The Township of King aims to uphold strong standards of accessibility in our facilities, through our online communication, and by fulfilling alternate format requests for documents wherever possible. The Township's website is compliant with the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level AA. Email clerks@king.ca or call 905-833-5321 to request an alternate format. For information about the The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or the Township's Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) please refer to the information below.
Approximately 1 in 7 people in Ontario has a disability, which equates to almost 2 million people. By 2036, these numbers are projected to increase to 1 in 5. Anyone can have a disability, and the type of disability can range significantly such as the need for glasses or reliance on a mobility device.
A disability is defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, (AODA) as:
(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
(d) a mental disorder, or
(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; ("handicap")
The Township of King Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) was established in 2002 under the Provincial Legislation Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed. The AAC continues its original mandate of advising Council on identifying, removing and preventing barriers, and on the preparation of an annual Accessibility Plan. The AAC will also advise on implementation of the standards that are being developed under the new legislation. In addition to supporting Council, the AAC provides information and advice to individuals, organizations and the development industry on making homes, events and businesses accessible for all.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee term runs concurrent with Council.
2022 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule
2022 - 2026 Accessibility Advisory Committee Members List
- Anna Roberts
- Beverley Barra-Berger
- Bernie Moyle
- Linda Pabst
- Jakob Schneider
- Councillor Debbie Schaefer
The Township of King's Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) has developed the Accessibility Friendly Awareness Program which aims to provide information and resources to businesses about their role in relation to accessibility. The program aims to help business owners understand what is expected from them regarding accessibility through the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA), 2001, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005, and the Ontario Building Code. The AAC is working to ensure that businesses in the Township understand their responsibilities in removing barriers to access in order to meet the 2025 deadline for a fully accessible Ontario.
Is Your Business Accessible to All Residents?
- Are ramps available as an alternate to steps and heavy doors?
- Are hard flooring surfaces used as opposed to rugs and area rugs?
- Are public areas free of physical obstacles?
- Are washrooms sufficiently large?; big wheelchairs need two square metres to turn around
- Is signage mounted no lower than one metre from the floor and no higher than 150 cm (5 feet)?
- Are there accessible water fountains, telephones, computer terminals, etc.?
- Is documentation available in alternate formats such as large prints, Braille, diskettes?
- Are there at least two ways to move from floor to floor? (ramps/elevators)
To inquire about the Accessibility Friendly Awareness Program or to take part in the program, please contact the Clerks Department.
Accessibility Funding for Township Businesses
The Accessibility Friendly Awareness Program works in partnership with the Community Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP program has a Building Accessibility Improvement Grant that businesses in the core areas of the Township can apply for to obtain funding for automatic doors, accessibility ramps, or other improvements to make their properties barrier free. If you have questions or want to learn more information, you can visit www.king.ca/CIP or contact our Economic Development Team by email at ecdev@king.ca or by phone at 905-833-4016.
Have Accessibility or Customer Service Feedback?
If you have any comments or wish to provide feedback about customer service or accessibility, please fill out and submit a Customer Service Feedback Form.
Accessibility
The Township of King is committed to providing quality goods and services which are accessible to all persons we serve. We have taken many initiatives to foster an inclusive community by identifying and removing barriers to ensure that our goods and services are provided in a way that respects the dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for all people.
Some of the ways we have worked towards accessibility include the ongoing involvement of King's Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) whose purpose is to advise and make suggestions on various construction and planning applications, how to improve communications such as new forms that are easier to understand, content updates on the website that include graphics, providing alternative formats for documents, and ensuring that parks, trails, play spaces and public areas are made accessible for residents and visitors where feasible. For more information on the AAC, visit our meeting portal.
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Inclusion
As part of our commitment to Accessibility, Inclusion and Diversity, King Township is proud to announce that our Inclusion Charter has been finalized. King Township has worked closely with York Region in developing our Inclusion Charter. Both King and York Region's Inclusion Charters can be found below. To learn more about diversity and inclusion, you can visit York Region's website.
Accessible Activities
The York Regional Forest is open to the public 365 days a year with no cost to enter. The Forest is over 2,500 hectares and is made up of 24 Forest Tracts located in different parts of the Region.
More than 150 kilometres of trails, including three that are accessible, are available.
The accessible Nobleton Tract trail is located at 5345 15th Sideroad.The accessible trails are wider, clear of large obstructions and graded to ensure ease-of-movement for all visitors. Each trail ranges between one-to-two-kilometre loops that pass through a variety of landscapes.
Accessible parking is available. Visit york.ca/environment/forests/york-regional-forest for more information.