The provincial government has recognized the County of Wellington with the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility.
Onley presented the award to Michele Richardson and Kristen Horne, of the county’s human resources department, at Queen’s Park on June 1.
The county was selected for exceeding the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) mandate, for demonstrating exemplary leadership in the integration of disabled persons into their work force, and for providing barrier-free working conditions for persons with disabilities.
“The County of Wellington is proud to be a barrier-free employer and municipality,” said human resources director Andrea Lawson. “I would like to thank [Onley] and the government of Ontario for this recognition. The county has worked very hard to be progressive and inclusive.”
County officials state the municipality’s commitment to accessibility extends “far beyond the AODA,” by creating and updating the:
– Accessibility Policy – which outlines the county’s commitment to accessibility;
-Workplace Accommodations Policy, which outlines the county’s process for accommodating employees with disabilities;
– Accessible Communica-tions Guidelines, which outline the county’s commitment to making information accessible;
– Facility Accessibility Design Manual, including requirements for all new construction/renovations to municipal buildings; and
– Mental Health Toolkit Training – a requirement for all staff to have training on mental health disabilities.
“The County of Wellington will continue to update our accessibility policies and manuals and provide training to all staff,” commented health and safety coordinator Michele Richardson.
