Ontarians with Disabilities
Everyone- individuals, communities, businesses, organizations- has a role to play in making Ontario accessible.
Accessibility for Ontarians
As required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 standards have been set so that organizations in Ontario will have specific rules to follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. There are a total of five mandatory accessibility standards that the government of Ontario are developing, however not all have come into effect. The first standard which is already in effect is the Customer Service Standard. Ontario is also developing standards in the areas of:
- information and communications
- employment
- transportation.
- built environment (buildings and other structures)
Standards will be developed to achieve real results in stages. They will set milestones that must be reached every 5 years or less, so that Ontario is accessible to people with disabilities by January 1, 2025. These standards could become regulations under the AODA.
The act provides for standards to be developed so that organizations can spread out their accessibility investments over time, and they can plan ahead and incorporate capital expenditures into their normal business plans and strategies.
Customer Service Standard
The first standard to come into effect is the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service. It came into force on January 1, 2008 and is now the law. This standard involved training, policies, and accessibility report. The Boards Accessibility report stating full compliance of the Customer Service Standard was submitted on February 8, 2010 to the Government of Ontario.
Information and Communication Standards
This standard will address the removal of barriers in access to information. The standards could include information being provided in person, through print, a website or other means.
Employment Standards
This standard will address paid employment practices relating to employee-employer relationships, which could include recruitment, hiring, and retention policies and practices.
Transportation Standards/Other Transportation Services
This standard has been identified as crucial for people with disabilities. Access to transportation is needed for going to work or school, shopping and other aspects of daily life. This standard will address aspects of accessible public transportation.
Accessible Built Environment Standard
This is the final standard which will address access into and within building and outdoor spaces and are expected to build on Ontario’s Building Code. The standards could include things like counter height, aisle and door width, parking, signs as well as pedestrian access routes and signal systems.
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