Accessibility

Provide Feedback

To provide feedback about any and all accessibility issues, please email us or call 705-448-2981.

Accessibility in Highlands East

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 is an important law in Ontario. Businesses and organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario are required to meet accessibility standards to remove barriers in the areas of customer service, transportation, information and communication, built environment and employment.

The Municipality of Highlands East recognizes that persons with disabilities should be provided with an equal opportunity to access goods, services and information in a manner consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality.

We have implemented the Customer Service Standard. The Information and Communications, Employment and Transportation Standards have been combined into the Integrated Accessibility Regulation that became law on July 1, 2011.

For more information about making Ontario Accessible visit the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment's Accessibility Laws website.

Accessible Customer Service Policy and Procedures

The Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/07) came into force on January 1, 2008. If you are a provider of goods and services, and have one or more employees in Ontario, you will be required to comply with this regulation.

If you are a public sector organization designated in the standard, you must comply by January 1, 2010.

If you are a private business, non-profit organization, or any other service provider with at least one employee in Ontario, you must comply by January 1, 2012.

The Corporation of the Municipality of Highlands East has established an accessible customer service policy, procedures and practices, and has provided staff with training. The procedures and practices sets out a feedback process, notice of service disruptions and more.

Accessibility Standards Policy

Document Accessibility

We strive to ensure that all documents on this site are accessible, however, this is an ongoing process and third party documents and information may not be accessible. If you require information in an alternate format, please call 705-448-2981.

Alternate Formats and Communications

We can arrange for accessible feedback upon request.

When asked, we will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible formats or with communication supports in a timely manner, taking into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability.

We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

The cost of these goods and services will be no greater than the regular cost charged to others.

Temporary Disruptions

If there is a disruption to our services, we will provide notice to the public. Notice will include the nature of the disruption, services or facilities affected and the expected duration. We will make every effort possible to provide alternate arrangements if required for those affected. Depending on the type of disruption, we will provide public notice in a variety of methods.

Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Municipality of Highlands East in conjunction with the local municipalities and the County of Haliburton have created a Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee.

The Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Members consists of residents from throughout the County as well as local Council Members who make up County Council Members.

The Committee assists and provides guidance in working towards a barrier-free community. The committee assists in the development of guidelines that will meet the needs of all our residents within Highlands East and the County at large, in making our communities accessible for all.

The Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule, and agendas and minutes for these meetings are available at the County of Haliburton CivicWeb webpage.

Meetings are held in-person and virtually.

Joint Accessibility Plan

The County of Haliburton and its Municipalities including Highlands East have created and updated a multi-year plan to assist in implementing policies, practices, procedures, and training, and to identify and evaluate projects to remove barriers.

Preventative and Emergency Maintenance of Accessible Elements

The Municipality of Highlands East in partnership with the County of Haliburton and the Township of Algonquin Highlands, the Municipality of Dysart et al, and the Township of Minden Hills provides the following maintenance of accessible elements:

To conduct regular inspections and maintenance schedules to restore accessible elements when necessary.
To complete emergency repairs when an accessible element is found to be defective or unsafe, which may result in the removal and prioritizing of the repair.
To provide public notices when maintenance or repairs impact accessibility, notices are posted in advance to inform the public.
To provide alternative routes, efforts are made to divert individuals to alternative accessible elements when disruptions occur.

Downloads

Annual Accessibility Compliance Report

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, public-sector organizations must complete accessibility compliance reports every two (2) years. The Accessibility Compliance Report is a self-assessment of an organization’s status in terms of compliance with all provincial accessibility requirements and legislation.

This report is available to the public at the Municipal Office in Wilberforce.