Should Stratford council approve the city’s new 130-page facility accessibility design manual, the construction or renovation of any new or existing city buildings would have to conform to a set of standards that go beyond legislated requirements in many ways.

In consultation with Stratford’s accessibility advisory committee and accessibility design consultants from DesignABLE Environments Inc., city staff began working on the manual in 2018 to address accessibility requirements for the design and construction of new facilities, as well as for any retrofits, alterations or additions to buildings owned, leased or operated by the City of Stratford. If approved, the document will replace existing accessibility guidelines adopted in 2004.

“This manual is made to enable places everywhere in Stratford to go beyond the minimum standards required by the Ontario Building Code,” accessibility advisory committee chair Peter Zein said. “When we follow minimum standards we get minimum accessibility.  … This manual helps to improve accessibility in Stratford through the input of personal experiences from people with disabilities, and (provide) better dimensions to allow a more accessible community for all disabilities, and allow people to move more freely within their own community and become more active participants in all facets of life.”

With detailed design and construction standards across five categories – facility access and circulation; washrooms; other amenities like drinking fountains and parking; systems and controls; and requirements that apply only in specific facilities like arenas, swimming pools and public housing – the manual commits Stratford to providing barrier-free environments that allow all residents access to the support and resources needed to safely, conveniently and comfortably participate in every facet of community life.

Keep reading in The Stratford Beacon Herald

Check out more news below: