The Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities met on March 10th, 2026, to discuss transit accessibility for neurodivergent residents, review customer satisfaction with specialized transportation services, and approve several administrative matters. The meeting featured presentations on making public transit more accessible for neurodivergent riders and revealed significant dissatisfaction with key aspects of the city's accessible transportation services, particularly booking systems and trip reliability.

Topics Discussed

TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY FOR NEURODIVERGENT RIDERS: Toronto Metropolitan University graduate students presented research on designing neuroinclusive transit systems for Hamilton Street Railway (HSR). The study identified five key barriers affecting neurodivergent riders: navigation, sensory overload, communication challenges, unpredictability, and mobility issues. The presenter noted that current AODA regulations contain "systemic exclusions" that fail to accommodate neurodivergent users. One key informant, Yasmin, a TTC volunteer, described feeling "body-to-body packed" on crowded transit, saying "it was so distressing that they needed to exit after one stop." Committee members raised concerns about the survey methodology, with one member emphasizing: "You have to be careful about these survey monkeys or these other types of online surveys because you're going to cut out a whole lot of people that you're trying to target for information."

ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Michelle Martin, Manager of Accessible Transportation Services, presented survey results showing significant dissatisfaction with DARTS specialized transit service. Only 60% of users were satisfied with waiting times, 49% with trip length, and just 39% with web booking. However, 85% were satisfied with drivers. The survey of 185 respondents revealed that approximately 30% expressed interest in trying an integrated transit pilot that would combine DARTS with regular HSR service. Committee members questioned the logic of integration, with one asking: "If you apply for DATS, right, most of your questions are you cannot use HSR. So are these people then who want to use HSR not going to be able to use DATS anymore?" Martin clarified that "no changes are being made to anyone's eligibility."

ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE FOR CITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: A 30-page accessibility guide is being developed to help city staff host accessible public engagement events. The guide addresses gaps in current practices including lack of ASL interpretation, tight spaces, inadequate signage, and poor lighting. Councilor Taz stated: "when we think about our values as a city, inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility, I think accessibility is one that we really have to work on."

COMMITTEE WEBSITE REDESIGN: The committee approved a wireframe design for a redesigned website to transition from an event-based site to a committee-based site to "improve communications and better inform the public about the ACPD and its activities."

TAXI SCRIPT POLICY CHANGE: A mandatory requirement for taxi script users to inform taxi reservations in advance has been removed. Michelle explained the language was "antiquated and is being removed from the taxi script guide" because "nowadays we book trips on apps, we book trips online, we call and we get an IVR system and not a real person."

Motions

Passed: - Approval of Housing Working Group's "Quality of Life Recommendations to Improve Residential Care" to be referred to General Issues Committee for staff consultation - Authorization to recruit James Kent Jr. for Hamilton Accessibility Fair 2026 services with $600 honorarium - Approval of wireframe design for redesigned committee website - Removal of Benjamin Cullymore and Tim Murphy from the Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities for excessive absences

Attendees

Present: Committee Chair (name not specified), Councilor Tatterson, Councilor Taz, Mark, Paula

Absent with Regrets: Kim Nolan, Robert Westbrook

Staff Present: Michelle Martin (Manager of Accessible Transportation Services), Lauren Wright (Senior Project Manager, Community Engagement), Sil Angish (Staff Liaison), Carrie Macintosh (Legislative Coordinator), Mayor Bates (Legislative Coordinator), Sunnil Angress (Project Manager, Community Inclusion and Equity)

Presenters: McMaster University researchers, Toronto Metropolitan University graduate students, Emojin Briggs (public engagement student)