Halton Hills was required to meet the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service by January 1, 2010. Meeting these standards involved identifying and removing barriers to customer service in:
The Town also provided staff training. The customer service standard is the first in a series of standards that will help lead to a fully accessible Ontario. To request information in alternate formats, please fill out the Alternate Formats Form. You can also contact the Town Clerk.
Provide feedbackThe Town is committed to providing excellent and efficient accessible customer service. We welcome public input as it helps to identify barriers that exist so that we can work to address them. If you’d like to offer your feedback or provide a suggestion, please submit a Citizen Inquiries form. |
Website Accessibility |
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We are continually incorporating accessibility into our website by following the guidelines set out by the AODA (the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) and World Wide Web Consortium. Presently, the information provided through Town of Halton Hills’ websites is in two possible versions: Hypertext Mark-up Lange (HTML) or Portable Document File (PDF). Currently, HTML is accessible via screen readers while some PDF documents may not be. If you require PDF communications in an alternative format you can request accessible formats and communication supports through staff contacts listed on the related page you are viewing. This accessibility statement is limited to the Town of Halton Hills’ websites. The Town assumes no responsibility for the websites that are linked to, hosted by or otherwise electronically connected to the Town’s websites or web server. |
MagnusCards by MagnusMode
MagnusCards available in Halton Hills |
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MagnusCards is a Canadian application dedicated to removing accessibility barriers. This practical tool allows people with Autism and cognitive disabilities to live with independence and inclusion, and affords their caregivers a greater peace of mind. It improves everyday experiences and enables people to participate in the world in ways that are meaningful to them. MagnusCards is an ever-expanding life skills library, with digital guides to popular destinations and activities. Each digital guide combines a proven method of instruction (applied behaviour analysis), visual cues and step-by-step instructions to map experiences throughout the day. Magnus provides prompts and positive reinforcement to support experiential learning. Learn more about MagnusMode and how they are supporting our disabled community members. MagnusCards are free to use and download for everyone and users and caregivers can get started by downloading the FREE MagnusCards App to a mobile device or tablet.
The Town of Halton Hills has developed three sets of MagnusCard decks for ActiVan, Halton Hills Public Library and Recreation and Parks. ActiVan decks:
Halton Hills Public Library decks:
Recreation and Parks decks
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Additional Information
Additional resources |
Emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities |
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Halton Region provides public education resources on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. A series of pamphlets address physical, visual, auditory and non-visible disabilities. The series also includes considerations for seniors, travellers and people living or working in high-rise buildings. |