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Kawartha Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee

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NOTE: The next Committee Meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012 in the Lower Level Boardroom at the Lindsay Public Library.

The meetings of the Kawartha Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee are held the third Thursday at 3 PM unless notice is given otherwise.

HISTORY:

The Kawartha Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee (formerly the Municipal Advisory Committee for Disabled Persons) was formed as a Standing Committee of Council in 1991. The goal of KLAAC is to work toward a Six Star Community with access for all to: Employment, Education, Recreation, Housing, and Transportation. The original Committee, formed by the Town of Lindsay, was made up of seven volunteers from the community and a member of Town Council as liaison. The Volunteers are either disabled or people who work with the physically challenged. In January 2001, when amalgamation formed the City of Kawartha Lakes, KLAAC grew to thirteen members, and their responsibility has expanded from a population of 17,000 to 72,000 with an area of 3366 square kms.

PURPOSE:

The following are the goals and objectives of the KLAAC:

(a) KLAAC shall promote public awareness and sensitivity to accessibility issues.

(b) KLAAC shall encourage co-operation among all service and interest groups to ensure a better community for the disabled.

(c) KLAAC shall communicate with all levels of government and service agencies and make recommendations on policy and legislation related to accessibility.

(d) KLAAC shall identify and document relevant accessibility issues and concerns.

(e) KLAAC shall help to facilitate a FIVE STAR community which provides access to housing, transportation, education, recreation and employment.

(f) KLAAC shall promote the recognition that the needs of all disabled persons are constantly changing, growing and in need of refinement.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

In May 1995 KLAAC wrote and submitted to Lindsay Town Council a set of Accessibility Standards. These Standards, adopted by Council became the guidelines for accessibility for parking lots, sidewalks, and entranceways to all buildings. The next step, after the Accessibility Standards were adopted, was to receive all site plans for new and renovated buildings from the Town for the Committees comments. This allowed KLAAC to insure proper accessibility to buildings. From this grew the Certificate of Merit that KLAAC presents to all businesses who make the effort to assure that their building is accessible. 

The presentation of this Certificate is printed in the local newspaper as a way of letting the public know that there is one more building that is accessible. Over the years we have encouraged the municipality to move the designated parking on the main streets so that they are directly in front of businesses that have a large traffic flow such as banks, drugstores etc. Curb cuts are also placed at each parking spot. A Survey was made of the main street listing all buildings and business and their level of accessibility.

FUTURE:

KLAAC will continue to promote the interests of the disabled in terms of accessibility. KLAAC will continue to work with the City of improve the accessibility of its facilities and services.

MEMBERS:

On January 2001 when the City of Kawartha Lakes became a reality the Kawartha Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee expanded to encompass the new City.

Committee Members

Norman Price, Chair
Jane McLean, Vice-Chair
Shirley Clark, Member
Lynda Dasilva, Member
Mary Ann Fitzpatrick, Member
George Foster, Member
Barbie Holmes, Member
Bill Huskinson, Member
Anne Johnston, Member
Hafiz Makani, Member
Aileen Murray, Member
Brenda O’Keefe, Member
Elizabeth Peeters, Member
Councillor Stephen Strangway, Council Representative

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