MUNICIPAL
ACCESSIBILITY QUOTIENT (AQ) QUESTIONNAIRE

What is your municipality’s AQ - Accessibility Quotient?

The following questionnaire is designed for municipal officials, planning staff and department staff as a “local assessment tool” to help determine your community’s AQ.

This local assessment survey will allow you to assess your municipality’s present status in various areas of municipal service delivery including: municipal contacts and practices, land use planning, the development process, infrastructure design and maintenance. It will help determine the municipalities' relative strengths and weaknesses in these areas.  An analysis of these strengths and weaknesses may help your municipality determine work that needs to be undertaken as part of the accessibility planning process.

Instructions:

  1. Complete the questionnaire by marking an ‘X’ next to your Yes, No or Don’t Know answer.
  2. Total your answers.
  3. Review the results and discuss with council, other staff and members of your accessibility advisory committee.

ACCESSIBILITY QUOTIENT: THE TEST

BEST PRACTICE QUESTIONS

YES

NO

DON'T KNOW

 

MUNICIPAL CONTACTS/PRACTICES

1.

Does your municipality have a main contact person/department identified to handle inquiries related to accessibility:
Y
N
DK
 
  1. Can this person provide quick and easy information to the public about your municipality’s barrier-free environment?
Y  
N
DK
  1. If this information is available via a telephone, is it also available through TTY/TDD for people who are deaf as well?
Y  
N  
DK  
  1. If this information is available on the municipality’s web site - is the information available in a text-based format to make it accessible to people who are blind and use reading software?
Y  
N 
DK   
2.

Does your municipality maintain an updated inventory of accessible municipal features and facilities?
Y  
N 
DK 
3.

Does your municipality monitor the availability and usage of barrier-free features? (i.e. accessible parking spaces, curb cuts, etc.)
Y  
N 
DK 
4.

Does your municipality get complaints about cluttered sidewalks and paths?  Consider keeping an inventory of complaints and following up with them.

Y
N 
DK
5.

Does your municipality collect and analyse data regarding people with disabilities including numbers, locations and ageing demographics?
Y 
N 
DK 
6.

Does your municipality have policies on:

      
 
  1. accommodating employees with disabilities?
Y  
N  
DK 
  1. ensuring municipal facilities, publications, web sites, meetings and services are accessible to people with disabilities?
Y 
N  
DK 

7.

Does your municipality include information on accessibility when marketing for tourism and conventions?

Y 
N 
DK 
8.
Have municipal staff had sensitivity training with respect to interaction with people with disabilities and understanding issues concerning people with disabilities?
Y 
N 
DK 

 

LAND USE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
9.

Does your municipal official plan contain policies promoting a barrier-free municipality?
Y 
N 
DK 
10.

Does your comprehensive zoning by-law include regulations to require barrier-free provisions?

Y 
N 
DK 
11.

Does your municipality ensure barrier-free designs are incorporated into new construction projects and redevelopment in outdoor public spaces?
Y 
N 
DK 
12.

Is accessibility considered in the approval of development applications (subdivisions) and site plan approvals?

Y 
N 
DK 
13.

Does your municipality provide information in alternative/multiple formats to people with disabilities to enable them to participate in the planning process (i.e. large print, audiotapes, computer diskettes, Braille)?

Y 
N 
DK 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE & MAINTENANCE
14.
In planning sidewalks and walkways, does your municipality implement accessibility features such as: curb cuts, ramps, grate design and location and grade elevations?
Y 
N 
DK 
15.

Are all municipal buildings, parks and recreational facilities barrier-free, including playgrounds?

Y 
N 
DK 
16.

Does your municipality use audible traffic signals at busy intersections?

Y 
N 
  
DK 
17.

Does your municipality’s maintenance and snow removal plans consider people with disabilities (i.e. access for wheelchairs, canes, strollers, etc.)?
Y 
N 
DK 
18.

Does your municipality use International and Universal Symbols and tactile signage?  Consider font size, colour, lighting and contrast.

Y 
N 
DK 
19.

Are trash receptacles, drinking fountains, benches, public telephones and other municipal accessories easily accessible for people using wheelchairs and other assistive devices?
Y 
N 
DK 

 

TRANSPORTATION (if it is provided in your community)
20.

Is public transportation available to people with disabilities in your municipality?
Y 
N 
DK 
21.

Do drivers and transportation staff receive disability awareness training?
Y 
N 
DK 
22.

Is there a transportation committee that includes members with disabilities?
Y 
N 
DK 
23.

Does your municipality have a parking by-law and does it adequately serve people with disabilities in your community?

Note: The province issues Disabled Person Parking Permits and municipalities are responsible for enforcing parking by-laws.
Y 
N 
DK 
24.

Does your municipality have incentives, which encourage local taxicab companies to provide accessible vehicles in their fleet? (i.e. lower fees, special licenses, etc.)
Y 
N 
DK 

 

HOUSING AND ACCOMODATION
25.

Does your municipality promote and provide incentives to developers to build adaptable and accessible housing?
Y 
N 
DK 
26.

Is there an inventory of barrier-free residential/rental units in the municipality, which accommodate people with disabilities and seniors?
Y 
N 
DK 
27.

Do your local hotels, motels and other short-term accommodation contain barrier-free units for guests with disabilities?
Y 
N 
DK 
LOCAL ASSESSIBILITY QUOTIENT
YES 
NO 
DON'T KNOW 
Municipal Contacts/Practices (Total out of 8)      
Land Use Planning and Development (Total out of 5)      
Infrastructure and Maintenance (Total out of 6)      
Transportation (Total out of 5)      
Housing and Accommodation (Total out of 3)      
Sub-TOTAL OUT OF 27
     
Bonus Questions      
Does your municipality provide accessible services within voting places for electors with disabilities?
Y 
N 
DK 
Does your municipality give consideration to the needs of electors with disabilities when selecting locations for voting places?
Y 
N 
DK 
Elections ( Bonus points out of 2)
      
TOTAL OUT OF 27