Accessibility Action Plan

The Accessibility Action Plan was approved by City Council in November 2008. The City is systematically implementing the plan over time.

Key recommendations

1. To adopt the Facility Accessible Design Standards and the enhanced service level guidelines for accessibility
2. To adopt the priority zones identified when prioritizing accessibility improvements
3. To focus efforts on our infrastructure, the snow removal program and public transit.
4. City to provide sensitivity and inclusion training for its existing and new employees.
5. To conduct a review of our City website and update so it is more accessible & provides equal access for people with disabilities.
6. Structured approach to sidewalk repairs, curb ramp installations, audible traffic signals.
7. Expand distribution of Whose Job is it?” brochure & include numbers related to addressing accessibility issues.

City initiatives addressing Accessibility

Snow removal

• Enhancing the snow and ice program to also focus on addressing accessibility for persons with disabilities
• Snow removal bylaw and supports

Sidewalks

• Installing curb ramps in priority zones around the city to ensure our sidewalks are accessible by all residents
• Installing accessible pedestrian signals in the downtown business district, key commercial corridors around the city and at key intersections in all new developments

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are signal devices that assist pedestrians who are visually and/or hearing impaired by providing information that they can interpret to understand when they can safely cross the street. Information is communicated in a non-visual format such as audible and vibro-tactile indications to provide cues at both ends of a crossing. The City uses two different audible bird sounds: a "cuckoo" for the north/south direction and a "chirp" for the east/west direction. Some intersections also have voice message indicating which street can be crossed in addition to the standard “chirp” and “cuckoo”.

It is the City’s policy to install APS at all new intersections where there are pedestrian crossings. The City also maintains an ongoing program and funding to retrofit older existing intersections with APS devices and prioritizes the APS installations through collaboration with the vision loss community representatives.

Click here for a complete list of signalized intersections in the City equipped with APS devices.

Civic centres

• Conducting barrier free assessments of all civic centres and City Hall

Transit

• Access Transit - increasing fleet as funding is available and working to meet the needs of its users
• Regular Transit – 100% of all transit routes have low floor buses (as of March 2019) 
• Regular Transit – automated voice technology to call out bus stops for patrons who are visually impaired (internal and external)

Playgrounds

• Established minimum accessible standards for all new playgrounds built in the City
• Long range plan to have a full size destination accessible playgrounds in the four quadrants of the City

Online

The new website complies with WCAG 2.0 AA Accessibility Standards which requires:

• Text Alternatives: Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed as needed into large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language.
• Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.
• Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
• Navigable: Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.
• Readable: Text content is readable and understandable.
• Predictable: Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.
• Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes.
• Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

The website also includes:

• text resizing
• translation tools
• responsive design, so the site can be accessed on any device, browser, or platform

City Council meetings

• Assisted hearing devices are available during meetings of City Council
• If you wish to address City Council or one of City Council’s committees and require the assistance of a sign language interpreter, or Computer aided real time translation (CART), you can contact the City Clerk’s office at 306-975-3240

Accessibility Advisory Committee

Primary Functions of the Accessibility Advisory Committee:

1. Develop an Action Plan to provide short & long-term goals for improving accessibility to City of Saskatoon services, facilities and infrastructure.
2. Monitor progress in achieving the goals set out in the Action Plan.
3. Act as a resource in development of a public relations campaign to promote the City of Saskatoon’s efforts to make its services, facilities, and infrastructure accessible and barrier-free.
4. Receive referrals from City Council or its committees, for review and recommendations regarding accessibility.
5. Develop solutions for recommendation to City Council on policies and programs for improving accessibility.
6. Ensure appropriate consultation with the community of common interest for persons with disabilities and/or persons fulfilling the role of primary caregiver to a person with a disability.

For information about how to get involved with this committee contact the City Clerks Office at 306-975-3240.