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Are you compliant?  Do you know the AODA implementation phases and deadlines?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was passed on June 13, 2005. The basic purpose of the act is to break down the barriers faced by persons with disabilities. The aim is to make Ontario more accessible to persons with disabilities by 2025 when 1 in 5 Canadians will be over 65 years. (Statistics Canada)

In the report Disability in Canada (2006), 15.5% of Ontarians had a disability and 47.2% of Ontarians aged 65 or over had a disability. Making our workplaces more accessible benefits all of us and it is the right thing to do. The Royal Bank of Canada estimates that the spending power of people with disabilities is about $25 billion each year. So besides being the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense.

Organizations Ontarians that provide goods and services are required to remove barriers that prevent a person with a disability from fully participating in society with dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity, in the same way as a person without a disability.

This legislation is being implemented in five phases as follows:

1. Customer Services Standard

2. Communications and Technology

3. Employment

4. Transportation

5. Built-Environment

*Phases 2, 3, & 4 are called the Integrated Standards.

The schedule for compliance is as follows:

It makes sense to be proactive and learn what you need to do to meet the deadlines. And if you’ve missed the Customer Service deadline, it’s never too late to become compliant and help make Ontario accessible by 2025. We provide one-to-one coaching to help create policies, procedures, and practices and training programs suitable for your organization. Contact us if you need help.

Best regards, Joanne Royce

Royce & Associates
A Human Resources and Training Solutions company
Creating Happy, Healthy, & Productive Workplaces