12/03/2025
City of Stratford - The Municipality 2025 ACCESSIBILITY AWARD – STRATFORD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL / AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.
2025 ACCESSIBILITY AWARD – STRATFORD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL / AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an opportunity to promote a better awareness of disability issues, and to celebrate those working to improve accessibility in our community.
Each year, Stratford’s Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) presents its Accessibility Award to one business or organization in Stratford that has made its space or service more accessible to everyone, or an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to improving accessibility and inclusivity.
This year’s recipient of the Accessibility Award is the Stratford Intermediate School and the Avon Maitland District School Board, for their efforts to create an educational facility that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.
The St. Andrew Street school has undergone a number of impactful accessibility upgrades, including:
• A full-service elevator connecting all levels of the main building, enabling barrier-free access to classrooms, the library, office, and specialty rooms.
• Barrier-free, gender-neutral washrooms on every floor.
• Recent renovation to the lower gym area, which includes an indoor lift, allowing students with mobility needs to access the space by stairs or by lift.
• Creation of an accessible outdoor pathway leading from the lower gym entrance to the accessible parking spaces, ensuring a smooth, safe connection between parking and indoor facilities.
• Automatic door openers at major entrances and accessible entrances.
• Construction of ramped entrances and widened pathways around school grounds.
• Establishment of sensory-friendly spaces for students who need quiet, low-stimulation environments during the school day.
• Updated signage across the building to include low-vis, non-slip tape on stairs and door entrances.
• Use of sound-field amplification systems in all classrooms to support students with hearing difficulties.
Congratulations Stratford Intermediate School and the Avon Maitland District School Board, and thank you.
