REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES

FEBRUARY 21, 2002

RTS No.: 2534
CC File No.: 3053-1
Council: May 28, 2002

INFORMATION

1. Annual Report

The Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (SACDI) was established by the Vancouver City Council on November 22, 1977. A list of current members is attached as Appendix A.

The objective of the Committee is to make the City more livable for its disabled residents by removal of physical and social barriers which impede their full participation in all aspects of City life.

This annual report covers the year 2001.

Guest Presenters

Names of Presenters
Subjects

Lillian Nakashima, consumer
Wheelchair accessible taxi service and training

Subaj Singh, Manager of Vancouver Taxi

Wheelchair accessible taxi service and training

Jennie Young, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Wheelchair accessible taxi service and training

Pam Hayes, City Vehicle for Hire Inspector

Wheelchair accessible taxi service and training

Jasbir Sandhu, TaxiHost Program
Wheelchair accessible taxi service and training

Jill Davidson, City Housing Centre
Housing issues for people with disabilities

Emese Szucs, SPARC
Wheelchair parking placard program

Jeffery Patterson, City Planner

Downtown Transportation Plan
Doug Louie, City Transportation
Engineer
Downtown Transportation Plan

Names of Presenters

Subjects

John Robertson, City Chief Building
Official

Guy Walters, Supervisor, Vancouver
School Board

School portables, Building Code changes

Accessibility of school portables
Paul Pinsker, City Parking Branch
Changes to disabled parking space regulations

Heike Roth, City Planner
Congregate housing and accessible dwellings

Inspectors McKay and Huston, City Police

Crisis intervention - people with mental illness

Karis Hiebert, City Planner
False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossing Study

Dale Bracewell, City Transportation Engineer
False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossing Study

Frank Hill, City Project Facilitator
Granville Skytrain Station (600 Granville)

Significant Activities

The Committee has responded to requests for input from City staff pertaining to a range of issues, including the wheelchair accessibility of portable school classrooms, changes to the parking regulations for wheelchair designated parking, congregate housing, building bylaw changes to enhance wheelchair accessibility and adaptability, and pedestrian and transportation plans for False Creek and Downtown.

The Committee has identified transportation, housing and mental illness as priorities and has continued to proactively pursue these areas.

The Committee has increased the diversity of disabilities represented by recruiting new members who reflect a wide range of disabilities, and who are linked with disability related community organizations.

Significant Topics

Transportation issues continue to be a significant focus of the Committee. The Committee has worked proactively to facilitate and promote improved training and regulation of private taxi services. The Committee has also been involved with City bylaw changes to increase wheelchair accessible parking provisions, improve bylaw compliance for service at gas stations, and the wheelchair parking placard program. The Committee has worked with City

staff to keep up to date with plans that impact on the currently inaccessible SkyTrain station at Granville Street; this is a key issue that the Committee has been actively advocating and following for several years.

Housing issues also continue to be a high priority and this year there has been significant progress. City staff, particularly Heike Roth and John Robertson, have worked to develop policies and to obtain input from SACDI. New policies regarding adaptable features in multiple unit dwellings and for congregate housing are currently being implemented.

Downtown Transportation Plan initiative has been closely followed by the Committee to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are appropriately addressed. City staff have consulted extensively with the Committee.

Mental Health Issues have been addressed this year, with the Committee inviting presentations from the Housing Centre about housing policies and actions to house people living with mental illness, and a presentation from the police department on their crisis intervention training.

Future Directions

Continue to pursue wheelchair accessibility at the Granville Skytrain Station.

Continue to focus on identified priority areas.

Continue to develop relationships with City staff and to respond to their requests for input.

Continue to work with City staff to further incorporate accessible and adaptable housing features in the Building Bylaw.

Continue to build the diversity and strength of the Committee membership.

(signed) "Katherine Taylor" (signed) Paul Tubbe
Co-Chair Co-Chair

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The work of the Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues continues through their annual work plans to help make the City of Vancouver a more livable city for disabled citizens.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver