Northumberland County Staff Singled Out for Accessibility Action
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Corporate Support Standing Committee will recommend to Northumberland County council on May 18 that the week of May 29 through June 4 be proclaimed National AccessAbility Week.
The proclamation notes that this observance dates back to 1987 and Paralympian Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour, and that the Northumberland Accessibility Advisory Committee has approved a variety of awareness activities.
It also singles out three county staff members who have been honoured with Helping Hands Awards to recognize efforts to embrace accessibility that go above and beyond mere compliance with legislation.
Maintenance technicians Drew Allan and Joel Johnson have installed more than 20 automatic-door operators in county buildings over the past 19 months and equipped several washrooms with touch-free buttons and emergency-assistance buttons with light and audible signals. The skills and expertise that allowed them to do this work on an in-house basis resulted in a cost effectiveness that allowed a larger quantity of these installations.
Manager of Housing Services Rebecca Carman has demonstrated a commitment to understanding and following legislated requirements in housing projects, but has also exceeded the minimum accessibility standards wherever possible. Carman also continues to support the implementation of accessibility needs for existing structures and supports accessibility with non-profit housing providers. She was also applauded for the creation of accessible documents.
