Downtown Restaurants & the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Resources have been developed by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association to assist restaurants to meet the Customer Service requirements for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Restaurant owners, refer to the link below as you prepare for compliance by January 1, 2012.

Judi Lytle
Accessibility Coordinator
City of Burlington
tel: 905-335-7600 ext. 7865
lytlej@burlington.ca

Judi Lytle with the City of Burlington is available as a resource if you have questions.




Tourism Burlington, Regarding Accessibility Ratings for Restaurants

Within 2012, Tourism Burlington, with announcement-support from the BDBA, will begin listing restaurants with the City of Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee (BAAC)'s Accessibility Symbols.

This letter went to BDBA restaurants in December:


"Tourism Burlington in partnership with the City of Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee (BAAC), and the Downtown Burlington Business Assoc., is undertaking accessibility reviews of restaurants in the downtown BIA area. The purpose of these reviews is to assist visitors and the public at large in selecting dining venues best suited to their needs. The review is voluntary and focuses on entranceways, circulation areas and washrooms. The review is conducted by the City of Burlington Accessibility Coordinator and/or members of her committee.
Upon completion of the review, facilities are assigned an accessibility symbol(s) that aligns with the degree of accessibility in the venue. These symbols are universally recognized to assist people with disabilities. Tourism Burlington and the Downtown Business Association will apply these symbols in future marketing materials to help better service those with disabilities. These symbols will not be displayed in participating venues.
Judi Lytle, the City’s Accessibility Coordinator and myself would like to visit your venue to take a quick look at the above noted areas from an accessibility perspective. The process will only take a few minutes ... and we will stay away from peak periods and/or if your facility is busy with event bookings. We do not require any assistance from you to conduct the review, just access to washroom and common areas. If you would prefer us not to visit you during these dates, please let me know and we will reschedule in the new year. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this initiative. Please give me a call if you have any questions."

Linda Olimer
Marketing Co-ordinator
Meetings, Sport, Travel Trade
Tourism Burlington
414 Locust Street, Burlington, ON L7S 1T7
T: 905.634.5594 ext. 7244 Toll Free: 1.877.499.9989
F: 905.634.7220
olimerl@burlington.ca
www.tourismburlington.com

restaurantcentral.ca/Ontarioaccessibilitystandard.aspx