To make the province more accessible to people with disabilities, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) became law on June 13, 2005. It allows the Province to develop accessibility standards that will remove barriers for people with disabilities and different abilities, making the province accessible by 2025. This is legislation that will open up your business to more customers, benefit all of us and make Ontario’s communities stronger.
Understanding accessibility
What is accessibility? It simply means giving people of all abilities opportunities to participate fully in everyday life.
In 2013, 1.7 million of Ontario’s population was over 65 and this number is expected to rise to 4.1 million by 2036 – that’s 47% of the population! As well, approximately 1 in 7 people in Ontario have a disability and, as the population ages, this too will increase.
There are many types of disabilities, of which 70% invisible, meaning you can’t see them. Most people, when they think about disabilities, think first of a person using using a wheelchair or guide dog. The reality is that most use neither. Thinking about how to integrate into your art accessibility for people with all types of disabilities is a really great way to get creative and think outside of the box.
Staff, volunteers, and board members all have a role to play in an organization’s accessibility and compliance with the AODA. View a short webinar recording about the role of Board Members in supporting an organization to comply with the AODA.
Legislation
Tools & Best Practices
- Business Benefits of Accessible Workplaces (Conference Board of Canada)
- Employers’ Toolkit (Conference Board of Canada)
- How to Host Accessible Events WEBINAR (Ontario BIA Association and Accessibility Ontario)
- Best Practices in Accessible Tourism WEBINAR (OBIAA and Accessibility Ontario)
- Accessibility and the Built Environment WEBINAR (OBIAA and Accessibility Ontario)
- Guide for Accessible Website Design (Ontario Trails)
- RGD Accessibility Handbook (Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario)
- Web Accessibility (WebAIM)
- Accessible Digital Office Document Project (OCAD)
Community Projects
Accessibility Ontario Services
Are you wondering what the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) means for your organization? Learn from AODA experts, Accessibility Ontario. Accessibility Ontario offers webinars and workshops on the AODA Standards and how to make documents accessible, as well as website accessibility audits, accessible document conversion, and online AODA training. Members of Ontario Presents receive a 10% discount on Accessibility Ontario workshops and webinars. Visit Accessibility Ontario (www.AccessOntario.com) for more information on their services and contact them to claim your discount: training@accessontario.com.