About the AODA
AODA Overview
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, or AODA, aims to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The AODA became law on June 13, 2005 and applies to all levels of government, nonprofits, and private sector businesses in Ontario that have one or more employees (full-time, part-time, seasonal, or contract).
The AODA includes requirements that all organizations must meet, with deadlines specific to an organization’s type and size. The AODA is made up of five parts, or Standards, and deadlines for compliance began as of January 1, 2010. Download the free AODA Deadlines Handout (PDF).
AODA Standards
The AODA is made up of five standards, as well as some general requirements, and they include the:
- Customer Service Standard
- Information and Communication Standard
- Employment Standard
- Transportation Standard
- Design of Public Spaces Standard
The IASR
The AODA standards are part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). The IASR includes, in addition to requirements specific to each standard, the following general requirements:
- provide training to staff and volunteers
- develop an accessibility policy
- create a multi-year accessibility plan and update it every five years
- consider accessibility in procurement and when designing or purchasing self-service kiosks
The AODA complements, but doesn’t not supercede, the requirements for accessibility and accommodation described under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Compliance Reporting
Deadline: December 31st
Before the end of 2023, all businesses, nonprofits with 20 or more employees and all public sector organizations will need to confirm their ongoing compliance with the AODA and submit a compliance report to the Ontario Government.
Review what the steps to submitting your compliance report.
Penalties for non-compliance
The AODA give government authority to set monetary penalties to enforce compliance with accessibility standards. The maximum penalties under the AODA include:
- A corporation/organization that is guilty can be fined up to $100,000 per day
- Directors and officers of a corporation/organization that is guilty can be fined up to $50,000 per day
Interested to read the full legislation?
Why Does Ontario Need this Act?
When we think of disabilities, we tend to think of people in wheelchairs and physical disabilities – disabilities that are visible and apparent. But disabilities can also be non-visible. We can’t always tell who has a disability. The broad range of disabilities also includes vision disabilities, deafness or being hard of hearing, intellectual or developmental, learning, and mental health disabilities.
Accessibility is Good for Business
Improving accessibility is the right thing to do. It’s also the smart thing to do. According to the Royal Bank of Canada, people with disabilities have an estimated spending power of about $25 billion annually across Canada. People with disabilities also represent a large pool of untapped employment potential. When we make Ontario accessible to people with disabilities everyone benefits. ONN is committed to keeping your personal information accurate, confidential, secure and private. When you visit our website, contact us, participate in one of our programs or attend an event, or support our activities, we are committed to protecting your privacy rights and your personal information.
AODA Training
On-line training
Accessibility Services Canada has a new and improved AODA online training course. It’s the most up-to-date AODA training available in Ontario and reflects the last update to the legislation.
Individual seats in the training can be purchased from our Store and discounts are offered for orders of 16 or more seats. The more seats you buy, the bigger the discount!
Organization registering multiple staff can request a report for their HR files listing all those who have successfully taken the courses.
Participants are emailed their own personalized AODA Certificate of Completion. More Information
Learning Management System (LMS)
Purchase our AODA training and host it on your own LMS. By doing this you will have unlimited use and we will update the course, free of charge, as changes occur to the Act. More Information
Annual Subscription
If you have many people that require AODA training, we offer an annual subscription that gives you unlimited access to our AODA online training for one year. More Information
External Links
Related Services
Accessibility Audit + Document Remediation
If you are needing assistance with making your documents or website accessible, we’re here to help. Get in touch to get more information about those services.
One-on-One + Group Training
Whether you need one-on-training or you have a team that would like a private group training, we can customize your learning to suit your needs. Let’s chat!
