Celebrating the contributions of persons with disabilities: December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – a day to celebrate the leadership, resilience and contributions of persons with disabilities in our community.

Following a press conference focused on Disability Without Poverty’s 2024 Report Card, the City of Mississauga passed a resolution on November 27 to send a letter to Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and all party leaders highlighting that the current Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is inadequate and that eligibility criteria is too narrow and restrictive. As a result, poverty rates for this group are twice as high as those without disabilities.

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the City is required to develop a multi-year accessibility plan that outlines how Mississauga will meet its obligations under the legislation and remove barriers for people with disabilities. The City is currently on its third plan, which builds upon what has been accomplished since introducing its first multi-year plan in 2012.

The City is pleased to share its commitment to removing barriers, along with its continued progress on the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan: 2023-2028.

Recent initiatives include:

• Property Tax Rebate Program: offered to low-income seniors (ages 65 and older) and low-income persons with disabilities who own and occupy their own home, the $400 rebate is applied to the tax account to offset property taxes.
• Eliminating barriers at City facilities and public spaces such as the recent renovation and new addition to Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, which focused on improvements to the quality of recreational services provided to people with disabilities, while implementing higher accessibility standards.
• Improving the accessibility of MiWay’s transit system. In 2023, 25 enhanced bus shelters were installed. These were equipped with enclosed heated areas, digital schedule information, wave sensors and digital screens. Additionally, accessibility was improved with the installation/restoration of passenger landing pads at 61 bus stop locations.
• Reducing the unemployment rate for people with disabilities by implementing a targeted outreach strategy for recruiting people with disabilities by partnering with Discover Ability and Ready, Willing and Able to support the employment of persons with disabilities.
• Offering a variety of recreational and sports activities in an accessible format. These adapted programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities – specifically designed for individuals with physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities.

To learn more about the City’s commitments to advancing accessibility and to read the 2023 annual status update, visit the webpage.

Quotes

“Approximately 201,000 Mississauga residents live with a disability. People with disabilities often face multiple barriers to accessing services, facilities and employment – and the need for accessible services will continue to rise as the population ages. As a City, we are committed to creating an inclusive community where everyone has equal access to these items, including offering property tax rebate programs for low-income persons with disabilities and seniors.”
– Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“The City’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan showcases our unwavering dedication to removing barriers and promoting inclusion. With guidance from our community partners and Accessibility Advisory Committee, we continue to enhance Mississauga’s programs and services, promote awareness that go beyond AODA standards. We know these are just the stepping stones towards a more inclusive future, but we remain dedicated towards inclusive growth.”
– Raj Sheth, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Tags

• Access and Accessibility
• Plans and Strategies