2023-2027 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Accessibility impacts everyone. It affects our ability to experience joy, safety, convenience and adventure.

What considerations need to be made to ensure City of Vaughan programs, policies, procedures and services are free from barriers? How can we ensure City-managed public spaces thoughtfully consider the needs of individuals with vision impairments, hearing deficiencies, social anxieties, autism and sensory sensitivities or developmental delays, just to name a few? How can the City ensure you have access to the information you require in the format you require it in?

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the City of Vaughan has an obligation to regularly develop and monitor a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. To draft this plan, a wide range of community members and residents — particularly those with lived experience of barriers to access, equity and inclusion — must be consulted with and welcomed into the conversation.

The City is committed to ensuring the next Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (2023-2027) will be designed with the inputs of a greater and wider range of Vaughan residents than ever before. That means collecting the inputs of as many residents, workers and visitors to Vaughan as possible; in particular, those who have disabilities, or who are loved ones of people with disabilities or who work with people with disabilities.

GET INVOLVED!

Engagement on the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan update closed on April 2.

From Feb. 15 to April 2, members of the public were invited to share their accessibility stories and describe what a fully enabling and accessible City of Vaughan looks and feels like.

Accessibility impacts everyone. It affects our ability to experience joy, safety, convenience and adventure.

What considerations need to be made to ensure City of Vaughan programs, policies, procedures and services are free from barriers? How can we ensure City-managed public spaces thoughtfully consider the needs of individuals with vision impairments, hearing deficiencies, social anxieties, autism and sensory sensitivities or developmental delays, just to name a few? How can the City ensure you have access to the information you require in the format you require it in?

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the City of Vaughan has an obligation to regularly develop and monitor a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. To draft this plan, a wide range of community members and residents — particularly those with lived experience of barriers to access, equity and inclusion — must be consulted with and welcomed into the conversation.

The City is committed to ensuring the next Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (2023-2027) will be designed with the inputs of a greater and wider range of Vaughan residents than ever before. That means collecting the inputs of as many residents, workers and visitors to Vaughan as possible; in particular, those who have disabilities, or who are loved ones of people with disabilities or who work with people with disabilities.

GET INVOLVED!

Engagement on the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan update closed on April 2.

From Feb. 15 to April 2, members of the public were invited to share their accessibility stories and describe what a fully enabling and accessible City of Vaughan looks and feels like.

Share Your Story

What does a fully accessible and enabling City of Vaughan look like to you?

What is your own experience of accessibility and inclusion? And what would you like the City of Vaughan to learn from your accessibility story?

One in every two people experience some form of a barrier that prevents them from performing everyday life tasks, carrying out work or household responsibilities, or engaging in leisure, recreational and social activities. 

Whether it’s a broken bone, mental-health related, a chronic health condition, substance dependence, a learning disability, neurodivergence like ADHD or autism, seizures, or pregnancy, to name only a few, it’s inevitable that you, a loved one or someone you know well, are confronting the obstacles and frustrations that result from having a disability. Sometimes they are temporary and sometimes they are not. What should we know about the needs, concerns and dreams of those living with disabilities?

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Accessible Parks and Swings for Kids to PLAY! on Facebook Share Accessible Parks and Swings for Kids to PLAY! on Twitter Share Accessible Parks and Swings for Kids to PLAY! on Linkedin Email Accessible Parks and Swings for Kids to PLAY! link

    Accessible Parks and Swings for Kids to PLAY!

    by A Mother, almost 2 years ago
    My daughter has a cerebral palsy but is very active! She loves walking to the park and using the playground and swings. Unfortunately she is now 4 years old and does not fit into the baby swing seats. She does not have enough core strength to stay on the 'big kid seats' and will easily fall off. Our dream is to make our local 'Crofter Park', in Woodbridge an accessible park for her to play in with foam floors instead of wood chips and to at least have an accessible swing for her and other children with disabilities to use... Continue reading
  • Share All New Builds should be accessible on Facebook Share All New Builds should be accessible on Twitter Share All New Builds should be accessible on Linkedin Email All New Builds should be accessible link

    All New Builds should be accessible

    by Hope this helps bring change , almost 2 years ago

    I spent time in a wheelchair unable to walk and was brought out to dinner to try and cheer me up after my first few days of rehab. We went to a new plaza who didn’t do a final paving of the parking lot and we couldn’t safely get me and my wheelchair over the ledge. I had to cling onto a post while my partner moved the wheel chair onto the sidewalk so we can proceed inside. The struggle, embarrassment … it did a number on my mental health… I Understand that roads aren’t taken over and construction is... Continue reading

  • Share Accessibility & parking on Facebook Share Accessibility & parking on Twitter Share Accessibility & parking on Linkedin Email Accessibility & parking link

    Accessibility & parking

    by LT Maple, almost 2 years ago

    In response to this subject, as a senior with some days of very bad arthritis when all joints are highly inflamed, I wish something was in place, for public parking as well as in shopping malls for spaces dedicated to seniors.

    Many are already in place for mothers with young children but they are way more mobile than seniors with arthritis on very bad days. I was a young mother with three young children and managed regular parking just fine.

    Also there should be service gasoline stations available in Maple (and elsewhere) for people who have difficulty getting out of... Continue reading

  • Share Snowbanks blocking access to sidewalks on Facebook Share Snowbanks blocking access to sidewalks on Twitter Share Snowbanks blocking access to sidewalks on Linkedin Email Snowbanks blocking access to sidewalks link

    Snowbanks blocking access to sidewalks

    by Kris. Lo, almost 2 years ago
    The snowbanks and piles of snow that are blocking each intersection have made stepping out of your home impossible. Those with a cane, a walker, mobility issues or mothers with strollers can not get around. I am so disappointed in those responsible for clearing snow in vaughan and their lack of consideration for those who have mobility issues. Please revisit the way snow is cleared to ensure accessibility is maintained on our streets. Do better Vaughan.
  • Share Moving the Disabled Around Vaughan, Toronto and the GTA on Facebook Share Moving the Disabled Around Vaughan, Toronto and the GTA on Twitter Share Moving the Disabled Around Vaughan, Toronto and the GTA on Linkedin Email Moving the Disabled Around Vaughan, Toronto and the GTA link

    Moving the Disabled Around Vaughan, Toronto and the GTA

    by Maria DiCenso, almost 2 years ago

    My son Anthony is 46 years old, disabled and needs a wheelchair. Currently I drive him to his therapy appts, usually in Toronto area. I am a widowed senior (73 years old) who wants to stay living in Vaughan, but when I can't drive anymore, Anthony will not be able to go to these appts. To go from my home to the 404 & Finch, it would take almost 4 hours, accessing YRT & TTC wheeltrans.

    I am requesting: a) allowing the YRT to take him into Toronto & the TTC Wheeltrans to bring him home. OR b) open up... Continue reading

  • Share Accessible Equipment in our Community Centres on Facebook Share Accessible Equipment in our Community Centres on Twitter Share Accessible Equipment in our Community Centres on Linkedin Email Accessible Equipment in our Community Centres link

    Accessible Equipment in our Community Centres

    by D & C, almost 2 years ago
    One way to encourage our disabled community to become more active, to exercise on a daily routine, to free us from our anxiety, become more fruitful, fulfilled and have a sense of belonging our community centre gyms should be first of all accessible, more affordable and accessible equipment that are easy to get on and off safely.

    All our community centre pools should also be equipped with lifts to easily access the water.

    Swmming is the best exercise for the whole body.

  • Share Bus trips for the disabled on Facebook Share Bus trips for the disabled on Twitter Share Bus trips for the disabled on Linkedin Email Bus trips for the disabled link

    Bus trips for the disabled

    by D & C, almost 2 years ago
    I have been a member of a Woodbridge Seniors Club for many years. Never was I able to join the group on any of their outings because when the time came to decide if they should use a bus with washrooms or an accessible bus, washrooms was chosen.

    I volunteered for a camp in Parry Sound for three months each year and on my day off I was able to get on an accessible bus to go to Casino Rama in Orillia.

    Why is it that in a small town of approx. 6,850 citizens can accommodate the disabled and a... Continue reading

  • Share Doctor Practices on Facebook Share Doctor Practices on Twitter Share Doctor Practices on Linkedin Email Doctor Practices link

    Doctor Practices

    by D & C, almost 2 years ago

    I cannot go to my family doctor and get a full physical or to any walk-in clinic

    because their examine tables do not have height adjustment. Incredible, we

    can go lightyears away in space but not 4 or 5 inches up and down on earth.

    Most hospitals that I visited have the same problem.

  • Share The AODA on Facebook Share The AODA on Twitter Share The AODA on Linkedin Email The AODA link

    The AODA

    by D & C, almost 2 years ago
    There are many establishments in Vaughan that take could easily be made accessible, but because of the Grand Father Clause in the ( Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act ) some establishments have no respect for the disabled and I have a very hard and frustrating time visiting them. These establishments are the closest to my residence and therefor have no other choice otherwise I would not give them my business. The AODA should be reviewed and updated to ensure a better quality of life for the challenged not only in Vaughan but throughout Canada.
  • Share York Region Mobility Transportation on Facebook Share York Region Mobility Transportation on Twitter Share York Region Mobility Transportation on Linkedin Email York Region Mobility Transportation link

    York Region Mobility Transportation

    by D & C, almost 2 years ago
    I had to cancel 3 trips to Sunnybrook hospital last yea for testing. Going to and from the Toronto hospitals from Vaughan is a day full of anxiety, frustration and a whole day waisted. For a 1 hour appointment with a specialist it takes roughly 7 hours between YRT Mobility and Wheel Transit. Maybe for a normal person that is not bad but for a challenged person that is frustrating. YRT Mobility should be able to go across the border and simplify our trips and give us back some dignity.