The Town of Wasaga Beach is committed to increasing and enhancing accessibility to its programs, goods, services, and facilities. Commitments from Council, Town staff and the Accessibility Advisory Committee are leading the Town towards ensuring its programs, goods, services and infrastructure is accessible to all residents and visitors, regardless of ability. The Town of Wasaga Beach is dedicated to providing its residents and visitors requested information in an alternative, accessible format upon request.
| Goal |
| To incorporate accessibility as a part of everyday life and maintain it as a core element to Town services. The development and implementation of the Accessibility Plan advances and strengthens the Town's commitment to make Wasaga Beach a more accessible community. |
| Our Commitment |
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The Town of Wasaga Beach, both as an employer and service provider, is committed to barrier free access and will:
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| Legislative Background |
| The Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), is Provincial Legislation with the purpose of developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards in order to achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025. This legislation requires both public and private sectors that provide goods and services to people in Ontario. |
| Accessible Standards - Legislation |
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In 2001 the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) was enacted to improve opportunities for people with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the province. The ODA ensures that public organizations include accessibility planning into all areas operations and document it with an Accessibility Plan. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) builds upon the ODA. The purpose of this Provincial legislation is to ensure the development, implementation and enforcement of accessibility standards in order to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025; and to provide for the involvement of persons with disabilities in the development of these accessibility standards. This Act applies to every person or organization in the public and private sectors. Regulations under the AODA will establish a series of accessibility standards that will lead Ontario to be fully accessible by 2025. Under the AODA, Ontario Regulation 191/11 – Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) was established and outlines that all municipalities have a legal obligation to prepare a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, which is to be reviewed no less than once every five years. |
| Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation 191/11 |
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The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation IASR is being phased in between now and 2021.
Town Council continues to demonstrate its leadership in bringing forward policies and programs that support increased and enhanced accessibility to all residents. Please view the Multi Year Accessibility Plan and Integrated Accessibility Policy for further information. The Town of Wasaga Beach is committed to working towards being compliant with all of the standards under the AODA as they are introduced. |
| Training Required for Town Suppliers/Vendors of Goods and Services |
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Legislation states that businesses and individuals that the Town of Wasaga Beach has contracted to provide goods or services to customers must ensure that their employees are trained on providing accessible customer service. This includes recreational program instructors, construction workers and more. In general, any person or organization that does business with the Town of Wasaga Beach should receive training in Accessible Customer Service.
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| Accessible Formats |
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The Town of Wasaga Beach will accommodate requests, whenever possible, for accessible formats following completion and submission of the Request for Alternate Format, in a timely manner and no additional costs. For more information about the Province's accessibility legislation and these standards, please visit Making Ontario Accessible. |
| Feedback |
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The Town of Wasaga Beach welcomes your feedback. It allows us to identify ways in which we can improve the delivery of accessible programs and services to our residents. You may provide your feedback by filling out the Accessibility Feedback Form or Customer Accommodation. The Town of Wasaga Beach has developed and implemented Accessibility Policy to fulfill its requirements under the standard. The policies, practices and procedures developed are consistent with the AODA’s core principles of integration, independence, equal opportunity and dignity to ensure that quality and accessible services are provided to all residents. Alternate accessible formats and communications supports with respect to the feedback process are available upon request |
Programs and Assistance
| Home & Vehicle Modification Program |
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The Home & Vehicle Modification Program was established, and is funded, by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and March of Dimes Canada. The program provides funding for basic home and/or vehicle modifications, and is intended to assist permanent Ontario residents with a substantial impairment expected to last one year or more, with their disability management. For more information on this program, please contact: |
| Senior Homeowners Property Tax Grant |
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$500 per year property tax rebate program available through the Ministry of Finance - Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant. |
| Federal EnAbling Accessibility Fund (EAF) |
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A constituent may explore funding opportunities through the EnAbling Accessibility Fund (EAF), which is a federal competitive funding program that provides funding for projects to improve physical accessibility and safety for people with disabilities by supporting the capital costs of renovation, construction and/or retrofit activities in communities. To learn if the EAF program is accepting applications at this time, a constituent may visit the Ministry of Employment and Social Development website. |
| Canada Revenue Agency |
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Under the Income Tax Act, section 20(1) (qq), the federal government allows businesses/commercial building owners to deduct the amount they paid during the taxation year to make renovations or alterations to a building allowing people with mobility disabilities to gain access to the building or be mobile inside it. For more information, please contact: |
| Breaking Down Barriers - Your Independent Living Resource Centre |
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Breaking Down Barriers empowers people with disabilities, enabling them to live independently in our communities of Simcoe, Bruce and Grey Counties. Breaking Down Barriers is a registered charity and an inclusive agency, serving people with physical, sensory, emotional or intellectual disabilities. Disabilities can be visible or invisible. We are located in Collingwood but serve South Georgian Bay including Wasaga Beach, Clearview and the Town of the Blue Mountains and Simcoe, Bruce and Grey Counties. Our website reflects the many activities, programs and initiatives that we provide for people with disabilities and the whole community. We welcome those interested to participate in our programs and events either as consumers, volunteers or members. Come and join us as we continue to break down barriers that prevent the full participation of people with disabilities in our community. For more information on this agency, please contact: Visit on our Facebook page phone: (705) 445-1543 ext *301 fax: (705) 445-1656 toll free: 1-800-843-6943 |
Contact Information
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