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Constance Exley

Compliance Reports are Due

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Businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees must submit an Accessibility Compliance Report to the government by December 31, 2020.

Before Your Start

To complete the form you need your organization’s:

  • legal name
  • business number (BN9 – found in your federal or provincial tax return)
  • number of employees
  • name and contact information of your certifier (a senior officer with legal authority to say that the report is complete and accurate)

How to fill out your report

  • For each question, click ‘Yes’ if you are in compliance or ‘No’ if you are not in compliance. If you want to add some comments, you can do so in the comment box below each question.
  • Each question has links to:
    • The related section of the regulation
    • Resources to help you understand and meet the requirements
  • After completing all the questions, save and review the form.
  • Once you have submitted your form, you will receive a message that will confirm your submission or let you know if there was an error.

Changes to Your Organization

Notify the government if your organization has had a change in any of the following:

  • Address
  • Primary contact information
  • Number of employees
  • Status (for example is no longer in business or has fewer than 20 employees)

Use this form to update your organization’s profile.

Questions

If you have any questions about accessibility compliance reporting or details necessary to complete the forms, please contact Service Ontario at:

Complete Your Compliance Report

 

 

Free Building Accessibility Audit and Certification

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The Rick Hansen Foundation, thanks to funding from the Ontario Government, is offering free building accessibility audits and certifications to nonprofits, businesses, and public sector organizations. The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification rating scorecard will highlight specific areas where you can improve accessibility and your site may be certified at one of two levels:  ‘RHF Accessibility Certified’ or ‘RHF Accessibility Certified Gold.’  Under the Ontario grant program two hundred and fifty (250) organizations will be selected from ten eligible municipalities:

  • Brampton  
  • Greater Sudbury
  • Hamilton
  • Kitchener  
  • London 
  • Markham
  • Mississauga
  • Ottawa 
  • Toronto  
  • Windsor

Organizations may make multiple applications for more than one site.

Application Deadline: March 27, 2020

 
Successful applicants will be notified in early July 2020.

Funding provided by the Government of Ontario will cover all requirements of participation, including:  

  • Registration fees to the CSA Group for the RHFAC Registry 
  • RHFAC Professional fees and travel costs 
  • Recognition label and shipping 

NOTE: A rating from the Rick Hansen Foundation does not have legal weight and does not affect or replace legal requirements applicable in Ontario.

 
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Call for Advisory Committee Members

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The Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA) is leading, in partnership with the Ontario Government, the 2020 Heritage and Accessibility Summit Project. The Summit, to be held in the fall of 2020, aims to inspire action and build awareness amongst planners, architects, engineers, heritage leaders, media, BIAs, businesses, people with disabilities, and more.  This will be a gathering of people who care deeply about heritage and accessibility and who, through multi-stakeholder dialogue, can develop a vision that unites their distinct roles and visions.

The Project Advisory Committee will be comprised of members from BIAs, heritage building owners, developers, planners, organizations supporting persons with disabilities, architects, engineers, and municipal staff and Accessibility Advisory Committee members.

Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

Advisory Committee Application Form

Application Deadline: February 7, 2020

 

Accessibility Services Canada is pleased to be working on this, our fourth, EnAbling Change Project with OBIAA and the Government of Ontario.

 

Proposed Updates to the AODA

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Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) undergoes periodic reviews and updates. The Information and Communications Standards Development Committee — a group of representatives from various sectors, including business, municipalities and people with disabilities — has drafted some initial recommendations to improve the existing Information and Communications Standards and they would like your feedback.

The Committee’s report is separated into two parts:

  • Phase 1: The Committee reviewed all requirements in effect for 24 months or longer and voted on 30 initial recommendations related to these requirements.
  • Phase 2: The Committee has developed a proposal, through one recommendation, for a new model to transform and modernize the regulatory approach to accessibility in Ontario.

The committee will review all the feedback it receives before it submits its final report and recommendations to the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility for consideration.

Feedback deadline: September 27, 2019

 

How to Give Feedback

Step One: Read the committee’s initial recommendations.

Step Two: Submit your feedback through two online surveys.

Take the Surveys

Phase 1 Survey: http://bit.ly/2Hw0drfPhase 2 Survey: http://bit.ly/2HtHZXi

 

Alternative Formats

If you need the initial recommendations in an alternate format or if you have any questions, call or email the Ontario Government.

Toll-free: 1-866-515-2025 or toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095

Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Or email: [email protected]

 

Alternative Feedback Submission

You can send your feedback by email to [email protected]

Or by mail to:
Attention: Rich Donovan, Chair
Information and Communications Standards Review Feedback
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility
777 Bay Street,
6th Floor, Suite 601A
Toronto, Ontario  M7A 2J4

All feedback received will be considered by the committee before finalizing its recommendations to the minister.

It’s Official! The Accessible Canada Act is now Law

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With the adoption of An Act to Ensure a Barrier-free Canada (Accessible Canada Act), the Government of Canada is fulfilling its mandate promise to introduce new accessibility legislation. The Accessible Canada Act establishes a framework to create a barrier-free Canada through the proactive identification, removal and prevention of accessibility barriers. It will also ensure that persons with disabilities are no longer required to fight barriers to accessibility on an individual basis.

The Accessible Canada Act applies to the federally regulated private sector, which includes the banking, transportation and telecommunications sectors, as well as the Government of Canada, Crown corporations and Parliament. Under the Act, these organizations will be required to develop and publish accessibility plans that describe how they will identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. They will also be required to establish a mechanism for receiving and addressing feedback on accessibility from anyone who interacts with their organization. Finally, they will have to develop regular progress reports on the implementation of their plan and addressing any feedback they receive.

The Accessible Canada Act also establishes new structures and positions, including:

  • the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization (CASDO), led by a board of directors comprised of a majority of persons with disabilities that will develop accessibility standards in collaboration with the disability community and industry;
  • a Chief Accessibility Officer, who will advise the Minister of Accessibility and monitor systemic and emerging accessibility issues; and
  • an Accessibility Commissioner, who will spearhead compliance and enforcement activities under the legislation.

The next phase of implementation will include the development of standards and regulations that will provide clear guidance on accessibility requirements.

The coming into force of the Accessible Canada Act also legislates National AccessAbility Week as beginning each year on the last Sunday in May, with the objective of promoting accessibility and celebrating the contributions of persons with disabilities across the country. 

 

Quick Facts

  • Approximately one in five Canadians, or about 6.2 million people aged 15 and over, report having a disability that limits them in their daily activities.
  • The Accessible Canada Act was developed following the most inclusive and accessible consultations with the disability community in our country’s history. More than 6,000 Canadians and 100 accessibility organizations shared their views and ideas about an accessible Canada.
  • Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, was tabled in Parliament on June 20, 2018, and passed by the Senate with amendments on May 13, 2019. The House of Commons concurred with all amendments on May 29, 2019, and the Act received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.

Bill C-81: Accessible Canada Act has been passed by Parliament!

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There was great news announced during this year’s National Accessibility Week – the House of Commons passed all the amendments to Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act. Now the only thing left is for the Federal Government to give the bill “Royal Assent” which should be in the next few weeks.

The AODA Alliance has been quick to point out what they feel are serious deficiencies in the bill. For example:

* It gives the Federal Government helpful powers to promote accessibility, but largely does not require that these ever be used. For example, it lets the Federal Government create helpful and enforceable national accessibility standards but does not require the Federal Government to ever do so.

* It provides for helpful enforcement tools but splinters its enforcement across four federal agencies, which is a real disadvantage to people with disabilities.

* It continues to allow federal public money to be used to create or perpetuate accessibility barriers against people with disabilities.

* It lets the Federal Government grant sweeping exemptions from some of the bill’s requirements to regulated organizations, including the Federal Government itself.

* It is excessively complicated and hard to read. This threatens to make it less effective and harder to implement.

As with all things, it’s one step at a time….

2019 Legislative Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

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The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act must be reviewed regularly. The Honourable David C. Onley, Ontario’s 28th Lieutenant Governor, was appointed to review the act and conducted public consultations in 2018. This report presents his recommendations to the government.

Read the Report

 

Media Articles

Ford government must fulfill Ontario’s promise to people with disabilities (Toronto Star)

Ontario nowhere near goal of full accessibility by 2025, review finds (CBC)

Review of Ontario accessibility finds province is failing disabled residents (Globe and Mail)

#1 Best Way to Learn About Your AODA Compliance Requirements

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Accessibility Services Canada offers a 3-part webinar series on the ins and outs of AODA compliance called Accessibility Compliance 101. In plain language, we tell you what you need to do to comply with the law, provide you with great resources and templates you can use after the series is over, and clarify anything that is confusing. If you can’t make one of the webinars – no problem! You get access to the webinar recording for one week following the live session.

computer with headset and glasses

“I just watched the last webinar and enjoyed it thoroughly. This course has been incredibly informative, easy to digest, and I feel much more equipped to do my work now!”  

“The trainer is engaging and easy to understand, and answers all questions.”

“Nice concise review, good examples & resources – thank you!”

“Being online is a great way to learn that is flexible for our team.”