Cobourg, ON – November 12, 2026 – In recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, community members are invited to apply to join the Northumberland Accessibility Advisory Committee (NAAC) to help shape a more accessible and inclusive community.
Guided by this year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers Together,” the County is inviting community members to help enhance accessibility across Northumberland by identifying barriers and recommending improvements to ensure County services, programs and facilities are accessible to everyone.
The County will be accepting applications from November 12 to December 3, 2026, and is seeking to recruit up to seven new committee members. Applications are welcomed from people with lived disability experience, caregivers, accessibility advocates, service providers and representatives from organizations that support people with disabilities.
“Accessibility is strengthened when diverse voices and experiences come together,” says Andrea Nicholson, County Accessibility & Training Development Coordinator and staff liaison to the NAAC. “The committee plays a vital role in advocating for accessibility, identifying barriers, sharing ideas and contributing to meaningful improvements that make Northumberland County programs, services and facilities more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.”
Collaborating closely with County Council and staff, the committee contributes to a variety of initiatives, including:
- Participating in accessibility reviews of County facilities and recommending improvements to remove barriers.
- Providing feedback on the County’s accessibility-related projects, improvements, policies, plans and initiatives.
- Providing input on emergency planning initiatives to help ensure the needs of people with disabilities are considered.
- Advising on projects and programs that improve access to County services.
- Supporting accessibility awareness and education initiatives in the community.
- Recognizing and celebrating accessibility leadership through initiatives such as Helping Hands Awards for County staff.
“The committee contributes valuable insight into numerous important County projects,” expressed Nicholson. “Earlier this year, the committee participated in a mock emergency shelter exercise to provide feedback on accessibility considerations during emergency evacuations. They also recently assisted with testing and user feedback to support the installation of an assistive listening system in Council Chambers and the County courtroom. Their contributions have been essential in ensuring that County services continue to meet the needs of residents with varying abilities.”
The committee meets nine times per year, including three in-person meetings and six virtual meetings. Meetings are scheduled for a maximum of 1.5 hours, with additional meetings called as needed by the chair.
Interested community members can submit an online application by December 3, 2026, by visiting Northumberland.ca/NAAC. To request the application form in an alternative format, please email accessibility@northumberland.ca or call 905-372-3329.
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