AODA Making Ontario Accessible

AODA Making Ontario Accessible – Managers’ Guide to Accessibility in the Workplace

Background – 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. Below see implementation schedule for:

Large Private Sector Companies (50 + employees)
Small Private Sector Companies (1 to 49 employees)

Implementation Requirements for Large Private Sector Companies

January 2021 – Accessible Website.

2021 – Employers with 50 or more employees are required to make their website and web content accessible according to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 by 2021. This requirement also applies to new websites introduced after 2014.

January 2017 – Accessible Publics Spaces.

End of 2017 – File Compliance Report.

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. AODA compliance report must be filed by the end of 2017.

January 2016 – Accessible Employment Practices and Communication Supports.

July 2016 – Update Accessible Customer Service Policy and Train all Employees.

2016 – Employers with 50 or more 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.

July 2016 – Update Accessible Customer Service Policy and train all employees on accessible customer service and how to interact with persons with disabilities.

January 2015 – Train Employees About AODA and Create Accessible Feedback Tools for Customers.

2015 – Employers with 50 or more employees are required to train employees on the requirements of AODA and to make any feedback tools (customer comment cards, on-line surveys) available in accessible formats, on request.

January 2014 – Develop Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Implementation Plan. Future changes to Self Service Kiosks or Websites must consider accessibility requirements.

End of 2014 – File Compliance Report.

2014 – Employers with 50 or more employees should have developed an accessibility policy and multi-year plan on how to implement the requirements of the legislation. There are additional requirements for employers introducing new or major changes to self serve kiosks or websites. AODA compliance report should have been filed by the end of 2014.

January 2012 – Customer Service Policy, Procedures and Practices and Emergency Plan.

2012 – By January 1, 2012 organizations should have implemented the Customer Service Standard. The Customer Service Standard applies to businesses serving the public or B2B. The standard requires organizations to develop a policy, procedures and practices for providing goods and services to persons with disabilities. All employees must be trained on accessible customer service and how to interact with persons with disabilities. Employers with 20 or more employees should have filed an AODA compliance report on customer service. All organizations should also have implemented accessibility in their emergency plans.

Implementation Requirements for Small Private Sector Companies

January 2018 – Accessible Publics Spaces.

2018 – Employers with fewer than 50 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 – Accessible Employment Practices and Communication Supports.

End of 2017 – File Compliance Report (organizations with 20 or more employees).

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. AODA compliance report must be filed by the end of 2017 for organizations with 20 or more employees.

January 2016 – Train Employees About AODA and Create Accessible Feedback Tools.

July 2016 – Update Accessible Customer Service Policy and Train all Employees.

2016 – Employers with fewer than 50 employees are required to train employees on the requirements of AODA and to make any feedback tools (customer comment cards, on-line surveys) available in accessible formats, on request.

July 2016 – Update Accessible Customer Service Policy and train all employees on accessible customer service and how to interact with persons with disabilities.

January 2015 – Develop Accessibility Policy. Future changes to Self Service Kiosks or Websites must consider accessibility requirements.

2015 – Employers with fewer than 50 employees are required to develop accessibility policies. Employer’s introducing new or major changes to self-serve kiosks have additional requirements to comply with under AODA.

January 2012 – Customer Service Policy, Procedures and Practices and Emergency Plan.

Where can I learn more about AODA?

The information provided here is only an overview of the legislation and a summary of the major requirements. If you have questions contact a Fusion Advisor. Learn more about accessibility in Ontario and the AODA.