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Tell us what you think about the draft plan

After the first phase of public engagement City staff took the feedback we received and compiled it then used it to write the first draft of the new Accessibility Plan.

Please review the draft below and let us know what you think in the comment box at the bottom of the article. City staff will use that feedback to refine the draft before bringing it to the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee in the fall.

Let us know what you think!

Comment period ends on June 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Draft Accessibility Plan

The City of Kingston has developed guiding principles for each of the five standards. These five principles can be found at the beginning of each section to follow, along with specific goals to achieve greater accessibility and remove barriers within that standard.

The principles and goals were developed based on the feedback received during the first round of public engagement and consultation with City staff.

Customer Service

The City of Kingston will ensure that interactions between City employees and residents respect the dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity for all people. Staff will be empowered to consider the needs of people with disabilities when removing barriers to goods, services and facilities, with a focus on the highest level of inclusion.

Goals

  • Kingston Transit and Kingston Access Bus Services (KABS) will explore a pilot program to allow KABS passengers to use their monthly transit passes interchangeably on both services at no additional cost to passengers.

  • Conduct a pilot program that will install a hearing assist system at a City facility offering front-line customer service.

  • Staff will explore and participate in training opportunities in a variety of areas related to accessible customer service and intersecting between accessibility and other Indigenization, equity, diversity and inclusion related topics. Staff will explore partnerships with community organizations in the provision of these training opportunities.

  • Continue to improve access related to the patron experience at the Kingston Grand Theatre through ongoing staff training and based on industry best practices.

  • Hire a dedicated staff resource with responsibility for accessibility and align that position within the Community Development, Wellbeing and IIDEA Department.

  • Review the process for accessible seating areas at special events organized by the City, with a goal of creating multiple areas to accommodate differing accessibility needs.

  • Fulfill a connector/convener role for volunteer service organizations, facilitating connection with service recipients and assisting in system navigation for those seeking services.

  • Review programming at the PumpHouse Museum and MacLachlan Woodworking Museum with a goal of increasing sensory-friendly programs.

  • Increase the number of municipal services offered at a discount through the Municipal Fee Assistance Program. Staff will work to improve community awareness and access to the program and reduce barriers in the application process.

  • Offer funding to housing providers for use in upgrading facilities for physical accessibility needs.

  • Increase facility user awareness of City policy with respect to service animal access to recreation facilities.

  • Maintain partnerships and explore expanded opportunities with community organizations for the provision of inclusive programming, including arts and job skills programming.

  • Work directly with residents on an individual basis to determine accommodation requirements for the solid waste cart collection program.


Information and Communication

The City of Kingston will communicate with residents using a variety of methods and techniques to ensure that information is available to all residents in the format that best suits their needs. The City will actively seek feedback regarding the accessibility of programs and services from all residents. Proactive steps will be taken to inform the community on how to report accessibility barriers.

Goals

  • Continue to provide information on City programs and services using the widest variety of communications tools possible to ensure that all residents have an opportunity to stay informed.

  • Update the Kingston Transit accessible services handbook.

  • In partnership with the Awareness & Education Project Team, create and execute public awareness campaigns regarding accessibility. Campaign specifics are to be determined based on timing and areas of greatest need as identified by the community.

  • Continue to engage with businesses groups and organizations to share information and uncover opportunities to educate and inform businesses on the importance of accessibility.

  • Provide multiple points of entry for residents related to arts programming and projects, including Grand OnStage and the installation of temporary and permanent public art projects.

  • Conduct continuous awareness and education for residents regarding how to report accessibility barriers. Reporting of barriers will be possible through a variety of communication channels, and in accordance with the Accessibility Standards Policy.

  • Examine the use of artificial intelligence chatbots or virtual assistants to ensure better access to City information.

  • Create and distribute stickers for residential homes to identify for first responders that an occupant may require special assistance due to a disability.

  • Create and distribute to personal support workers a fire safety checklist to identify hazards in homes. Fire Prevention staff would then follow up with residents to identify and assist in removing hazards.

  • Provide grant writing assistance for people and organizations applying to the City of Kingston Arts Fund.

  • Continue to update and expand upon the number of facilities and parks, as well as features, contained in the City’s Accessibility Features map.

  • Develop and maintain a list of community organizations related to the area of accessibility. The list will contain contact information, to be used by staff to ensure appropriate groups are consulted as part of City engagements.

  • Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of the City website and other digital assets to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements.

Employment

The City of Kingston will support the recruitment of potential employees and retention of current employees by ensuring that policies, practices, and workplaces are accessible. The City recognizes that the needs of every potential and current employee with a disability are unique and will dedicate the time and effort to understanding those needs.

Goals

  • Examine job requirements and minimum qualifications to reduce barriers to application for persons with disabilities and ensure only bona fide qualifications are listed.

  • Continue the use of the DiscoverAbility Network, a closed job board that allows employers to connect directly with persons with disabilities seeking employment.

  • Seek out grants and funding sources from the federal and provincial levels of government to promote equitable and gainful employment through community programs.

  • Continue training of staff with hiring responsibilities on bias & heuristics and inclusive hiring principles.

  • Work with secondary schools on potential co-operative work programs that would place high school students with disabilities with City departments to gain work experience.

  • Continue participation in Disabilities Mentoring Day and associated events.

Transportation

The City of Kingston will ensure that public transit and transit infrastructure is accessible to all residents through the prevention and removal of barriers. This includes conventional transportation services offered by Kingston Transit, specialized transportation services offered by Kingston Access Bus Services (KABS), and accessible taxicab service offered by the Kingston & Area Taxi Licensing Commission (KATLC).

Goals

  • Kingston Access Bus Services (KABS) provides specialized transportation services in the City of Kingston. The City of Kingston funds KABS and ensures that it complies with its obligations (as a specialized transportation service provider) under the AODA through a service agreement. KABS staff will monitor ridership trends, including historical ridership data and new service requests, when estimating future demand. During the annual budget request process, KABS utilizes this data to drive service plans, which will be presented to the City of Kingston during the budget process. Additionally, KABS will participate in the annual public meetings held by Kingston Transit to obtain feedback on its accessibility plans, and present information annually to the City’s accessibility advisory committee.

  • Hold an annual public meeting in an accessible location, and accessible via public transportation, to receive feedback regarding the accessibility plan for Kingston Transit. Staff will also report annually to MAAC regarding accessibility plans.

  • Implement partially touchless mobility securement systems on all new bus purchases, allowing transit passengers using mobility devices to independently secure themselves. The partially touchless mobility system will represent one of the two required mobility device securement areas, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Continue to invest in the upgrading of bus shelters, stop infrastructure and connectivity to pedestrian access points such as sidewalks and pathways. Installing upgraded accessible bus stops and shelters will be considered as part of all integrated infrastructure project planning between City departments.

  • KABS operators perform a daily pre-trip inspection, which includes all accessibility equipment. In addition to this daily process, all accessibility equipment is checked and serviced during regular preventative maintenance intervals. In the event of an on-route failure of any accessibility equipment, operators are trained in alternate methods of utilizing accessibility equipment (i.e., manual use of wheelchair lift). In the unlikely event of a total equipment failure, a replacement vehicle would be dispatched to the location of the failed vehicle to accommodate the affected passenger as soon as possible. If the equipment failure affected a rider on the vehicle, they would be kept informed of the expected length of the delay by the operator. Any effects to downstream customers would be managed by the dispatch/office staff, including phone calls to the affected passengers to inform them of the anticipated length of the delay. KABS also utilizes a local taxi company to provide services to ambulatory passengers in the event of a service delay, allowing other accessible vehicles to be redirected to assist the vehicle experiencing the delay.

  • Kingston Transit staff will complete pre-trip inspections and monitor vehicle conditions throughout trips to ensure that accessibility equipment is operational. Staff will follow the standard procedures, as defined by Kingston Transit, during equipment malfunctions. If accessibility equipment is not usable, staff will contact a supervisor to request a change of bus, and communicate with passengers regarding the delay, timings, and solutions.

  • Consult with persons with disabilities, residents, and the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee on the availability of on-demand accessible taxicabs and report on the progress made towards meeting the need for on-demand accessible taxicabs via annual updates to this plan.

  • Staff will monitor and adjust as appropriate the funding provided to the KATLC from transportation network company licensing revenues. Funds received are to be used to support the purchase of accessible taxis and to subsidize the cost of accessible taxi trips for eligible users.

  • Representatives from the KATLC and KABS will present annually to MAAC to receive feedback on accessible taxi service and specialized transportation services.

  • Work towards a more inclusive and equitable transportation network. In the Integrated Mobility Plan project, staff will embed accessibility throughout the planning and delivery of active transportation and mobility infrastructure in the creation of a transportation system for all ages and abilities.

  • Continue the installation of pedestrian crossings and intersection improvements with a goal of increasing pedestrian and active transportation user safety.

  • Create detailed information and procedures for staff with respect to the effective clearing of snow from bus stops.

  • Review the accessibility requirements for the purchase of transportation vehicles.

Design of Public Spaces

The City of Kingston will ensure that all newly constructed or significantly renovated public spaces, such as buildings and parks, are accessible to residents through compliance with the Ontario Building Code and the City of Kingston Facility Accessibility Design Standards. Staff will strive to create accessible public spaces and facilities where services can be obtained by people of all ages and abilities.

Goals

  • Continue to dedicate staff to snow removal on sidewalks and bus stops and increase mechanic training for repairs to sidewalk plowing machinery to reduce equipment downtime.
  • Create a role within Public Works Services to proactively identify and address accessibility barriers in the municipal right-of-way and at pedestrian crossings.
  • Continue inter-departmental collaboration between Public Works Services and Recreation & Leisure Services to ensure that accessible features in parks and public spaces are installed and properly maintained. This includes but is not limited to tables, play equipment and rest benches. Notice for temporary services disruption to accessible features will follow the procedures outlined in the Accessibility Standards Policy.
  • Continue to proactively inspect sidewalks to assess conditions and triage for repairs.
  • Investigate the addition of universal washrooms in Slush Puppie Place and City Hall;
  • Install audible pedestrian signals as part of standard infrastructure upgrade programs, in addition to targeted replacements of aging signal infrastructure.
  • Improve physical access related to the performance areas within the Kingston Grand Theatre (where possible).
  • Continue to work with a dedicated MAAC Project Team to ensure accessibility related to temporary and permanent public art projects.
  • Begin implementation of the Playground Accessibility Plan to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of existing City parks and playgrounds.
  • Continue the partnership with the Inclusive Play Project to construct Kingston’s first highly-inclusive playground, including the ongoing maintenance of the playground once completed.
  • Review potential installation of a sensory-friendly garden at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum.

  • Increase the number of water wheelchairs for use at City splash pads and pool facilities.