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The City of Burlington and the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee are marking National AccessABILITY Week (NAAW) which runs May 28 to June 3. During the week, there will be events and activities to help educate, raise awareness and showcase improvements to accessibility for all. This week is also an opportunity to celebrate Canadians with disabilities and raise awareness of the critical need for accessibility and inclusion for all in our communities and workplaces.
Flag raising at City Hall
A NAAW flag designed by the Rick Hansen Foundation will be raised at City Hall May 29 at noon with elected officials. NAAW was originally inspired by Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour in 1988.
Residents, organizations and community stakeholders are welcome to attend this event.
Inclusive multi-user swing at Central Park
The City of Burlington is committed to providing services and opportunities that make our community more inclusive and enrich the lives of all citizens. Thanks to funding from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation, an inclusive multi-user swing has been installed in Central Park (2299 New St., Burlington).
The swing can be used by multiple users at one time, including children who use wheelchairs.
Included in the swing installation is a rubber safety surface around the swing and a communication board. The communication board is a tool for people who are non-verbal.
The swing is now open for use in Central Park.
An official ribbon cutting will be held on Monday June 5, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the swing with members of Council, City staff, community partners and representatives from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation. All are welcome to attend.
Beach Mobi Mat installation
Thanks to funding from the Government of Ontario, the City has purchased seven new Mobi-Mats®. The mats are installed at Burlington Beachway. This brings the total number of Mobi®-Mats at Burlington Beachway to 11.
Mobi-Mat® is a portable and removeable all-weather rollout beach access mat for pedestrians, wheelchair users, strollers and bicycles that improves access on the beach. The walkways are firm, non-slip and provide a stable surface for a wide range of users and made from eco-friendly materials and recyclable.
Farmers’ Market
The Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee (BAAC) will have a booth at the Farmers’ Market at the Burlington Centre on Saturday, June 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Committee members will be available to speak with anyone about accessibility in the community. Members will also use the opportunity to raise awareness about the BAAC activities. Comments and concerns about accessibility in the city can be investigated, improved or captured as an action item in the City’s multi-year Accessibility Plan.
About the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee advises on the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities in the City of Burlington's by-laws, policies, programs and services. The committee also:
- Works in partnership with the City to create the Multi-Year Corporate Accessibility Plan
- Advises the City on accessibility issues to help remove existing barriers and prevent new barriers from being created
- Participates in many accessibility public awareness activities throughout the year
The committee reports to Council through the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee.
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Quotes
Marion Rabeau, Manager of Parks Design and Construction
“Accessibility touches everyone. There are more than 2.6 million Ontarians living with some form of disability that affects their daily activities and those of their families and friends. People with disabilities represent the world’s largest minority and the only minority group any one of us can become a member of at any time.
Removing barriers in the environment including social, physical and attitudinal barriers is a social responsibility for each of us to ensure everyone can lead a full and independent life.”
Adam Spencer, Chair of the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
“The Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee is a citizen-led group that is committed to the education and awareness building of accessibility within the city. During NAAW, it is important to recognize the effort that has been put forward by individuals, businesses and the City to remove barriers across countless fronts.
NAAW has become an important time to take stock of how accessibility touches and improves everyone’s lives within the city and our commitment going forward to making Burlington the most barrier free and inclusive City in Canada.”
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