Accessibility

The County of Essex is committed to ensuring our buildings, services and programs are accessible to all residents. We are continually working to identify accessibility barriers in order to remove them. The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee is active and engaged in helping us achieve this goal and promote accessibility across the region.

County of Essex Administration Building

The public entrance at the County of Essex Administration Building is on the west side, or the Highway 3 side, of the building. There are multiple accessible parking spots near that entrance. Once inside the building, an elevator can take visitors to the second or third floors.

In the event the elevator is temporarily out of service, there is a wheelchair lift on the north side of the building, facing Fairview Avenue West. Signage indicates that visitors should contact our Facilities team for assistance at 519-776-6441, ext. 1412.

The County of Essex Administration Building is located at 360 Fairview Avenue West in Essex, Ontario. 

Outdoor Accessibility Fest-for-All

The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee presented our first-ever Outdoor Accessibility Fest-for-All on Sept. 13, 2024, at Colchester Park in the Town of Essex. This fun and inspiring day outdoors was focused on raising awareness around opportunities that promote inclusion in activities, services and spaces for people with varying levels of ability.

We Check the Trails

We Check the Trails is a community engagement exercise, born out of the concept of inclusivity and access for all. The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (ECAAC) and the County of Essex are working with the County Wide Active Transportation System team, and the Essex Region Conservation Authority to offer a data collection tool. This tool will be to collect information and feedback from members of the community to report on features, conditions and issues that may impact the overall accessibility of the local public access trails. This information will be reviewed by the project team and reported back to those who are responsible for the trails.

The We Check the Trails Feedback Form can be used to report an issue with the trail system! You can report issues related strictly to accessibility issues using a form that has geolocation enabled. 

We want your feedback

• Contact us to let us know how and where we can improve accessibility.
• Phone: 519-776-6441, ext. 1353
• TTY: 1-877-624-4832
• Mail: 360 Fairview Ave. W., Essex, Ontario, N8M 1Y6

Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (ECAAC) is very active and works year-round to promote inclusiveness and awareness and to share information about accessibility concerns.

Committee members in 2023 (left to right): Julie Miles, Rachel Jewell, Debbie Alexander (vice-chair), Dennis Sanson (chair), Diana Kirkbride, Sherri Currie and Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kimberly DeYong.

The committee, among other tasks, also:

• Reviews policies and procedures for accessibility;
• Reviews blueprints and designs;
• Tours existing facilities and suggests improvements;
• Organizes and promotes accessibility awareness events;
• Initiates discussions on social media and elsewhere and attends public events.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), a majority of the members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee shall be persons with disabilities. The committee also includes:

• One member of County Council
• Stakeholders from the disability community

Terms of Reference - ECAAC

Committee meetings

The committee meets at the County of Essex Administration Building (360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex) on the second Thursday of every month or as needed. Meetings are public, and may be held in-person, or virtually. The agendas and minutes for meetings can be found on the Meeting Calendar.

For minutes and agendas prior to January 1, 2014, see our Document Archives.

Accessibility laws and policies

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)

Accommodation Policy

Accessible Customer Service Policy

Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) Policy

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2023-2027

2023 Accessibility Forum - 'Invisible No More!'

The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee and the County of Essex presented the 2023 Accessibility Forum - ‘Invisible No More!’ This event was a throw-back to the County's Accessibility Workshops of the past. Speakers focused on Invisible Disabilities, bringing forward lived-experience, awareness of supports in the community, strategies for living with invisible disabilities and overcoming challenges and barriers that are faced every day. Program Download

2022 Virtual Speakers' Forum - 'No Barriers, No Problem!'

The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee and the County of Essex presented ‘No Barriers, No Problem!’ - a Virtual Summer Speakers’ Forum. featuring 2 speakers, Julie Sawchuk and Michael Jacques. The afternoon event was well attended and the forum was a complete success!