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Funding: Call for Proposals

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The Government of Canada has launched two calls for proposals totalling up to $5.6 million over two years through the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP), Disability component. Funding will be provided through two distinct streams:

The National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) stream will provide up to $1.6M in grants over two years to support projects that will help to: improve Canadians understanding of accessibility and inclusion; reduce stigma and attitudinal barriers towards persons with disabilities; and, enable the sharing of best practices and lessons learned across the disability community. Special focus will be given to awareness-raising projects within under-represented communities, including official language minority communities, LGBTQ2+, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) and other minority communities, including Black Canadians and other visible minority groups.

The Accessible Canada Partnerships stream will provide up to $4M in contributions over two years to support projects involving multi-sectoral partnerships that contribute to the development of accessible and inclusively designed environments, spaces, programs and services. The Government of Canada is providing funding in two phases to focus funding support for projects that have lasting impacts. Only projects that demonstrate the potential for reaching more persons, communities and settings, and have a plan for sustainability will progress to Phase 2.

Applications can be submitted between February 4, 2022 and March 25, 2022 at 5:00 pm EST. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) expects to communicate decisions to applicants between May 2022 and June 2022.

Rich Donovan appointed to review the AODA

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The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) requires that the legislation be regularly reviewed and the Ontario Government recently announced that they have appointed Rich Donovan to lead the fourth legislative review of the AODA.

The review will focus on potential changes to improve the AODA and how to support better compliance and enforcement.

The public will be invited to provide feedback prior to its completion by June 30, 2023 .

Stay tuned for how you can participate!

Microsoft PDF Maker is Broken

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If you are using the Microsoft PDF button, Save as PDF or the Export function to make a PDF – watch out!

The latest update, as of September 14, 2021, has changed and now the Alt text you provided inside a Word document is dropped and replace with gibberish code when exporting to a PDF.

For now, the temporary fix is to use the SAVE AS function and select the PDF (*.pdf) as the file type. Be sure to review the Options and activate the “Create bookmarks using:” function.

Sorry to say you will need to review the options menu for the settings each time. Always be sure to review your Alt text in Acrobat Professional.

Not sure when exactly this will be fixed – it is being worked on but it could take a while.

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Accessibility and Heritage Conference

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On October 20, 2021 the Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA) will be hosting a one-day, virtual conference to explore the topic of how heritage buildings can be made more accessible. The “Accessing Our Heritage” Conference will feature leading experts, from Canada and abroad, exploring what such as legislative changes, what has been done successfully in other countries, what training are students receiving on accessibility, the business case more accessibility,  and more! The target audience for this conference is people working in built environment professions – architects, engineers, planners, municipal staff, policy makers, heritage conservationists, etc. – as well as students, academics, BIAs, and staff working in heritage buildings.

Accessibility Services Canada is very pleased to be the Conference Coordinator and this is, our fifth, EnAbling Change Project for the Ontario BIA Association, in partnership with the Ontario Government.

Accessing our Heritage Conference

October 20, 2021

12:00-5:00pm ET

REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3ii6ol1

12:00  

Welcome

12:05

Conference Host – Alfred Spencer

12:10

Welcome – Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho

12:20

Keynote Speaker: Lesley Collins – Evolving the Meaning of Heritage

1:00

Break

1:10

Panel Discussion – Deep Dive and Discussion

 

Moderator: Jill Taylor

 

Speakers: Ann Sawyer, David Lepofsky and Leroy Shum

How can, and do, ‘accessibility’ and ‘heritage’ work together? What opportunities exist for making our heritage buildings more welcoming and inclusive of all? How have other countries, such as the UK, successfully tackled this challenge?

This panel of experts has many years of experience and in a range of disciplines – architecture, heritage conservation, planning, advocacy, the law, and accessible design.  This group of experts will explore how our built environment legislations has restricted the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings, what legislative changes could be made to allow for the de-standardization of heritage buildings, what has been done so far and what obstacles prevent us from doing more.

The UK has been able to not only make their heritage buildings accessible, but they have created a regular funding stream to support that work. What can Ontario learn from how other countries have kept their heritage buildings relevant and welcoming of all?

2:10     

Break

2:20     

Breakout Sessions

 

1.  The Business Case for Accessibility 

Moderator: Alfred Spencer

Speakers:  Rich Donovan and Michael Seaman

Main streets in Ontario have many older and heritage buildings, however, property owners do not always see the value in making them accessible. Business tenants would like to bring in more customers through enhanced access but they may not be inclined to invest infrastructure funds into a building they do not own.

The session explores the reasons why it makes sense economically, socially and sustainably to invest in accessibility whenever, and wherever, possible. Learn more about the incredible consumer spending power of people with disabilities and how an investment in accessibility serves to strengthen the vitality of Ontario’s main streets.

 

2.      The Next Generation: Training Gaps and Opportunities

Moderator: Jim Mountain

Speakers: Hayley Nabuurs and others TBC

In order for change to happen, today’s students must be included in the conversation about how heritage buildings can be made more inclusive. How is the topic accessibility included in the curriculum of students studying architecture, conservation, planning, engineering, etc.?

Employers are looking for graduates with a wide variety of knowledge and skills. An understanding of accessibility is no longer optional but rather a core competency as we move forward in our work to making Ontario inclusive of everyone.

3:00     

Break

3:10     

Breakout Sessions

 

3.     Getting to Yes with the Right Communication

Moderator: Lesley Collins

Speakers: Tatiana Dafoe and Lindsay Reid

It is standard practice for municipalities to consult with their Heritage Committee when heritage building renovation proposals are submitted. But how many municipalities also consult with their internal Accessibility Advisory Committee on such proposals?

Presenters in this session will explore how staff and committees can work collaboratively on heritage renovation proposals and the role that built environment specialists, such as architects, can play in facilitating such communication.

 

4.     Accessibility Solutions for Heritage Buildings

Moderator: John Lane

Speakers: Thea Kurdi,  Lindsey Wallace and Amy Pothier

So, what can be done to make heritage buildings more accessible for everyone – within the parameters of existing legislations? Come and see examples of heritage adaptive re-use in Ontario and the US. Learn about practical solutions, including low cost/no cost ideas, for removing, reducing and preventing access barriers. Get your questions answered by leading accessibility experts.

4:00     

Break

4:10     

Presentation: Crosby Cromwell, The Valuable 500

4:20     

Reflections on the Conference by hosts Alfred and Lesley

4:40

Next Steps, Wrap Up and Thank You

 

ASL and closed captions will be provided. Other needs requests can be made to Kennishia Duffus: [email protected]

REGISTRATION

First Working Draft of WCAG 3.0

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The first draft of W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 has been published.

WCAG 3.0 provides a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible to users with disabilities. The guidelines will address many of the needs of users with blindness, low vision and other vision impairments; deafness and hearing loss; limited movement and dexterity; speech disabilities; sensory disorders; cognitive and learning disabilities; and combinations of these. These guidelines address accessibility of web content on desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, wearable devices, and other web of things devices. They address various types of web content including static content, interactive content, visual and auditory media, and virtual and augmented reality. The guidelines also address related web tools such as user agents (browsers and assistive technologies), content management systems, authoring tools, and testing tools.

Learn more about the draft WCAG 3.0.

AODA Report Deadline Extended to June 30, 2021

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Organizations across Ontario are required to comply with accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.

The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility recognizes that the COVID-19 outbreak has created challenges for many businesses and non-profit organizations. For that reason, as director authorized by the AODA, I am exercising my discretion under section 14 of the AODA to extend the accessibility compliance reporting deadline from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021. This adjusted deadline applies to private sector organizations (i.e. businesses and non-profit), subject to the AODA, that have 20 or more employees in Ontario.

Details on completing and filing an accessibility compliance report are available at Ontario.ca/accessibilityreport.

If you require additional assistance with filing your compliance report, or would like this notice in an alternate format, please contact us at:

 

  • Phone: 1-866-515-2025 / 416-849-8276
  • TTY: 1-888-335-6611 / 416-326-0148 / Email: [email protected]

 

 (Excerpt from a memo sent out on October 5, 2020 by Garth Napier, Director, Compliance and Enforcement Branch, AODA Division, Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility)

 

Website Accessibility Requirement (AODA)

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By January 1, 2021, all designated public sector organizations, as well as private and nonprofit organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario, must ensure their internet websites and web content on those sites conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA, other than:

  • success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live); and
  • success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Pre-recorded).

“Internet website” is defined in the AODA as a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are accessible to the public.  “Web content” includes documents such as Word, PDFs, and PowerPoint presentations. 

The requirements apply to:

  • internet websites and web content, including web-based applications, that an organization controls directly or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification of the product; and
  • web content published on an internet website after January 1, 2012.

Private/non-profit organizations with less than 50 employees in Ontario are not required to meet this requirement.

If you are not sure how to make your website accessible and compliant with the AODA, we can audit your site to identify accessibility issues and tell you how to remediate them.

Request a quote to get a website accessibility audit.

 

Accessibility Compliance Report

By December 31, 2020, all designated public sector organizations, as well as private and nonprofit organizations with 20 or more employees in Ontario, must file an Accessibility Compliance Report.

The purpose of the report is to confirm for the Government of Ontario that your organization has met its current accessibility requirements under the AODA.  It contains such questions as:

  • Does your organization have written accessibility policies and a statement of commitment?
  • Does your organization provide appropriate training on the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities?
  • Does your organization have a process to provide accessible formats and communication supports to people with disabilities in a timely manner and at no extra cost?

Learn more about how to submit your Compliance Report.

Enabling Accessibility Fund – Now Open

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The federal government recently announced a call for proposals for the Enabling Accessibility Fund. This is a great time for organizations who are looking to do accessibility improvements to apply for funding to help make our communities and workplaces more accessible.

Eligibility

To receive funding, your organization must be a:

  • not-for-profit (an organization that does not make money for itself)
  • business (with a maximum of 99 full-time equivalent employees)
  • small municipality (with population under 125,000 as per the 2016 Census data)
  • Indigenous organization (including band council, tribal council and self-governing organization)
  • territorial government

In addition:

  • you must submit a complete application package before 3:00 pm (EDT) on July 13, 2020
  • your funding request cannot exceed $100,000
  • your project cannot exceed 24 months
  • your project activities cannot be:
    • on a Government of Canada property
    • in a public hospital
    • in a public school (or on school grounds)
    • in a private home or dwelling
  • your organization must not have received funding from the 2018 EAF funding processes for small and mid-sized projects
  • your project must be in one of the following:
    • a facility where persons with disabilities work or could work in the future (Workplace Accessibility Stream), or
    • a community space where programs or services are, or will be available for persons with disabilities (Community Accessibility Stream)
  • for projects other than ramps, accessible doors and accessible washrooms, you must provide 1 external cost estimate. You must submit a rationale if you cannot provide an estimate and an explanation of how you calculated your project costs

Applications are due July 13, 2020.

Enabling Accessibility Fund Information

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 June 30, 2021 (extended from Dec. 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