Huron County, Ontario – The County of Huron is pleased to announce that Charlene O’Reilly of Seaforth has been awarded the 2022 Sandra Thompson Memorial Accessibility Champion Award by the Huron County Accessibility Advisory Committee (HCAAC).
The Accessibility Champion Award was established in 2022 to honour the memory of Sandra Thompson, a local accessibility champion dedicated to improving the Huron community, and to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is held each year on December 3.
The Accessibility Champion Award recognizes and honours an individual in Huron County who:
- Has shown dedication and commitment to promoting accessibility in the community;
- Has demonstrated exemplary commitment and leadership towards advancing accessibility;
- Is working to build a more inclusive community; and
- Is making a difference in the lives of people living with a disability.
Charlene O’Reilly has exemplified all of the above through the many contributions she has made to the local community. O’Reilly has been a member of HCACC for 8 years, she was the Chair of the Accessibility Committee for the International Plowing Match (IPM) in 2017, where she was responsible for planning all aspects of accessibility for the Walton event; and because of her efforts this was the first ever accessible IPM. She has advised on many construction and renovation projects around the County including Seaforth Funeral Home, splashpad and Townsend Tire. O’Reilly continues to be an active volunteer in the community.
International Day of Persons Disabilities quick facts:
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed universally by the United Nations on December 3rd, since 1992.
- People with disabilities often face barriers in their daily lives, especially in employment and cultural activities. An estimated one in five Canadians (or 6.2 million persons) aged 15 years and over have one or more disabilities that limit them in their daily activities.
- The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is an Ontario law mandating that organizations must follow standards to become more accessible to people with disabilities. The goal for the province is to be fully accessible by 2025. Public sectors, private sectors, and non-profits in Ontario must comply with this legislation.