• Stouffville has launched a public survey to inform its 2026 Accessibility Plan update.
  • Residents are being asked to identify barriers and future accessibility priorities.
  • The Accessibility Plan outlines how the Town will ensure its services, programs, and public spaces are accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.
  • Three in-person consultation sessions will be held in late January.
  • Feedback will help guide accessibility improvements across Town services and facilities.

 

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville is seeking public input as it begins work on its next multi-year Accessibility Plan, launching a community survey and a series of in-person consultation sessions aimed at identifying barriers and setting future priorities.

Officials say feedback from residents, including those living with and without disabilities, will help shape the 2026 Accessibility Plan update, which is required under the provincial Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

The Accessibility Plan details how the Town will improve opportunities and inclusion for those with a disability. Public input into the upcoming update “will play a key role in identifying what is working well, where gaps exist, and what actions should be prioritized moving forward,” the Town explained.

Stouffville’s 2020–2025 Accessibility Plan committed the municipality to “removing and preventing barriers through sound and effective accessibility planning.” The document outlines how the Town must comply with provincial accessibility standards established under AODA, and focus areas include customer service, communications, employment, transportation, and the design of public spaces.

Compliance with AODA standards was required by 2025, and annual reports log progress made toward the Accessibility Plan’s goals. While gaps in AODA compliance remain throughout the province, Stouffville officials say the Town is positioned well to meet accessibility standards within the facilities and assets under its municipal jurisdiction.

“The Town has taken meaningful steps toward meeting AODA requirements, and we continue to review and improve accessibility across municipal facilities, services, and communications,” Town spokesperson Glenn Jackson said in comments to Bullet Point News. “Accessibility is not a one-time milestone, but an ongoing responsibility, and community feedback is essential to helping us understand where additional improvements are needed.”

The newly launched survey asks residents whether they encounter barriers when accessing Town programs, services, facilities, or information, and where accessibility improvements are most needed. Open-ended questions also invite respondents to expand on unaddressed issues, service gaps, or specific locations where accessibility remains a concern.

In recent years, Stouffville has introduced several accessibility-related improvements, including the installation of accessible playground equipment at Memorial Park, Sugar Maple Park, and Aspen Parkette.

Accessible municipal services are also available upon request, such as windrow clearing assistance and curbside library pick-up and drop-off. The Town has worked to ensure compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines standards, and Staff assist residents who require alternative formats for municipal documents and forms.

Adapted recreation programming and a range of assistive devices are made available across several municipal facilities. Supports include mobility and aquatic aids at the Leisure Centre, accessible technology and alternate-format materials at the Stouffville Library, magnification tools at the Museum, and voting and hearing assistance at the Municipal Offices building.

Finally, Stouffville’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, a body required under AODA, advises Council on ways to “prevent and reduce barriers experienced by persons with disabilities,” the Accessibility Plan explains. It meets publicly and currently consists of one Council member and five public members.

“We have a strong and active committee, and Town Staff do an excellent job keeping accessibility top of mind, particularly as new development and redevelopment move forward,” Committee Chair and Councillor Richard Bartley told us.

“Serving as Chair has also opened my eyes to the wide range of disabilities people experience,” Bartley added. “That’s why accessibility continues to be a priority for both the Committee and Staff.”

The 2026 Accessibility Plan update survey will remain open until Feb. 6, 2026. Paper copies are also available at the Leisure Centre, the Municipal Offices building, and the 55+ Club.

In addition to the survey, the Town is hosting three in-person consultation sessions. The first will take place at the Ballantrae Community Centre on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. A second session will be held at the Stouffville Leisure Centre on Jan. 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a third at the 55+ Club on Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon.