Nominations open for the 2020 Celebrating Accessibility Awards

The City of Kingston and the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) are accepting nominations for the 2020 Celebrating Accessibility Awards.

“The Celebrating Accessibility Awards recognize how Kingston’s residents, businesses and organizations go above and beyond to remove barriers, foster inclusivity and increase engagement for those with disabilities,” says Janet Jaynes, Deputy City Clerk. “The positive impacts of an accessible Kingston benefit everyone in our community.”

This year the categories have been modified, according to a release dated Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. Awards will be given out in these three categories: to a Business, to a Community Member and to a Community Organization. Nominators will be asked to identify which area(s) their nominee’s work best reflects.

Nominations can be made here: www.CityofKingston.ca/AccessAwards, and are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

Award fields for which people can be nominated include:  

Built Environment: a building, interior, or outdoor space purposely designed, modified, or renovated to eliminate barriers and/or enhance access for people with disabilities.

Customer Service: breaking down barriers that prevent customers with disabilities from accessing the services they need. Barriers include physical/architectural, technological, information or communication, organizational and attitudinal.

Design of Public Spaces: making communal spaces, such as trails, beaches, rest stops, outdoor play spaces, accessible parking, or outdoor paths of travel more accessible.

Education: identifying and removing barriers to student participation in learning at all levels from kindergarten to post-secondary and adult education.

Employment: employers making their workplace practices accessible to potential or current workers with disabilities.

Health Care: making the health care system more accessible to patients with disabilities as well as any patients’ support people.

Information and Communication: creating, providing, and receiving information and communications that people with disabilities can access. Accessible information and communication provide all people an equal chance to learn and be active in their communities.

Transportation: making the features and equipment on transportation services, including routes and vehicles, accessible to passengers with disabilities.

The Celebrating Accessibility Awards were established in 2011 to recognize members of our community who help to make Kingston more accessible for everyone. 

Find nomination forms and more information at www.CityofKingston.ca/AccessAwards