AlterGo – City of Montreal

1. AlterGo – City of Montreal PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ACTION ACPL- AQLM October 2003

2. An end to exclusion • Forum presented in conjunction with the National Conference on Parks and Leisure by partners working for universal accessibility • Linda Roy, City of Montreal and • Monique Lefebvre, AlterGo

3. A united effort for the greater good!

4. Working together means sharing a vision!

5. A positive approach • Spirit of innovation • Bold initiatives • Unyielding determination • Humility • Political will

6. Spirit of innovation • Doing things differently • Measuring performance

7. Bold initiatives • Initiatives based on common interests and goals; not inflexible positions • Partnership • Strategic alliances

8. Unyielding determination • The right approach to planning and administration • Direction • Strategies • All concerned parties

9. Humility • Asking hard questions • Seeing ourselves through others • I am not a victim! • It’s not my fault!

10. Political will • Support • Recognition • Investment • Human resources • $$$$

11. Question period

12. Forum for open dialogue • A partnership for over 25 years • A way to change attitudes • An atmosphere of mutal understanding • A place to exchange ideas and experiences

13. One mission • Encourage participation in leisure pursuits for persons with disabilities through dialogue

14. Objectives • Promote equality in terms of accessibility to leisure activites for disabled persons in Montreal; • Ensure that disabled persons have the same choices as all citizens;

15. Objectives (cont’d) • Co-ordinate strategies leading to complete participation by persons with disabilities; • Find common solutions to obstacles encountered by persons with disabilities; • Facilitate collaboration between representatives of the City of Montreal and those representing persons with disabilities.

16. Question period

17. Access to programs and services • The 4 areas to organize • Offer of service aspect • Communications aspect • Universal accessibility aspect • Human aspect

18. «IT takes a new way of thinking to bring about a new way of acting toward others!» Serge Lamontagne,St-Laurent

19. Adapted offer of service aspect • Willingness by partners of the City to offer services to persons with disabilities • Integrated participation and participation of disabled persons • Support for the development of adapted programs – accompaniment in leisure or devlopment of specialized activity sites

20. Accompaniment as a means to encourage and promote accessibility to leisure activities for persons with disabilities

21. Accompaniment in leisure • Objectives • Ensure that any person with a disability (regardless of the type of disability) can participate in leisure activities within a standard of specialized structure • Offer financial aid to organizations seeking to provide accompaniment services

22. Accompaniment in leisure • Organizations participating in program Montreal region - 2002 • Standard organizations: 71 • Specialized organizations: 16

23. Accompaniment in leisure • Program participants 2002 by disability type – Montreal region

24. Accompaniment in leisure • Positive benefits • Much-appreciated program • Encourages improval integration of disabled persons • Mutually enriching experience • Greater choice in terms of providing leisure services and activities • Activities offered closer to home • Developping partnerships

25. Adapted offer of service aspect • Policy of supporting organizations responsible for leisure activities targeted toward disabled persons • Planning interaction and use of adapted transport services • Develop way to measure performance – adapted for a disabled clientele • Establish minimum norms for the support of adapted services and activities within organizations

26. Adapted offer of service aspect • Participation in general community life and development projects by organizations responsible for leisure activities for disabled persons • Plan for inclusion of disabled persons in programs and activities organized by community, e.g. Montreal Games, festivals, etc. • Inter-district dialogue forums to oversee services for disabled persons

27. Question period

28. Communication aspect • Accessibility of information for persons with a visual disability – information available on audio cassette or CD, etc. • Accessibility through sign posting, symbols, icons, etc. • Accessibility of services for persons with an auditory disability (e.g. installation of magnetic loop) – an adapted theatre production, interpreted for the hearing impaired, offered a few times a year

29. Communication aspect • Publication of pertinent information regarding services offered to persons with disabilities in directories, brochures – accessibility of sites, rates for accompaniment, offer of adapted services, etc. • Create an atmosphere where persons with disabilities feel welcome!

30. Environmental accessibility aspect • Plan improvements regarding the accessibility of equipment and installations – collaboration within sector to identify and prioritize needs • Review of plans by expert in accessibility and consultation with community organizations representing persons with disabilities when projects initiated

31. Human aspect • Develop and jmprove skills among personnel responsible for customer service for persons with disabilities • Form positive attitudes and pass on knowledge e.g. training of day camp staff, training of management team for improved access to programs and services

32. The importance of leisure • Leisure is considered a right for all citizens by 95.3% of the population • In Quebec, leisure falls under municipal jurisdiction

33. City of Montreal • The entity responsible for providing citizens with a variety of service in sectors such as culture, sports, leisure and social development • The administration of services in culture, sports, leisure and social development sectors is overseen at the district level

34. The roles of concerned parties • Elected officials • Leisure administrators • AlterGo • Organizations overseeing leisure activities for persons with disabilities

35. Leisure as a means of social intregration

36. The Defi Sportif • Encourages and promotes participating in sports and active lifestyle for persons with disabilities • Represent a dynamic and positive image of persons with disabilities

37. A vision • The Defi Sportif – created in 1984 • An annual multi-sport competition where elite athletes guide the youth • A gathering of athletes fromj all disability groups • 21st édition from April 28 to May 2, 2004

38. 2300 determined athletes

39. An international competition • 16 disciplines – 550 volunteers • 5 days of competition • 3 competition sites in Montreal • Over 100 partners • Special events

40. Question period

41. How to reach us Linda Roy Director for Culture, Sports, Leisure and Social Development for Rivière-des-Prairies, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Montreal East E-mail : lroy_2@ville.montreal.qc.ca Tel. : (514) 872-6383

42. How to reach us Monique Lefebvre Executive Director – AlterGo E-mail : monique@altergo.net Tel. : (514) 933-2739, ext. 222

43. AlterGo PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ACTION