City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight - December 2017

Celebration of People Awards

The City of Ottawa is proud to be the lead sponsor of this year’s Celebration of People Awards. The event, established in 2001 through Citizen Advocacy, honours Ottawa-based individuals, businesses and organizations that promote accessibility, inclusion and full community participation by residents with disabilities. The timing of the event is in conjunction with December 3 - the United Nations designated International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The City of Ottawa is also the sponsor of the Celebration of People’s Accessibility Award. This year’s recipient is Kim Kilpatrick, a passionate advocate for people who are blind or visually impaired. Projects she has been instrumental with include the OC Transpo Working Group to implement exterior bus announcements, the National Capital Heavy Construction Association Education Series, testing electronic tools and technology to be used in the City’s public engagement strategy, and as a speaker at a conference for Ontario municipalities on accessible best practices in the built environment. Kim’s easygoing manner and expertise enables others to understand and appreciate accessibility requirements, which in turn, creates more accessibility and inclusion for residents, employees, and visitors. Kudos to our former City Manager, Kent Kirkpatrick, who was honoured at the event and received the 2017 Career Award in recognition of advancing accessibility in Ottawa. The City of Ottawa extends its congratulations to all of the 2017 Celebration of People award recipients! Need help clearing your driveway and/or walkway during the winter? The Snow Go Program can help you! This program is divided into two parts to match your individual needs to the appropriate service. Snow Go program This program helps seniors and people with disabilities looking for help clearing snow from their properties. It matches them with individuals or contractors who will clear snow from private driveways and walkways.  Residents who participate in this program pay a small hourly wage to the individual or contractor removing the snow. Snow Go Assist program This program offers financial help to low-income seniors or persons with disabilities to pay for a portion of their snow removal costs. Approved participants may receive 50% of the cost of snow clearing. The maximum amount of money back is $250 per season. Rural applicants who have a very high cost of snow removal may receive up to 50% of the cost of snow clearing. The maximum amount of money back is $450 per season. This program is on a first come first served basis. Agencies have the ability to limit funds allocated to participants if demand is high. To be eligible for Snow Go Assist program funding, you must prove that you meet all of the program objectives. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Be either a senior or a person with a disability.  A senior is considered any person over the age of 60 years.  For persons with a disability, applicants must be physically unable to clear snow from their private driveway and/or walkway due to their own disability.  Demonstrate you qualify as low income. Low income is defined as an annual income of below $31,500 for a single individual and below $39,200 for a household (two or more persons).  Provide proof of active enrolment in one or more of the following programs: GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\ ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program)   Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit   Ontario Works plus proof of disability and/or senior (60 year or older)   Essental Health and Social Supports plus proof of disability and/or senior (60 year or older) Home Help plus proof of disability and/or senior (60 year or older)   Low income senior or person with a disability (proof may be required) Special circumstances may be considered For more information, please discuss with your local community support agency. Ontario Renovates can help with your home repairs For low or fixed-income homeowners who are aging, repairs and upgrades to your house can be costly and daunting. That's where the Ontario Renovates program can help. Run by the City of Ottawa and funded by the Province, the Ontario Renovates program provides funding for eligible homeowners and landlords for necessary repairs and accessibility modifications to support independent living. The program provides funding for eligible applicants up to a maximum amount of $20,000. Eligible homeowners are:  Persons 65 years of age or older People with disabilities Families with a household member who is a senior or person with a disability may be eligible if property value and income criteria are also met. Visit the Ontario Renovates page at ottawa.ca for income requirements. Funding is available to homeowners to upgrade or modify items such as: electrical and heating systems, including chimneys doors and windows foundations, roofs, walls, floors and ceilings plumbing septic systems, well water, and well drilling fire safety cues for doorbells or fire alarms ramps, handrails, chair and bath lifts, height-adjusted countertops The Ontario Renovates program can also assist landlords. The program provides funding to modify existing units or buildings to make them more accessible and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Landlords can apply for funding for repairs including: Ramps Handrails Chair and bath lifts Countertops height adjustments Cues for doorbells and fire alarms Want to apply? Complete the form. Funding is available until March 2018.  For more information about the Ontario Renovates program, please call our information line at 613-580-2424 ext. 12300 or email Ontariorenovates@ottawa.ca.  Remember, you can request accessible formats of City public documents and we welcome your disability-related feedback on the accessibility of our services, programs and facilities through the following channels: by phone at 3-1-1 and TTY (613-580-2401); by e-mail to the Accessibility Office at accessibilityoffice@ottawa.ca; and   in person at any of the City’s service locations.