City of Ottawa Accessibility Spotlight - November 2020

 

You are invited! International Day of Persons with Disabilities

You are cordially invited to an event to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year, due to COVID-19, the event will be held remotely over Zoom. Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020 Time: 3 to 4 pm Register now Zoom login Please join Mayor Jim Watson, City Councillors, senior leaders, staff and residents as we mark this important day. This year’s event will focus on the experiences and contributions of persons with visible and invisible disabilities. Mayor Jim Watson will provide remarks and present a proclamation marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Speakers will discuss contributions by the Accessibility Advisory Committee, people with disabilities and disability organizations toward a wide range of municipal processes that help make public services and facilities accessible to everyone. To promote the inclusion of all participants, the following supports are in place for the event: American Sign Language (ASL) Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) Continuous real-time captioning in English and French Simultaneous French translation When registering, please let us know if you require any additional disability-related accommodations in order to participate. A recording of the event will be posted to the City of Ottawa’s YouTube account following the event.

Covid-19: The Way Forward

As Ottawa and the rest of the world continue to respond to COVID-19, the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health are looking to learn more about your ideas, thoughts, perceptions, and understanding of current COVID-19 recommendations and the way forward as we learn to live with the virus in our community. The City and Ottawa Public Health are exploring how we can support Ottawa residents as the Ontario Government has released its COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open. The reports for the three phases of engagement have been completed by the City and Ottawa Public Health to learn more from the public as the COVID-19 situation has progressed. The Phase 4 survey is looking for your feedback on challenges that come with following COVID-19 prevention measures, your plans for safer holiday gatherings and social activities, how you reduce stress while living with COVID-19 and your thoughts on Ottawa Public Health’s COVID-19 communication strategies. If you require alternate formats or communication supports to complete the survey, contact accessibilityoffice@ottawa.ca or (613) 580-2424 ext. 12752. For the latest information on COVID-19 in Ottawa, visit ottawapublichealth.ca/coronavirus. For information about municipal service changes and updates, please visit ottawa.ca/covid19.

Electric Kick Scooter Project

The City of Ottawa’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot project completed its first season in October. The initiative to bring rental e-scooters to the downtown area was meant to help lessen the City’s carbon footprint and offer an alternative form of transport. Concerns about safety and accessibility for persons with disabilities have been noted for e-scooter projects in Ottawa and other cities. As a result, the Lime E-Scooter company has partnered with other organizations to create a video to highlight how e-scooters can be used without creating barriers. The video reminds riders to park and ride responsibly and respectfully; highlighting the importance that we all should follow the rules of the road for the good of everyone in our community. The City is seeking feedback on the E-Scooter Pilot’s first season. Whether or not you rode a shared e-scooter, we welcome you to complete this survey by December 7, 2020.