Disabilities in Toronto; BACKGROUND

In December of 1999, Toronto City Council approved plans from the Task Force on Community Access and Equity and passed a motion for Toronto’s buildings, parks, and public spaces to become fully accessible by 2007. Neshama playground represents a significant step towards meeting Toronto ’s accessibility commitments. It will be the first of its kind – with inclusively as the key driver and state-of-the-art equipment rivaling the best playgrounds in Toronto and other North American cities.

Roughly 1 in 8 Canadians have a disability (Public Health Agency of Canada 2006).

More than 80% of individuals with a disability have multiple disabilities (Participation and Activity Limitations Survey 2001)

In 2005, the percentage of people with participation and activity limitations in Toronto was 24.3%, representing a steady increase from 2000 when the percentage was 18.6% (Canadian Community Health Survey 2005) which is far higher than the national average

There is CITY WIDE need...

“For Torontonians with disabilities, however, the built environment imposes numerous obstacles that limit their ability to move about freely and safely without concern” (City of Toronto, 2003)

The Ontario Human Rights Code (the "Code") is for everyone. It is a provincial law that gives everybody equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in specific areas such as jobs, housing and services. The Code's goal is to prevent discrimination and harassment because of race, colour, sex, handicap and age, to name some of the sixteen grounds.



 

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