AODA Accessible Standards – Effective January 2017, employers must meet additional obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
What is the AODA?
In 2005, the provincial government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act with the goal of making Ontario accessible by 2025. People with disabilities face obstacles that make it difficult, sometimes impossible, to do the things most of us take for granted. Things like going shopping, working, or taking public transit; organizations can remove some of these barriers by doing things differently.
Ontario Employers must implement Accessible Standards
The purpose of the AODA is to involve Ontario employers in the development and implementation of accessibility standards in their workplaces in key areas that impact daily living. The AODA has 5 components:
- Customer Service
- Communication
- Employment
- Transportation
- Built Environment (public spaces)
Does the AODA apply to all Ontario Employers?
Employers with 1 or more employee must implement AODA standards. Accessible standards, requirements and implementation deadlines vary depending on the organization size and for private, non-profit or public sector organizations.
2017 Implementation Requirements for Private Sector Companies
January 2017 – Employers with 50 or more employees are required to create accessible public spaces such as waiting areas, service counters, walkways and parking. This only applies to new or major renovations to existing public spaces. Changes to other building spaces will be implemented through changes to the Ontario building code.
January 2017 – Employers with fewer than 50 employees are required to implement accessibility across all stages of the employment relationship (hiring, training, promotion, return to work after illness or injury, and more) and provide accessible formats and communication supports about goods, services or facilities, on request.
Compliance Report Due December 31, 2017
All employers with 20 or more employees must file an AODA compliance report by December 31, 2017.
Where can I learn more about AODA Accessible Standards?
A list of past implementation deadlines for private sector companies is available here:
Managers guide to accessibility large organizations
Managers guide to accessibility small organizations
Learn more about accessibility in Ontario and the AODA.
