Open Letter to The Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Community & Social Services regarding the AODA

UPDATED: MINISTER’S RESPONSE

September 10, 2012

The Honourable John Milloy, Minister

Ministry of Community & Social Services

6th Floor, Hepburn Block

80 Grosvenor Street

Toronto, Ontario

M7A 1E9

Re: Endorsement of Accessibility Firms

Dear Honourable Minister:

As the Minister in charge of the Ministry overseeing the AODA, I am writing to address the warning on your Ministry’s website advising that the Ministry does not endorse accessibility firms, and in fact warns using such firms “at your own risk”.

Interestingly, it was only this week that the Financial Post featured an article on the World Economic Forum’s annual report which “ranks a country’s competitiveness according to factors such as the state of its infrastructure and its ability to foster innovation” and said “Canada’s economic competitiveness on the world stage is being pulled down by — among other things — government handling of the innovation file”. The non-support of your Ministry of an innovative industry, and an industry that supports and implements your accessibility regulations, is a perfect example of how, “too often, Canada fails to commercialize its good ideas into marketable products and services or capture the value from growth” as the article outlines.

In “Releasing Constraints: Projecting the Economic Impacts of Improved Accessibility in Ontario”, The Martin Prosperity Institute (MPI) & Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ARTC) at OCAD University & The Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity (ICP) report that the improved educational attainment, workforce participation and societal access combined with the curb-cut effect and reduction on reliance of social programs, community and family resources that result from the implementation of accessibility leads to more innovative, productive and healthier societies.

With inclusion and diversity driving growth, and the combined purchasing power of persons desiring accessible products and services estimated at $2 trillion dollars, the increase in spending in the next five years in the Tourism Sector projected to increase up to $1.5 million dollars and Consumer Retail Sector up to $9.6 billion dollars, the assistance of accessibility firms that improve accessibility seems like a positive thing to be encouraged, not publicly discouraged.

Accessibility firms, in addition to having extensive experience implementing accessibility programs and having expansive knowledge of the A.O.D.A., its Standards and compliance requirements as well as Federal and Provincial Building Codes, accessibility firms know accessibility. And we don’t just advise on legislated accessibility, we focus on actual accessibility. No legislation is ever going to advise big box stores to wash the wheel handrails on their courtesy wheelchairs, but such small, cost-effective solutions demonstrate the difference between legislated and actual accessibility.

We train staff and businesses to provide adaptive, accommodating service to all customers. We modify website layouts and programming to ensure they are accessible and compatible with assisstive technologies. We go ‘Beyond the Building Code’ and explain the rationale behind the regulations, providing practical strategies and solutions for accommodation. We improve accessibility by increasing awareness with informative seminars, speaking engagements, training sessions, workshops, and marketing and publicity efforts to explain obligations and compliance requirements. In addition, as a fledgling industry, we also have to spread awareness and demonstrate the need for, and benefits of, accessibility. Since most barriers to access exist simply as a result of lack of awareness, accessibility awareness is key to accessibility and can greatly improve understanding and accommodation.

And accessibility firms are comprised of teams including: professional trainers; architects, engineers and designers; disability specialists, project managers, technical specialists, and persons with disabilities. Certainly there may be a few bad apples in the bunch, and businesses can implement the AODA without assistance, however many businesses recognize the opportunities and benefits of accessibility and choose to hire accessibility professionals with practical experience to advise them and help ensure their business is accessible to everyone.

We are not looking to exploit the law and make a quick buck, we are just looking to make Ontario accessible for all. We are also employees with disabilities looking to earn a living at an accommodating, adaptable career in accessibility that highlights our unique skill-sets, and quite frankly, feel it is unfair of the overseeing government body to try and limit the ability of it’s citizens, particularly those with disabilities, from the ability to earn a living.

Accessibility firms aren’t actually expecting your endorsement, but does any other government website warn against a person, product, business or industry sector? Perhaps it is time to read up on Human and Charter Rights. It should also be noted that while your Ministry does not endorse private accessibility firms, it does endorse Accessibility Works, an arm of the government entity Industry Canada. In addition, many Human Resources firms are also assisting businesses to implement accessibility, yet you do not warn against these, or any other firms on your site. Rather than supporting private accessibility firms advocating for, and assisting with making Ontario accessible to all, firms that employ and improve conditions for persons with disabilities, you specifically discourage businesses from using such firms.

The possibilities and opportunities accessibility and inclusion provide are immeasurable and benefit everyone, not just persons with disabilities. Accessibility addresses the core principles of independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity so encouraging and enabling participation and integration for all citizens in all aspects of society including employment, consumerism, and recreation, accessibility is becoming increasingly important as our population ages. For businesses, accessibility expands the reach of their product or service to the entire market resulting in improved and repeat sales while improving corporate perception, customer satisfaction and consumer loyalty. Accessibility firms are working to achieve all of this for Ontario.

And while accessibility firms recognize and appreciate the benefits of the AODA and any efforts the Ministry makes in increasing awareness and improving accessibility, we also understand that the true accessibility involves more than just the implementation of your regulations. Under the regulations currently required, businesses have to provide accessible customer service. Quite frankly, accessible customer service doesn’t help those of us still stuck in the parking lot and lip-service doesn’t get us in the door.

So it’s okay that your Ministry doesn’t endorse accessibility firms, because here at Roll a Mile, we endorse ourselves. We pride ourselves on the fact that in addition to our professional designations, all of our consultants and accessibility professionals have first-hand knowledge of disabilities providing a unique ability to advise clients on barriers to access, adaptation, accommodation and accessibility from a unique perspective. In the words of one of our consultants, “You have to live it to know it”, and this unique perspective is incorporated into all of our accessibility efforts. And really, who better to advise on accessibility than those who encounter barriers to access on a daily basis?

At Roll a Mile, we don’t need government endorsement, we have our PwD’s.

Yours Sincerely,

Donna M. Jack

President, Roll a Mile

Accessibility ~ That’s how we roll

(519) 823-3046

www.rollamile.com

access@rollamile.com

UPDATED: MINISTER’S RESPONSE

Seeing past the shell and through to the soul….

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . … . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . … lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. …Babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future … . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. …. . ME!!

Originally by: Phyllis McCormack; Adapted by Dave Griffith

www.rollamile.com

5 Reasons to make your business more accessible (and more profitable)

1 ♦ Expands reach, improves corporate perception, customer satisfaction & consumer loyalty

2 ♦ Canadians with disabilities spend $25 billion / year and consumers seeking accessible environments,  products & services have $2 trillion dollars to spend

3 ♦ Impact of AODA implementation on the retail sector over the next 5 years from $3.8 – 9.6 billion in increased spending

4 ♦ Accessible societies are more innovative, productive, competitive, prosperous and healthy

5 ♦ It’s the law. Compliant businesses avoid fines for non-compliance up to $100 thousand /day


To learn more about the accessibility, visit

www.rollamile.com

Accessibility. That’s how we roll.

Some facts from: The Martin Prosperity Institute (MPI) & Adaptive Technology Rescource Centre (ARTC) at OCAD University & The Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity (ICP), June 14, 2010, “Releasing Constraints: Projecting the Economic Impacts of Improved Accessibility in Ontario”. Retrieved April, 2012.

Media Release – May 17, 2012

ROLL A MILE AT 4TH ANNUAL ACCESSIBILITY CONFERENCE MAY 30th

Fergus, Ontario, May 17, 2012 – Local accessibility firm Roll a Mile will be presenting a session at the 4th Annual The Accessibility Conference at the University of Guelph, May 29th and 30th. The theme of this year’s conference is Possibility • Opportunity • Action to move attendees beyond awareness or only a theoretical understanding of accessibility to engage delegates with innovative research and practical strategies for taking action.

Roll a Mile’s session, “Putting the Cost of Accessibility into Perspective” performs a cost-analysis of accessibility by analyzing return on investment. Comparing such items as: the societal and economic benefits, possibilities and opportunities of accessibility and inclusion; implementation costs; cost of non-compliance; and value of preserving dignity and independence. The session runs Wednesday, May 30th from 8:45 – 9:45 a.m.

Participants will: examine the cost of accessibility relative to other recent advances and expenditures in business and institutions; examine historic examples of business evolution and advancement to accommodate everything from social movements to technological advancements; go ‘Beyond the Building Code’ to understanding the rationale behind the regulation and compare regulated accessibility to actual accessibility; and learn cost-effective ideas and practical strategies for implementing and improving accessibility.

Session speaker and Roll a Mile President, Donna Jack, says her business faces one major obstacle, lack of awareness and misperceptions about the costs involved in implementing accessibility and complying with regulations. “There is a huge misperception about the true cost” she says, “current regulations under the A.O.D.A. simply require most businesses to implement accessible customer service policies and procedures, and train staff. Right now, it’s not even about having a ramp, though having a ramp is helpful.”

“As well,” she continues, “the benefits and opportunities presented by accessibility and inclusion for businesses, institutions and society far outweigh the costs. One recent study estimates that the implementation of the AODA could generate retail sales increases ranging from $3.8-$9.6 billion over the next 5 years. A chance at that piece of the pie is a pretty good return on the cost of becoming accessible”.

For more information on the 2012 Accessibility Conference visit www.accessconf.ca

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For more information: www.rollamile.com, 519-823-3046 or access@rollamile.com

# #

Resolution 2012

Our New Year’s Resolution for 2012 is to put as many people in wheelchairs as possible. Why? Because it is amazing how fast perspective is changed and awareness raised from the seat of a wheelchair.

For example, I can tell you that a ramp slope should not exceed 8% (though < 5% is recommended*), and that to determine that percentage you take ratio of rise divided by run between two points, or I can put you in a wheelchair at the bottom of a too-steep ramp. Which will you remember more?

At Roll a Mile, we truly believe that first-hand experiences with barriers to access help raise awareness regarding accessibility. By no means do I want to trivialize the issues and barriers persons with disabilities face in their daily lives, as a few minutes in a wheelchair, blindfold or earplugs is only a small representation. But a few minutes “Rolling a Mile” can significantly raise awareness and alter perspectives.

All business owners and managers, particularly those with publicly accessible areas, should get in a wheelchair and take a tour of their store or facility. It gives an entirely new perspective about the arrangement, set-up and overall accessibility of a store. Can you reach items you need? Are you lost in a maze of clothing-rack displays? Are aisles wide and clear of objects? Are your interac machines secured or can they be moved to accommodate persons of shorter stature or those using a wheelchair or scooter? How are you perceived by others? Do they look at your face first, or your feet? Do they speak to you, or whoever you’re with? Perspectives can change greatly when your outlook is lowered even a few feet in a wheelchair.

In fact, everyone should spend a few days in a wheelchair and all educational disciplines could benefit from accessibility awareness training: architects, developers, planners, designers, engineers, healthcare professionals, business management, retail services, administration, human resources, marketing, sales, hospitality & tourism, recreation, computer engineering, computing & information sciences, criminal justice, community & social service professionals.

Of course, these are only issues that persons using wheelchairs encounter. There are entirely different accessibility considerations for physical, hearing, intellectual, learning, visual, and speech disabilities. Roll a Mile endeavours to provide all of our clients and participants with a “roll a mile” perspective to help raise awareness about barriers to access facing persons with disabilities. We also believe that first-hand experiences and altered perspectives assist with the retention of accessibility information. And while “putting people in wheelchairs” is not all we do, it’s an important part because raising awareness and increasing accessibility knowledge is what we’re all about at Roll a Mile.

www.rollamile.com

*not intended as advice, Building Codes and regulations vary depending upon region.

Disabilities Act

My eleven year old step-daughter had to do her current events assignment on a recent item in the newspaper about human rights. So humbled she chose mine. This is what she wrote:

Disabilities Act

My current events article is about the new Disability Act that has new laws that all businesses have to follow by January 1, 2012. These laws are to help make it easier for people with disabilities to access goods and services. There are a lot of reasons why it is good for businesses to do this, not just because it is the law.

The new laws don’t really cost the businesses any money, they just have to make new rules about customer service and teach their employees these rules. This helps make sure everyone who works for them understands what accessibility is, why it is important, and how to help people with disabilities. The new laws also mean businesses have to have rules about letting in service animals, and assistive devices like wheelchairs or scooters.

The connection to the Focus on Faith theme, human rights and responsibilities is that all people deserve equal opportunities and access to goods and services and that they can do this while being independent and keeping their dignity. This means that people with disabilities don’t have to ask for help or rely on someone else for help. Ways businesses can do this are to teach their employees to understand sign-language, or to use a pen and paper to talk to people who are deaf. It could mean having a Braille or large print menus for someone who is blind or has trouble seeing.

The new laws make a lot of sense. They help people with disabilities to get goods and services. The new laws were made to help make sure people with disabilities have dignity and independence. They also help businesses to make more money. If more customers can buy their products, the business will make more money. And if their customers have good experiences with employees and accessibility, they will come back again, and spend more money. The new laws in the Disability Act will help people with disabilities and businesses.

Piper J., 11 yrs.

Why Legislating Bullying Won’t Work

Our society has made bullying acceptable, so how can we really punish children for repeating behaviour that we taught them? Can we really expect them to do as we say, not as we do? Bullying is so pervasive in our everyday lives, that most of us are so immune, we no longer notice it at all. To prove this, one simply need turn on the television.

Now, I know not to sit down and watch “Real Housewives from Anywhere” or “Bad Guy Wives” with my children in the room, but bullying has become so pervasive in television that it’s becoming so I can’t watch anything but kid shows with them around. For some reason, it seems that producers have become convinced that people want to watch bullying, and sadly, ratings reinforce both the producer’s belief and the social acceptance of the bullying behaviour.

And it’s not just prime-time comedies where characters frequently refer to each other as “dumbass” or “jackass”, that now have titles like “I Hate My Offspring”. One long-running prime-time comedy, while never being family-friendly viewing, now doesn’t have a single episode that doesn’t feature multiple violent shots to the face.

Admittedly, these shows have appropriate viewer-warnings, but bullying has become so pervasive that even real-estate / renovation / redecorating shows are filled with disrespect and vulgarity. One show features a realtor and a renovator going head to head to convince homeowners to either move or remain in their renovated space. Not a bad premise. It’s the language and bickering and producer-staged skits / fights that I take issue with. The manner in which the professionals speak to each other, co-workers, contractors and even the home-owners themselves, is downright rude, insulting and antagonistic. This is not how we should be speaking to each other. Other home and garden focused shows are the same. Scripted skits about time-delays and performance, poorly executed by decorators berating co-stars and contractors alike.

Other shows have entire premises’ based upon bullying and conflict. One program actually pits future mother-in-laws against each other in the planning of their childrens’ wedding. One of the worst I’ve seen lately has stage-mothers pitted against coaching professionals where the fallout of their behaviour on the child-performers is actually abusive.

Even commercials for coffee makers are about bullying. Barcodes are exclusive cliques whose members are discourteous to anyone who doesn’t belong. In fact, one of these commercials contains the line “What’s with those milk people?” Substitute the word milk with a race or offensive label and it wouldn’t be considered appropriate, so why are we allowing it? The most recent of these ads now resorts to the use of physical violence to gain acceptance into the barcode clique.

And no one seems immune to the bullying. A major retailer is now “Taking On Santa” in their ads. Really, Santa? The character that is nothing but benevolent, distributing toys to children throughout the world? The fellow who is looked up to and revered by children the world-over is now the object of antagonistic ridicule.

How can we realistically expect to reduce bullying when we fail to even recognize it? Legislative bullying won’t make it go away. It’s a great first-step, but society has to learn to recognize bullying and stop tolerating it. Only then can we hope to reduce it.

Donna Jack

Letter to the Editor

http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=letters

A win and a win

Dear Editor:

Re: Preposterous Law

There is a focus on cost and inconvenience of accessibility, when the cost for most to comply is negligible, establishing customer service policies and training staff.

The banking industry spent billions reinforcing floors for ATMs and most businesses have retrofit to accommodate technological advancements. Business is not static and change is often required to remain competitive. With one in seven Canadians having a disability, spending upwards of $25 billion dollars a year, why wouldn’t businesses want to be accessible to their entire market?  Plus, accessibility improves corporate perception, customer satisfaction and consumer loyalty. Win, win.

As the recent letter demonstrates, there is an obvious need for increased awareness. As with all movements of social change, we not only have to overcome barriers, but ignorance and resistance. As a person with a disability, I understand most barriers to access exist simply as a lack of awareness, not an act of malice.

Training staff in accessibility awareness provides adaptive service skills to improve interactions. All staff don’t have to know sign-language, but front-end staff knowing simple signs like “thank-you” can be beneficial.

Training won’t significantly impact the bottom line, but improved communication creating increased and repeat sales will.

The laws were not designed to inconvenience or bankrupt businesses. Restaurants spend thousands a year on crayons to entertain children, yet independence and dignity can be preserved for a few dollars for Braille and large-print menus so patrons need not be read to like a child. And it’s not just about shopping.

Frequently, I have been prevented from performing my job and earning a living, and others have been critically injured, stuck or stranded as a result of inaccessibility.

I am appreciative of people who offer their assistance, but I really don’t want help, just access so I can do it myself. But I am appreciative of any act of courtesy, disability or not.
Donna Jack,

Owner, Roll a Mile

FERGUS

in response to:

‘Preposterous’ law

Dear Editor:

I am not disabled, but I have travelled many places with a baby stroller on my own. I know it is frustrating when the handicap buttons on doors don’t work, or worse, aren’t even there. I know it is difficult when there is no ramp. However, I have never assumed that any business was discriminating against me or my children.

The Disabilities Act, which forces businesses to prepare to deal with all types of disabled customers, is preposterous. The problem is not that we lack laws to help those in need. The problem is our society is increasingly amoral. It used to be most people would rush to the aid of a mom struggling with a baby carriage, a blind man crossing the street, or a wheelchair-bound woman trying to reach something from the shelf in a store. And it used to be that those in need would graciously accept the help.

No one would cry, “Discrimination” because everyone knew there wasn’t any. Real discrimination is a sign in the window that reads, “No colored allowed” or “Public swimming pool: Whites only.”

It is impossible to accommodate every situation. Should grocery stores have shelves no taller than four feet so someone in a wheelchair or scooter can reach all the items? Should all businesses have someone on site who is trained in sign language? Should every restaurant offer menus in braille?

Legislating morality rarely works. Common sense, humility and kindness should suffice in all situations.
Andrea Black, SALEM