Langley 10 by 10Challenge Committee

Presentation toMinister’s Council on Employment

for Persons with Disabilities

Background

• Township’s Economic Development Advisory Commission invites various community organizations to make presentation on the need to take up the Minister’s Challenge and possible options on how to respond to the Challenge.

• Economic Development Advisory Commission recommends to Council that it should accept the Challenge.

• March 26, 2007 Township Council accepts the Challenge.

City of Langley Accessibility & Inclusiveness Plan

City of LangleyAccessibility & Inclusiveness Plan

• The City’s vision is to recognize both the potential of developing the new market niche of “accessible tourism” – which is expected to grow as the regional population ages – and the importance of creating a community that is inclusive, a community where everyone is able to live life more independently and participate more fully.

Steering Committee• Regional Disabled Persons

Association

• Rick Hansen Foundation

• Langley Seniors Centre Society

• Seniors Housing Society

• Langley Downtown Merchants’ Association

• Royal Bank

• People with disabilities

Summary of Findings:Accessibility/Inclusiveness Audit• Langley City does a good job of

accessibility/inclusion

– New buildings are fully accessible

– Older buildings have been retrofitted

– Parks are mostly accessible

– Curb cuts, audible pedestrian signals

Summary of Findings:Accessibility/Inclusiveness Audit

• More can be done:– Minor improvements to facilities– Improvements to park washrooms– Some improvements to side walks, crossings

desirable

Findings: Langley City Policies

• City of Langley is committed to becoming a model community for accessibility and inclusiveness

• Official Community Plan recommends that buildingand site design address physical accessibility

• City Council adopted the 10X10 Challenge and appointed representatives to committee

• Accessibility/Inclusiveness audit completed

Langley Plan for Accessibility and Inclusion YEARS 1-2

1. Establish an advisory committee or a community coalition on accessibility and inclusion - 10x10 Committee

2. Address safety issues

Langley Plan for Accessibility and Inclusion YEARS 1-2

3. Encourage businesses to become accessible

a) DLMA –

“Gold Star Program”

a) Accessibility grants

b) Hiring practices & supports

City of LangleyAccessibility & Inclusiveness Plan

• Our Accessibility & Inclusiveness Plan articulates our vision for the future – which is to engage the community in identifying issues and developing solutions to improve the accessibility & inclusiveness for all residents, including mentally and physically challenged individuals, the elderly and youth, as well as tourists and visitors to Langley.

Langley 10 by 10 Committee

• First meeting of Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee held on April 16, 2007.

• Committee issues introductory press release which is picked up by local Langley newspapers. This ultimately leads to first directly-linked success story.

Derek HarmsworthTrue North Furniture Co.

• Derek was hired by True North Furniture Co. after True North staff read an article on the 10 by 10 Challenge in the local newspaper.

• “We had a job available that we felt would work well for an individual with a disability. With the job market being so tight, we are always looking to tap into new areas to find employees.”

Langley 10 by 10 Committee

• Next few meetings spent creating Terms of Reference for the Committee.

• Telephone/e-mail survey of other municipalities reveals challenges due to limited resources.

• Despite this fact, the Langley Committee continued to bring partners to the table and forge ahead.

Committee Composition

Committee Purpose• To raise awareness in order to increase the

employment rate for people with a disability in the City of Langley and the Township of Langley by 10% by the year 2010.

• Identify the number of people with a disability who obtained employment through the member agencies in 2006. This figure will provide a baseline to measure the success of the Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee.

• To increase the awareness of employers in the City of Langley and the Township of Langley as to the talents, skills and benefits of hiring a person with a disability.

Committee Action Plan - 2007

• Meet with Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce to ensure that they are aware of the purpose, goals and activities of the Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee, including the Action Plan. (Done)

• Develop and publish ongoing success stories regarding the hiring by Langley employers of individuals who have a disability. (Ongoing)

• Apply for funding from various sources (such as the Measuring Up initiative) to obtain resources for various planned initiatives. (Ongoing challenge)

Committee Action Plan - 2008

• Publicize Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee and its ongoing work on the City of Langley and Township of Langley Internet websites. (underway)

• Organize an employer breakfast to provide employers with information about the benefits of hiring someone with a disability. (future?)

• Organize a Job Fair for Autumn 2008. (future?)

Committee Action Plan - 2009

• Host a day-long Symposium with Langley employers regarding benefits of employing persons with a disability. (future?)

• Develop an educational resource video as a guide for employers who are considering hiring a person with a disability. (Video to be of a quality that it could be used as a Province-wide resource.) (needs funding)

Where Do We Go From Here?

• The Committee is at a crossroad:

success storiescommitted community stakeholdersmomentum

Versus

limited resourcesdifficulty to effectively engage business sector

Mark CarlsonMurrayville IGA MarketPlace

• “There has been no downside to hiring people with disabilities. It’s no different than hiring an able-bodied employee – it’s a risk every time you hire anyone until you discover how they can do the job.” – Gord Schilling, Owner