Bylaws
Dog Control
Land
Use
History
Cape Island Boat
First
Settlers
Last
Names in 1833
Origin
of Folks
The
Hungarian
Industries
Boatbuilding
Fishing
Lobstering
Processing
Media
CAP
Floor
Plan
Links
Photos
& Videos
Waste
Mgmt App
Staff
Clerks
Council
Councillors
Mayor
Town Business
Accessibility
Plan
Election
Info
Expense
Reports
Public
Hearings
Spring/Fall
Cleanup
Tax
Exemptions
Town
Minutes
Tourism
Accommodations
Recreation
& Dining
Sights
|
Town of Clark's
Harbour : Accessability Plan
ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
TOWN
OF CLARK’S HARBOUR
Welcome
Message
In
2020, the Town of Clark’s Harbour formed an Accessibility Advisory
committee to carry out the requirements of the Accessibility Act of
Nova Scotia (2017). The committee advises Town Council on
identifying, preventing, and eliminating accessibility barriers to
town programs, services, and infrastructure.
The
mandate of the committee is to assist the town in the development of
an Accessibility Plan and to help us become an accessible community
for all to enjoy. The committee is comprised of two members of
Council, one member with a disability and a person associated with a
person with a disability. The Town of Clark’s Harbour’s
Accessibility Plan is committed to meeting the needs of people who
face barriers with accessibility. We will do this by identifying,
removing, and preventing these barriers and by meeting the
requirements of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.
This
plan is the result of the collaboration between Town Council, the
Accessibility Committee, and members of the public. We encourage you
to consider our Accessibility Plan a living document and to provide
us with feedback, and to suggest changes, which will continually
improve it.
Glossary
of Terms
Accessibility
Act (2017)
The
provincial law enacted to achieve accessibility by preventing and
removing barriers for people with disabilities. The law defines the
role and responsibilities of the Accessibility Directorate and the
Accessibility Advisory Board and addresses standards, compliance, and
enforcement.
(nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/accessibility.pdf)
Accessibility
Advisory Board
A
12-member provincial board appointed by the provincial government to
advise the Minister of Justice on accessibility and make
recommendations on accessibility standards. The majority of board
members are persons with disabilities.
Accessibility
Advisory Committee
A
volunteer committee established by a municipality to advise municipal
council about identifying, preventing, and eliminating barriers to
people with disabilities in municipal/town programs, services,
initiatives, and facilities. The committee plays a pivotal role in
helping the municipality become a barrier-free community that
complies with Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act (2017). At least one
half of the members of the advisory committee has a disability or
represent an organization that represents people with disabilities.
Accessibility
Directorate
The
provincial body that is responsible for implementing and
administering the Accessibility Act, supporting accessibility
initiatives and advancing broader disability related issues.
Barrier
The
Accessibility Act of Nova Scotia defines a barrier as “anything
that hinders or challenges the full and effective participation in
society of persons with disabilities, including a physical barrier,
an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier,
an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a
practice.
Braille
A
reading and writing system for people who are visually impaired.
Disability
As
defined by the Accessibility Act of Nova Scotia: “A physical,
mental, intellectual, learning or sensory impairment, including an
episodic disability that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders an
individual’s full and effective participation in society.”
Equitable/Equity
A
commitment to fairness. Equitable access is different from equal
access. Equality means everybody is treated the same; equity mans
everybody is treated fairly, based on their needs and abilities.
Equity recognizes and values differences, removing systemic barriers
and accommodating individual differences, as needed.
Plain
Language
Clear,
conversational communication that makes sense to the intended
audience. The goal of plain language is to communicate so that the
intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what
they find, and use the information.
(plainlanguagenetwork.org/)
Retrofit
To
add features that were not part of the original design.
Tactile
Related
to the sense of touch.
INTRODUCTION
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour’s Accessibility Plan was developed by the
Accessibility Advisory Committee, staff of the Town of Clark’s
Harbour and public consultation and Town Council to whom advice was
provided on identifying, preventing, and eliminating barriers
experienced by people with disabilities in such areas as goods and
services, information and communications, transportation, employment
and built environment.
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour, like many other
towns/municipalities/villages in Nova Scotia, is committed to
ensuring equitable access to community life and participation in
society for all people, regardless of their abilities and is
committed to helping all people maintain their dignity and
independence.
We
believe in inclusion which involves equitable and equal access.
Equality means everyone is treated the same; Equitable means everyone
is treated fairly based on their needs and abilities. Therefore, we
need to meet the needs of people who face barriers to accessibility
but include everyone in that design. How do we do this? By
identifying, removing, and preventing these barriers while meeting
the requirements of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.
GOODS
AND SERVICES
Our
Vision
We
will work towards the goal of people of all ages and abilities having
equitable access to goods and services delivered by the Town of
Clark’s Harbour.
Starting
Point
Overview
The
following are some of the many services the town delivers to the
public:
- Emergency
services, such as policing (RCMP), fire (jointly) and EMO (regional)
- Public
wastewater treatment
- Solid
waste collection and disposal (contract)
- Snow
removal and maintenance of streets
- Animal
control
- The
use of public infrastructure such as buildings, boardwalks and
parks/playgrounds
- Collection
of property taxes and sewer services
- Customer
service
- Providing
information and communication to the public
Achievements
to Date
- Property
tax and sewer service payments are now available through on-line
banking with four extra financial institutions, before it was only
available through RBC
- Boardwalk
is being made more accessible through rebuilding and replacing the
wheelchair ramps (in progress)
- Buildings
are totally wheelchair accessible with automatic door openers
(except one, which is not currently open to the public)
- Park
gazebo is wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair
accessible picnic table at the ballfield
Barriers
- Playgrounds/parks
are not fully accessible
- staff
members are not trained in alternative communication methods, such
as American Sign Language
- no
resources or funds are designated to offer alternative communication
to persons that need them (sign language interpreter/speech
interpreter)
- customer
service counter is not wheelchair accessible.
- Ballpark
washrooms are not fully accessible
Policy
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will deliver all goods and services without
bias. No resident shall be denied a service because of a disability.
Actions
- identify
and remove or circumvent barriers
- record
progress and evaluate successes and problems
Top
Priorities
- promote
disability-related programs and supports to the community
- provide
general updates to the community and provide specific information
upon request
- take
steps to ensure that public parks/playgrounds are accessible
INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Our
Vision
We
will ensure that all information and communications delivered by the
town will be timely, clear and accessible for people of all ages and
abilities.
Our
Starting Point
Overview
The
town delivers information to the public in the following ways:
- by
mail, social media, website, phone, in-person, (at the office) and
newsletters
- Council
and committee meetings are open to the public
Achievements
to Date
- Minutes
of meetings are available on the town website
- Social
media is easily navigated
- Upon
request, information can be provided in large print
- Advertisements
and notices are posted on social media and in some circumstances
also placed in a local newspaper
Barriers
- No
funds or resources are designated to offer alternative
communications to people in need of them
- Staff
are not trained in American Sign Language
- Currently
no process in place for hearing impaired individuals to participate
in public meetings
- Town
website is not fully accessible
- Town
employees are not trained to promote inclusion in communication
- Technology
does not always work as intended/no access to technology/limited
skills with technology
Policy
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will:
- Provide
information in an accessible format or with communication supports
that consider a person’s specific needs, upon request.
- Hold
all in person public meetings in barrier free locations
- Use
plain language
- Ensure
the town’s digital presence and information technology systems are
designed for people of all ages and abilities
Actions
- Research
various types of communication aids
- Identify
other organizations who can provide services and supports relating
to accessibility for town staff and the public
- Have
signs in braille at town facilities identifying washrooms
TRANSPORTATION
Our
Vision
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will work with local organizations to
ensure transportation services are provided to people of all ages and
abilities.
Our
Starting Point
Overview
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour does not currently have a transit system.
A local organization currently provides this service to our
residents.
Achievements
- Financial
support to the Sou’West Nova Transit Association to assist with
the cost of providing affordable and accessible transportation to
residents of the town.
- The
town has provided financial support towards operational costs and
fare reduction for town patrons.
- Adequate
accessible parking spaces at town facilities
- The
town has a Maintenance and Care of Streets by-law
Barriers
- Sou’West
Nova Transit is not equipped or capable of providing rides to
everyone in need and they require 24 hours advanced notice.
- No
taxi service available in the town
- Only
Main Street (Highway 330) has sidewalks/bike trails, all other
streets too narrow to provide such
Policy
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will:
- Continue
to work with Sou’West Nova Transit and other community groups to
address transportation issues for person with disabilities.
Actions
- explore
taxi services if suggested by a potential new business owner
- continue
to provide funding to SWNT for operating costs and fare reduction
rates for town residents
- continue
timeliness with removing snow from streets, sidewalks, parking lots
and other town spaces
EMPLOYMENT
Our
Commitment
We
will remove barriers to employment for people of all ages and
abilities who seek a career with the Town. We will make our
employment practices and workplaces more accessible to new and
existing employees of all ages and abilities.
Our
Starting Point
Overview
The
Town currently employs 4 permanent employees. There are 4 elected
council members and 1 elected mayor. Elected representatives must be
Canadian citizens, at least 18 years of age and live in the Town.
Council may appoint members of the public to serve on committees.
Achievements
- accessible
space for meetings to be held in town hall (Council et al)
- documents
can be provided in various formats (large font, etc.) upon request
- meeting
rooms have tables which are wheelchair accessible
- offices
in town hall are barrier free
Barriers
- council
members are not supplied with their own digital devices for reading
agendas and town documents.
- job
postings do not currently state that we can accommodate persons with
disabilities.
- staff
are generally not trained to recognize barriers that may limit job
opportunities for qualified individuals.
- Job
postings are posted in traditional ways which may not be accessible
to some individuals.
Policies
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will:
- Take
every effort, that is fair and reasonable, to offer barrier free
workstations.
- Provide
the necessary tools and materials to employees with disabilities to
successfully do their job.
- Promote
all municipal jobs in a variety of formats (online, printed, etc.)
- Add
aids to allow those with disabilities to be able to overcome
obstacles.
Actions
- Initiate
plans to remove barriers that might hinder an otherwise capable
employee to be an effective employee
- Discuss
special accommodations with all job applicants
- Offer
assistive technology and special accommodations to all employees in
need
- Identify
organizations and funding sources that may assist people with
disabilities to find and maintain employment
- Take
steps to inform persons with disabilities about non financial
supports, such as Job Coaching and disability supports for
post-secondary training, such as student loans
- Take
steps to encourage various group, such as Department of Community
Services, Tri-County Regional Centre for Education, Nova Scotia
Community College, NS Works/Southwest Employment Services, municipal
units, etc. to share information amongst themselves to help job
seekers find employment
Top
Priorities
- Ensure
town buildings and facilities have wheelchair accessible entrances,
washrooms and corridors
- Install
tactile signs or railing for those with visual difficulties
- Ensure
all job advertisements indicate the town is an equal opportunity
employer and that applicants are encouraged to specify in their job
application if special accommodations are required
BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
Our
Commitment
Our
public buildings and public spaces will be accessible to people of
all ages and abilities, whether we own, lease or operate the space.
We will encourage citizens, the business community and school to make
their public and private spaces more accessible.
Our
Starting Point
Overview
The
Town owns, leases and operates a number of public facilities, such as
the Town Hall, parks, playgrounds parking areas and a community
(comfort) centre and other infrastructures.
Achievements
- Maintain
town playgrounds, sports fields, parks and buildings
- Provide
improvements when necessary
- All
town owned buildings are wheelchair accessible
- Town
hall and comfort/community centre have automatic door openers
- Boardwalks
are under construction to bring the accessibility points up to code
Barriers
- Budget
limitations
- Sidewalks/bike
lanes are uneven, cracked and crumbling in some areas
- Crosswalks
are not clearly marked, no lights, sounds or tactile indicators
- Some
public washrooms are not fully accessible
- Accessible
parking is limited
- Not
enough signs for people with visual and hearing impairments
- Service
counters not at accessible height
Policies
The
Town of Clark’s Harbour will:
- Gather
information and form policies that will ensure accessibility to
everyone
Actions
- Look
for opportunities to construct and maintain more accessible public
washrooms, where possible
- Review
emergency management and building evacuation plans with
accessibility in mind
- Assess
each town parking lot to ensure an adequate number of accessible
parking spaces are being provided
- Ensure
that picnic tables and benches in public areas are accessible
Top
Priorities
- Assess
existing crosswalks to make sure they are accessible to persons with
disabilities
- Provide
an accessible service counter
- Consider
a portion of the annual budget to install, maintain, or improve
accessibility in public buildings and spaces
IMPLEMENTING
THE PLAN
Responsibilities
Accessibility
Advisory Committee
- Review
the Accessibility Plan at least every three years as required by the
Accessibility Act of Nova Scotia
- Committee
to meet at least annually to review progress and commitments
contained in the plan
Council
- Recognize
the significant cost and value of implementing this plan and
municipal operational plans and seek adequate funding to allow the
town to meet the requirements under the accessibility Act of Nova
Scotia
Clerk/Treasurer
- Ensure
the commitments outlined in the Accessibility Plan are reflected and
operationalized in town Accessibility Action Plans required as
public sector bodies under the Accessibility Act of Nova Scotia
Accessibility
Advisory Committee Members
- Mayor
Clay Kenney - Chair
- Deputy
Mayor Irene Baker
- Marlene
Atkinson – resident
- Meredith
Ross – resident
|
|
