Northumberland County council acknowledged a number of Helping Hands Awards at its May meeting.
Finance Administrative Clerk Chris Lunn was cited for customer-service excellence, extending to carrying out recycling bins for seniors and residents with mobility issues. He has also demonstrated commitment and dedication as a member of the Web Content Accessibility Working Group, which ensures that complex documents (such as budget statements) are made more clear.
Community and Social Services Customer Service Unit Supervisor Amy de Blois was applauded for leadership in making accessibility standards part of everyday practice, ensuring employees with disabilities work in an equitable environment, and ensuring each member of her team was trained on creating accessible documents and ensuring reports business plans are accessible.
Communications Officer Shayna Tinson investigated and learned about accessibility standards and assumed personal accountability for ensuring the organization's compliance with legislation and commitment to the community. “She had become a self-taught go-to resource for staff with questions about document remediation and website accessibility, and ensures a more equitable customer service experience for Northumberland residents,” the announcement said.
Human Resources and Accessibility Co-ordinator Andrea Nicholson was cited for enhancing and broadening the county's focus on accessibility, coupling an insightful knowledge with a passion for research and implementation of new and innovative ideas that enhance the county's overall commitment to accessibility. The six Life Enrichment Aides on the Golden Plough Lodge's Life Enrichment Team – Ashley Michaelson, Treacy Wilcox, Jack Dowle, Carol Vanslyke, Tim Allen and Hannah DeWal – found alternate ways to provide customer service and programs during an extremely trying time, as well as co-ordinating the window visits that made contact with family members and friends a safe exercise that also fed their need for social contact. The announcements came during council's declaration of National AccessAbility Week (May 30-June 5).
The Accessible Canada Act provides for the week starting on the last Sunday in May to be known as National AccessAbility Week. Locally, the county's Accessibility Advisory Committee has approved a variety of awareness activities with theme of Get Involved, and they are inviting residents with disabilities to provide input on the development of the county's 2022-2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.