The Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee is a legislated Committee as required under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) and Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The mandate of the committee is to assist Council in improving opportunities for persons with disabilities by promoting the implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) and Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) for the Township of West Lincoln. The Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee will achieve this objective by advising Council each year and, as required by the Act, by preparing an annual progress report on the municipality’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for Council approval which will focus on the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities.
The municipalities of West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Port Colborne, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Thorold formed a joint Accessibility Advisory Committee under the provisions of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
The main purposes and activities of the Accessibility Advisory Committee are:
- to advise Councils on the preparation, implementation and effectiveness of a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and provide Annual Progress Reports; to review site plans and advise on accessibility issues relating to identified buildings within the Municipalities; to advise Councils on other accessibility related issues within the Municipalities including policies and procedures associated with accessibility issues, customer service etc.
Required number of Committee Members:
West Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Port Colborne, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Thorold
Current Membership
Maximum 11 members - majority of members (minimum of six (6) - persons with disabilities – serve for the term of council and may be reappointed – suggested number of citizen appointments to be determined based on interest + one (1) Member of Council from among the seven (7) participating municipalities
Proposed Membership (to be address in January 2023 by the JAAC)
Currently, the Terms of Reference allows for twelve (12) representatives. It is the consultants opinion that there should be fifteen (15) representatives, meaning two reps per municipality fourteen (14). Of those fourteen (14), up to five reps may be people without disabilities and one (1) Council representative.