MATCHED: Mapping Accessible Attractions in Hamilton

How can Tourism Hamilton identify accessible tourism attractions to better serve and attract visitors with mobility challenges to Hamilton?

Project description

According to Statistics Canada, 2.7 million Canadians (or approximately 10%) aged 15 or older have a ‘mobility disability’, a number that is only expected to increase with our aging population.

Tourism Hamilton works to promote Hamilton to leisure and business travelers to generate economic and social benefits for the city. In order to be more inclusive and drive more economic activity through increased visitation, Tourism Hamilton would like to better serve potential visitors with mobility issues by promoting accurate information about attractions and experiences that are accessible.

Tourism Hamilton would like to partner with CityLAB to help define and evaluate accessibility features of key tourism sites in the city and compile an inventory of leading attractions that are accessible (including listing accessible features).

We recognize that accessibility is a very diverse area that can include mobility, vision and hearing, and cognitive dimensions and covers:

1. Physical access, for those with physical disabilities that require wheelchairs, walking aids or handrails

2. Sensory access for those who have sight or hearing impairments

3. Communication access for those involving speech, vision, and hearing challenges

For the purposes of this project, Tourism Hamilton would like to limit the scope to sites that are physically accessible (number 1 in the list above) but is open to broadening the scope in consultation with CityLAB staff and faculty or considering a phased approach.

City Staff: Dana Borcea, Tourism Destination Development Officer

MATCHED: Entry to Early Years Education

What entry gaps are children experiencing in early years education and what are strategies for seamless entry?

Project Description:

The City of Hamilton is committed to providing inclusive services where every child can fully participate in early years education. The City uses Special Needs Resourcing (SNR) funding to provide licensed childcare sites across the City with the appropriate level of service for children with special needs, including staff, equipment, and supplies. Licensed childcare providers and community partners work together to provide quality care and services where all children can have a sense of belonging and well-being.

Young children’s entry into early years education (i.e., licensed child care and school-age child care) in different ways based on choice. Some families wait until Kindergarten to enter their children into school-age child care.

Although early identification and intervention do identify children with special needs, there are some children who may enter licensed child care or school-age child care who were not identified with a special or apparent need. With or without an identified special or apparent need, entry to early years education may result in some families and children experiencing gaps during entry. Understanding the entry gaps that families and children experience would inform the City of Hamilton SNR program with planning to develop strategies to ensure successful entry to early years education for all children.

Students will complete:

• A five (5) page literature review from research between 2018-2023 about children with special needs entry pathways to early education (i.e., licensed child care and school-age care) and identify strategies to support seamless and successful entry to early education;

• Consultations with relevant community partners to collect information to map system pathways illustrating children’s different entries to early education.

Belonging is defined as being seen, heard, and valued without needing to change who you are. Well-being refers to the importance of physical and mental health and wellness. It incorporates capacities such as self-care, sense of self, and self-regulation skills.

Primary Staff Partner: Marion Trent-Kratz, Supervisor, Early Years System

Secondary Staff Partner: ·Sarah Van Sickle, Early Years Project Manager for Special Needs Resourcing

MATCHED: TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP

How can we enhance the promotion of Team Up to Clean Up to reach more Hamiltonians?

Project Description: Team Up to Clean Up (TUTCU) is a year-round city-wide community cleanup program. Public Works Environment Services would like to enhance the promotion of the TUTCU program. Approximately 25,000 volunteers participate in Team Up to Clean Up each year and invest more than 45,000 volunteer hours to help clean our community.

The program helps keep public places in your neighbourhood clean and safe for everyone. You can host a cleanup event on City property including parks, trails, alleyways, streets, and parking lots.

Learn more: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/environmental-stewardship/community-environmental-initiatives/team-clean

Deliverables: The goal is to increase turnout and reach more people through a marketing campaign. Using existing materials, TUTCU is looking for a fresh perspective and new ideas from students.

Staff: Rob Wagner, Manager of Business Programs

Additional Staff: Florence Pirrera