Accessibility News Blog

AODA Compliance Reporting for Small Business

AODA and Small business: Severe penalties for lack of accessibility for the disabled

If your business needs help achieving AODA compliance, contact Shane Holten, President of SPH Planning & Consulting Ltd. by email at sholten@sph-planning-consulting or by phone at 647-931-4021 extension 1.

Inclusive Communities: Accessibility Legislation in Manitoba

An inportant news release from our friends at Barrier Free Manitoba - great work everyone on moving this important legislation forward!

BFM's Update on the Tabling Announcement

Apr 19, 2013

The Whole Person Opens Hyper-accessible Office

January 21, 2013

By Steve Paul

The Kansas City Star

The $5 million project is one of a few commercial structures built predominantly for people with disabilities and using guidelines of a concept called universal design.

From its wider-than-usual hallways to color-coded walls to extra-deep, voice-controlled elevators, the building was custom-rehabbed for The Whole Person, an agency that serves the “differently abled” — those in wheelchairs or who live with sensory or mobility impairments.

For the complete article, visit the Kansas City Star website at: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/21/4023748/agency-for-the-disableds-new-offices.html?goback=.gde_1291067_member_207509517

A tiled-shower room provides a relief area for service animals.

New AODA IASR Accessibility Requirements Effective January 1, 2013.

Are you responsible for preparing accessibility policies and plans, or purchasing goods and services at your organization? Did you know that as of January 1, 2013, organizations across Ontario must comply with several additional requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)?

While all organizations were required to comply with the AODA Customer Service Standard as well as the emergency information requirements of the IASR by January 1, 2012, starting this year compliance deadlines for additional IASR obligations will vary depending on the type and size of business. These obligations also vary based on each section of the IASR. For example, organization types for the Employment and Information and Communication requirements of the IASR include:

• Ontario Government and Legislative Assembly
• Public organizations with 50+ employees
• Public organizations with 1 – 49 employees
• Private and non-profit organizations with 50+ employees
• Private and non-profit organizations with 1 – 49 employees

The January 1, 2013 compliance deadline primarily affects public organizations with more than 50 employees. A few of the key new obligations for these organizations include:

• Developing, implementing and maintaining policies about what your organization will do to meet the IASR requirements and become more accessible;
• Creating multi-year accessibility plans in consultation with people with disabilities; and
• Incorporating accessibility criteria into the goods, services, and facilities procurement process.

Municipalities and other public transportation service providers will also be required to comply with several new IASR obligations, including those related to fare parity, hours of service and service delays. New accessibility requirements will also apply to any new public transportation vehicles purchased after January 1, 2013, including requirements for grab bars, dedicated mobility-aid spaces, lifting devices or ramps, and steps, among others.

Additional compliance obligations will generally become applicable every January 1 for the next five years and will vary based on your type and size of business. Training on the requirements of the IASR and Ontario Human Rights Code is one of the key obligations, and starts this year for the Ontario Government, next year for public organizations with 50+ employees, and in 2014 for public organizations with fewer than 50 employees as well as private and non-profit organization with 50+ employees. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees have until 2016 to comply with these training requirements.

The full list of compliance deadlines may seem daunting at first, however, the Government of Ontario has developed an easy to use AODA Compliance Wizard that will tell you in just a few steps exactly what aspects of the IASR your organization must comply with and when the deadline to comply with each obligation is. The AODA Compliance Wizard is available at: https://www.appacats.mcss.gov.on.ca/eadvisor/

For full details on all of the requirements of the IASR, including upcoming compliance obligations and timelines for all sectors, refer to the Guide to the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.

Accessible Websites Coming to Ontario

As the new Customer Service, Information and Communication, and Employment Standards come into effect under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), businesses will be obligated to accommodate employees and customers with disabilities wherever possible. With the advent of new technologies, it has become increasingly possible to provide this accommodation in many areas. For example, new web technologies and standards have made it possible for websites to become accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

Indeed, accessible websites will become the norm for Ontario-based businesses in the coming years, as mandated by the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the AODA. Designated large public sector organizations (e.g., large municipalities, school boards, colleges and universities, hospitals, and public transport organizations), as well as private sector businesses with more than 50 employees will need to comply with the WCAG 2.0 Level A Guidelines and provide any new content on their websites in accessible formats by January 1, 2012. New websites created by these organizations and businesses will be required to meet the WCAG 2.0 guidelines in 2014, while more advanced website accessibility requirements (Level AA) will need to be implemented by 2021. Small busineses will not be affected by these website requirements.

Accessible websites generally allow for flexibility for all users. Typical features of accessible websites include providing a easy method for users to change the size of text, and allowing users to change the amount of colour contrast for easier reading. Accessible websites are also typically designed to accommodate screen readers for people with visual disabilities, such as providing alternate text for images and providing and easy way to skip past repetitive website headers and menus.

For more information on accessible websites, including guidelines and training on how to make your websites accessible, visit the Web Accessibility Initiative.