Legislation & Regulations
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was established in 2005 and is now law in Ontario. The purpose of the AODA is to assist businesses and organizations throughout Ontario in reducing barriers to become more accessible to people with disabilities. The goal of the Act is to make the Province of Ontario completely accessible by 2025.
The Act is comprised of five laws known as standards which work together to reduce barriers found in daily life. The five accessibility standards provide requirements about how to make the following elements accessible:
- Customer Service
- Information and Communication
- Employment
- Transportation
- Design of Public Spaces
The last four standards are all part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
In addition, the accessibility requirements under the Ontario Building Code were revised in December 2013 and came into effect January 1, 2015. http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10546.aspx
Who Needs to Comply?
Every organization or business operating in Ontario that provides goods or services to the public or other organizations and has at least one employee is required to comply. To learn more about the AODA and compliance requirements for your organization or business, please visit the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure website for more information: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/
To find out if your business or organization is in compliance with the Accessibility standards, you can go to the Ontario Government Accessibility Compliance Wizard. https://www.appacats.mcss.gov.on.ca/eadvisor/ The Wizard will ask you a few questions about your business or organization and then will produce an instant list of the requirements that apply to you.