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What the Review Heard: Role of Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees

The review was also asked to examine the role of Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees (MAAC). Approximately 150 Ontario municipalities, about one third, have established such a committee. As might be expected, the review heard about MAACs from municipal staff, council members and members and chairs of the committees, as well as from the disability community and provincial associations representing municipalities.

Over the past eight years MAACs have evolved in terms of their functions, effectiveness and impact. Many in the disability community see the advisory committees as giving people with disabilities a voice and a level of respect they did not have before. The review was told that the success of a MAAC and its ability to make an impact depends on a number of factors including: how long it has been in existence, the size of the municipality, the support received from the council and staff, the reporting structure to council, and the level of understanding of the committee members and council about the committee’s purpose, role and function. Many stakeholders felt that the MAACs, which have mainly advised on planning under the ODA, should now shift their focus to providing advice on implementation and reporting under the AODA.

Municipal representatives believe the AODA has significantly changed the committees’ advisory role, shifting the emphasis from accessibility planning to the implementation of standards and reporting on compliance. Concerns were expressed that committee members do not have the experience, the technical expertise or — given their ongoing duties under the ODA — the capacity to play this new part effectively.

Suggestions were offered to strengthen the mandate of MAACs and ensure that their advice is considered in the municipal decision-making process. For example, municipalities could be required to make every effort to act on recommendations or to provide reasons for not accepting a MAAC’s advice. Some stakeholders raised concerns that the membership of some MAACs did not reflect a broad enough range of disabilities. More balanced representation would help the committees to better address the needs of people with mental health, learning or other invisible disabilities.

While many MAACs have achieved solid results, there have been few opportunities to share these experiences with other communities. It is widely believed that more networking and sharing of best practices could increase the pace of change. The regional education forums organized by the ADO in spring 2009 were cited as a good example of the type of support needed by MAACs and municipalities.

Stakeholders agreed that the ADO has an important role to play in building the capabilities of MAACs. Apart from the regional forums, many mentioned the tool kits and guide books prepared for MAACs as very helpful resources and that more needed to be done.