- Legislative Requirements
- Key Definitions
Legislative Requirements
The (AODA) became law in 2005. Its stated goal is the creation of an accessible Ontario by 2025, through the development, implementation, and enforcement of accessibility standards that apply to the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
With the Act, Ontario became the first province in Canada and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to establish a specific law with a goal and timeframe for achieving accessibility. It was also the first jurisdiction to legally require accessibility reporting, and one of the first to establish accessibility standards so that persons with disabilities have increased opportunities to participate in everyday life.
The accessibility standards under the Act are laws that businesses and organizations with one or more employees in Ontario must follow so they can identify, remove and prevent barriers faced by persons with disabilities. These standards are part of the act’s .
Recommendations by the Postsecondary Education Standards Development Committee, which, if adopted, are likely to come into effect on or before June 1, 2025, include the following:
Procurement policies must ensure that all purchases made on behalf of the postsecondary institutions are consistent with accessibility requirements. All faculty members and administrative staff must be clearly informed of their responsibilities under the .
This means we must consider accessibility, where possible, along with other criteria like the quality and cost of the items. We must also incorporate accessible design and features where possible.
Key Definitions
- Accessibility
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A general term used to describe the degree of ease that something (e.g. device, service, environment) can be used and enjoyed by persons with a disability. The term implies conscious planning, design and/or effort to ensure it is barrier-free to persons with a disability, and by extension, highly usable and practical for the general population as well. (Source: )
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
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AODA is the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) which aims to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. It applies to all levels of government, nonprofits and private sector businesses in Ontario that have one or more employees. (Source: ).
- Barrier
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Anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice. (Source: )
- Disability
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A physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, sensory, learning or communication impairment, or a functional limitation,鈥痺hether apparent or not, and permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, that hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society when they face a barrier. (Source: ).
- Invisible Disability
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A physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person鈥檚 movements, senses, or activities. (Source: )听
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