General News

County to host celebration for National AccessAbility Awareness Week

May 22, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe is celebrating National AccessAbility Awareness Week, taking place from Sunday, May 25 to Saturday, May 31, 2025.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

The County will commemorate the week by hosting an event open to the public at the County Administration Centre in Midhurst on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

During this event, various local accessibility groups will be present at the Simcoe County Administration Centre to provide information about their services and missions.

These groups aim to support individuals with disabilities and promote inclusivity within the community.

Those attending this event will have a chance to interact with representatives from the groups, learn about the services they offer including assistive technologies, support programs, and advocacy efforts, and discuss accessibility challenges and solutions with experts.

Leanne Taylor, a Paralympic medallist from Wasaga Beach, will deliver a keynote speech. She will share her inspiring journey to the Paralympic Games in Paris and discuss how the County of Simcoe can enhance accessibility for everyone.

Taylor was paralyzed from the waist down in a biking accident in 2018. Incredibly, she completed her first paratriathlon just eight months after being injured and began working her way toward being a Paralympian.

Over the past six years, Leanne has won multiple medals in races sanctioned by World Triathlon, and most recently won a bronze medal in the PTWC event at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, becoming the first Canadian woman to win a Paralympic medal in paratriathlon. 

National AccessAbility Awareness Week celebrates Canadians with disabilities, raises awareness for the critical need for accessibility and inclusion in our workplaces and communities, and recognizes the work continually being done to remove barriers. 

The County of Simcoe has an Accessibility Advisory Committee whose purpose is to advise County Council on ways to improve opportunities for people with disabilities when accessing County programs, services, and facilities. The Accessibility Advisory Committee provides advice for Council’s consideration regarding the identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to persons with disabilities.

Throughout the week, the County of Simcoe will highlight a number of its initiatives, including the recent approval of a multi-year accessibility plan for 2024-2028.

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