The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 How does it affect you? The Ontario Genealogical Society Copyright 2011

Today’s Objectives By the end of the session you will understand: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its importance Different types of disabilities and supports Ways to assist clients with disabilities How this affects The Society and Branches The Ontario Genealogical Society 20112

Agenda The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Types of disabilities Support for people with disabilities The Act and OGS The Ontario Genealogical Society 20113

Agenda The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Types of disabilities Support for people with disabilities The Act and OGS The Ontario Genealogical Society 20114

WHAT IS AODA? The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, (AODA) became law in 2005 Accessibility standards in the areas of: Customer Service Transportation Information and Communications Built Environment Employment 5The Ontario Genealogical Society 2011

WHEN MUST WE COMPLY? Customer Service Accessibility Standards Public sector organizations providing goods and services by January 1, 2010 Private sector by January 1, 2012 All Areas of Accessibility All organizations will have to meet accessibility standards in all five areas by 2025 The Ontario Genealogical Society 20116

What must we do to comply? Establish policies, practices and procedures on providing goods or services to people with disabilities. Use reasonable efforts to ensure that your policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the core principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity. The Ontario Genealogical Society 20117

Set a policy on allowing people to use their own personal assistive devices to access your goods and use your services and about any other measures your organization offers (assistive devices, services, or methods) to enable them to access your goods and use your services. The Ontario Genealogical Society 20118

Communicate with a person with a disability in a manner that takes into account his or her disability. Allow people with disabilities to be accompanied by their guide dog or service animal in those areas of the premises you own or operate that are open to the public, unless the animal is excluded by another law. If a service animal is excluded by law, use other measures to provide services to the person with a disability. The Ontario Genealogical Society 20119

Permit people with disabilities who use a support person to bring that person with them while accessing goods or services in premises open to the public or third parties. Where admission fees are charged, provide notice ahead of time on what admission, if any, would be charged for a support person of a person with a disability. The Ontario Genealogical Society

Provide notice when facilities or services that people with disabilities rely on to access or use your goods or services are temporarily disrupted. Train staff, volunteers, contractors and any other people who interact with the public or other third parties on your behalf on a number of topics as outlined in the customer service standard. The Ontario Genealogical Society

Establish a process for people to provide feedback on how you provide goods or services to people with disabilities and how you will respond to any feedback and take action on any complaints. Make the information about your feedback process readily available to the public. The Ontario Genealogical Society

How is OGS complying? ActivityScheduleResponsibilityTarget Audience Review Act and develop draft OGS Policy & Procedure Fall 2010 B. Crawford S. Sturdevant OGS Executive Council Revise policy and develop suggested schedule for implementation of training Winter 2010OGS Board Seek approval of OGS Policy and Procedure Committee Spring 2011 Develop trainingSpring & Summer 2011 B. Crawford S. Sturdevant All OGS members who work with the public Implement training September 22-23, 2011 September 23, 2011 B. Crawford S. Sturdevant Provincial Office Staff Board Provide information and training material for Branches September 2011Provincial OfficeBranch Chair Implement training at branch level September-December 2011; and, As required for new volunteers in future years At the discretion of the ChairAll branch executive, council and volunteers who interact with the public The Ontario Genealogical Society Deadline of January 1, 2012

What is a disability? D ISABILITY Can limit a person’s ability to carry out their pursuits. A person can have a disability which is visible, non-visible, permanent or that occurs only at certain times The Ontario Genealogical Society

A CCESSIBILITY B ARRIER Anything hindering access by a person with a disability to goods, services or activities The Ontario Genealogical Society

H ANDICAP Circumstance or setting putting someone with a disability at a disadvantage. Handicaps are the result of accessibility barriers The Ontario Genealogical Society

Agenda The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Types of disabilities Support for people with disabilities The Act and OGS The Ontario Genealogical Society

What types of disabilities are there? Hearing Intellectual or Developmental Learning Mental Health Speech or Language Physical or Mobility Vision The Ontario Genealogical Society

Agenda The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Types of disabilities Support for people with disabilities The Act and OGS The Ontario Genealogical Society

Support Persons, Service Animals, Assistive Devices Support Person – to assist the client with any number of things from communicating to helping with mobility or medical needs The Ontario Genealogical Society

Service Animal – a working animal which provides assistance in specific ways The Ontario Genealogical Society

Assistive Device – tool, technology or other mechanism that enables a person with a disability to do everyday tasks and activities The Ontario Genealogical Society

RESPECT The Ontario Genealogical Society R - Realize person 1 st, disability 2 nd E - Educate yourself on questions S - Smile and speak clearly and directly P - Provide service excellence E - Enjoy providing service excellence C – Create a friendly environment T – Thank the customer for business

Agenda The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Types of disabilities Support for people with disabilities The Act and OGS The Ontario Genealogical Society

WHAT CAN I DO? Let’s put it into practice… The Ontario Genealogical Society