Legislation
Making Ontario Accessible
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) seeks to improve opportunities for people with disabilities and help identify, remove and prevent barriers. It applies only to the Ontario Public Service and broader public sector and has the following key elements:
- The development of annual, public accessibility plans and the establishment of an Accessibility Advisory Committees.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) will replace the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), however the Province has indicated that the ODA will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Until all standards are finalized into regulation, all organizations, including local municipalities, must continue to implement both Acts simultaneously. This includes the continued development, implementation and monitoring of annual accessibility plans.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 is to have a fully accessible Ontario by 2025. In order to achieve this goal, the province will establish accessibility standards in the areas of:
- Customer Service
- Transportation
- Information and Communication
- Employment
- Built Environment
Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, O.Reg 429/07 is the first standard to become law. As a public sector organization, the County of Simcoe must be in compliance by January 1, 2010. The private sector and non-profit sector organizations must be in compliance by January 1, 2012.
To learn more about this the AODA and the standards please visit the following:
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
- Accessibility Standard for Customer Service- O. Reg. 429/07
- Ministry of Community and Social Services - AccessON