FAQs for ACAT Applicants

1. What is ACAT?

The Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT) is a group of volunteers who provide advice and recommendations to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board and TTC staff on matters pertaining to accessible public transit in the City of Toronto. These matters include removing barriers to accessibility and improving the customer experience for persons with disabilities and seniors.

2. What is the role of ACAT members?

The role of ACAT members is to represent the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities and seniors by providing advice to the TTC Board and TTC staff to provide accessible transit.

ACAT members also advise the TTC Board and TTC staff on necessary policy issues and provide consultation, education, advice, and support pertaining to persons with disabilities, seniors, and the community.

3. What does the ACAT committee consist of?

The ACAT committee consists of 15 volunteers broken down as follows:

• At least eight persons with disabilities.
• At least two seniors.
• A maximum of three advocates for people with disabilities exclusive of the members above. These members must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in accessible transit issues.

Eight ACAT members shall constitute a quorum for every ACAT General or Special meeting.

Members of ACAT are appointed for a period of up to three years.

One-third of the members are replaced each year.

Retired members may reapply for a subsequent term following a one-year absence from ACAT.

Two to four ACAT Pool members (alternates) will also be appointed each year for a one-year term. ACAT Pool members may be called on by the ACAT Executive and TTC staff to fill a vacancy in a year.

An ACAT pool member who fills a vacancy for less than 12 months, may reapply to be an ACAT member without serving the one-year absence requirement from ACAT membership.

What are the prerequisites to join the ACAT committee?

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Must be a resident of Toronto
2. Must use the conventional TTC (bus, streetcar, subway, community bus) and/or Wheel-Trans
3. Must be a person with a disability, or be a senior, or must have a demonstrated knowledge/interest in accessible transit issues and represent the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities and seniors who use the TTC.

4. Be available for meetings during regular business hours and able to volunteer approximately seven hours per month during regular business hours

5. Must be familiar with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code and related accessibility standards and/or guidelines and legislation as they pertain to public transit.

4. What is the ACAT Executive Committee, and what is their role?

The ACAT Executive Committee is comprised of the Chair and two Vice-Chairs. The ACAT membership elect members of the ACAT Executive Committee early in the year.

Given the Chair position’s complexity and the fact that ACAT members are appointed for three years, while the executive positions are voted on annually, the Chair is an individual who has served on the current ACAT Committee for a minimum of one year. The Chair presides at all ACAT General and Special meetings, attends TTC Board Meetings and represents ACAT at public functions. The Vice-Chairs serve in the absence of the Chair.

5. How many ACAT subcommittees are there?

There are four subcommittees

1. Communications
2. Design Review
3. Service Planning
4. Wheel-Trans Operations

6. What is the selection and appointment process?

The selection process for ACAT membership will be promoted through advertisements in local newspapers and/or other forms of communication available at the TTC.

Selected applicants are interviewed and evaluated by a four-member selection committee consisting of two TTC staff representatives, personnel from the City of Toronto and ACAT’s Chair or Vice-Chair. The selection committee then makes its recommendations to the TTC Board of Directors who make the final decision. Individuals who are appointed to ACAT will attend an orientation on the roles and responsibilities of ACAT and will be given all the pertinent documents.

7. How many ACAT meetings are held annually?

The ACAT General Meetings are held monthly. In January each year, two General Meetings are held. The additional meeting is to facilitate the election of the ACAT Executive Committee.

The Sub-Committees also typically meet once a month but could meet more frequently during busy times.

8. Can you provide insight into the routine at ACAT general meetings?

ACAT meetings are public. The ACAT Chair leads the meetings. The agenda is developed in advance working with TTC staff.

TTC staff may present to the ACAT committee for feedback and suggestions. The sub-committee chairs provide a report at the general meetings on their activities.

ACAT members also hear and discuss deputations from the public.

9. How can the public make deputations to ACAT?

To make a deputation at an ACAT meeting, deputants must request in writing 10 days before the upcoming ACAT meeting. The request must include a brief written overview of the topic(s) to be addressed and sent via email to acat@ttc.ca. A deputation cannot exceed five minutes.

10. Are there any monetary benefits for members of ACAT?  Can it lead to securing employment with the TTC?

Membership on ACAT does not lead to paid employment with the TTC.

Members of ACAT have the option to elect for an annual TTC Monthly Pass or have ACAT related business reimbursed via a Monthly Expense Log approved by the TTC. 

11. Besides fulfilling the ACAT mandate, what are the expectations of ACAT members?

Members are required to keep confidential any TTC information, documents or other materials identified as confidential, which are not in the public domain and are provided to facilitate the work of ACAT.

Members are required to adhere to the Conflict of Interest provisions in the City of Toronto Public Service By-law. abide by the ACAT Terms of Reference, ACAT Member Guidelines, ACAT Subcommittee Guidelines, ACAT Meeting Protocols, and other pertinent stipulations.

From time-to-time, ACAT may be asked to designate a representative to serve on other transit-related committees to advise on accessibility matters and prepare reports to be presented on a regular basis at the ACAT General Meetings.

ACAT members are required to address systemic issues only and not individual customer complaints.

12. What are the minimum attendance requirements for ACAT members?

ACAT members are expected to attend all ACAT general meetings or Subcommittee meetings held within a year unless they provide “reasonable cause” for missing a meeting that is acceptable to members of ACAT’s Executive Committee and TTC staff. Reasonable cause includes, but is not limited to, illness or injury, specialist appointments that cannot be rescheduled, employment-related travel, the death or serious illness of a family member, etc.

Missing three ACAT General Meetings or more than 25% of Subcommittee meetings within a year, without providing reasonable cause acceptable to the ACAT Executive Committee and TTC staff, can cause members to be removed from ACAT.

13. What services are available to ACAT members by way of accommodation during ACAT meetings?

General support is provided at ACAT General and Subcommittee meetings, as required, including but not limited to personal support workers for in-person meetings. The TTC provides support services for members to participate in all ACAT meetings as requested.

14. How do I apply for ACAT?

Applying to become a member of ACAT is easy. There are two ways you can submit your application:

Option 1 – completing the ACAT PDF application and emailing, mailing or faxing it in

Step one: Open the ACAT PDF application

Step two: Complete the application

Step three: Download and save it to your computer, phone or tablet.

Step four: Submit your saved application in one of the following ways, by:

• Email acat@ttc.ca
• Mail: ACAT Applications c/o Wheel-Trans Customer Service 580 Commissioners Street Toronto, Ontario M4M 1A7
• Fax: 416-338-0126

Option 2 – completing the ACAT online application

Step one: Open the ACAT online application

Step two: Complete the application

Step three: Click the submit button to send your application.

If you require assistance please email acat@ttc.ca or call Wheel-Trans Customer Service at 416-393-4111.