1. Overview of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Cynthia Tam
Disability Ministries National Coordinator
Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada

2. Purpose
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, or AODA, aims to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities to be included in the life of the community.

3. Definition of Disabilities
Broad definition
Physical disabilities
Visual, hearing or speech impairments
Intellectual or developmental disabilities
Learning disabilities
Mental illnesses
Disabilities of different severity, visible, non- visible, and those with effects that come and go
Prevalence: 1 in 7 (Stat. Can 2006)

4. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005
Five standards
Accessible Customer Service
Accessible Information and Communications
Employment Accessibility
Accessible Transportation
Accessible Built Environment
Administered by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment
Goal: Accessible Ontario by 2025

5. Who must comply? have one or more employees
Public, non-profit and private sector organizations who
have one or more employees
provide goods or services either directly to the public or to other businesses or organizations

6. Who is an employee
All full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees, regardless of status
Receiving a wage or salary
You have control over the work assigned to the person, and have a right to control the details of the work

7. Volunteers and Contractors
They are not counted as employees
Organizations are still obliged to:
Supervise so to ensure compliance with the rules
Ensure that these individuals are trained

8. Reporting requirements
Based on numbers of employees
1 to 19
20 to 49
50 and more

9. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005
Reporting requirements
Accessible Customer Service standard
Integrated accessibility standard
Accessible Information and Communications
Employment Accessibility
Accessible Transportation
Design of public spaces
Building code
Internal accessibility incorporated into the Building Code

10. 20-49 Employees Have policy, procedures and practices in place
Reporting mainly concerns the Customer Service Standards
Accessibility compliance report
1st report: December 31, 2012
2nd report: December 31, 2014

11. 50 or more employees Reporting Accessibility compliance report
1st report: December 31, 2012
2nd report: December 31, 2014
Additional accessibility compliance report every three years.
3rd report: December 31st, 2017

12. Ensuring Compliance Compliance report Inspection
Subject to review by a government appointed director
Inspection
Subject to inspection
Appointed inspector can have entry to the building without warrants

13. Non-compliance Non-compliance: Maximum penalties: Incomplete reports
inaccurate record keeping
Employees not engaged in training
Maximum penalties:
A person and unincorporated organizations
Up to $50,000 dollars a day
Corporate organizations:
Up to $100,000 per day
Directors and officers of a corporation
Liable to a fine of up to $50,000 a day

14. Core principles Polices, practices and procedures must demonstrate
Reasonable efforts to remove barriers
Consistent with the core principles of
Independence
Dignity
Integration
Equality of opportunity

15. Reasonable Efforts
There is not a single way to provide accessibility. Examples:
Changing a procedure
Installing an assistive device
Built-in accessibility in the design of the program
If accessibility plan cannot be implemented immediately, consider alternative means to provide the same service at the mean time.

16. Independence Independence means: Example
freedom from control or influence of others
freedom to make choices
freedom to do things in preferred way.
Example
Getting food independently despite apparent physical difficulties

17. Dignity Dignity means Examples
Treat as valued member who deserves access to all church services.
Not to force them to accept lesser service, quality or convenience.
Examples
Worship in the sanctuary

18. Integrative
Integration mean: same services, in the same place and in the same or similar way as other customers.
Alternative and temporary measures allowed
Example:
Integrated for certain part of the children program while providing individualized teaching

19. Equality
Equality in services means that people with disabilities have the same opportunity to benefit from your services, without
making significantly more effort to access or obtain service.
Accepting lesser quality or more inconvenience.
Examples:
Entrance from the back door

20. Guiding Documents
Policies – what you intend to do, including any rules for staff
Procedures – how you will go about it or the steps staff are expected to take
Practices – what you actually do on a day-to-day basis, including how your staff actually offer or deliver your services

21. Training Determine Who must be trained.
Organization with more than 20 employees must maintain records of training
Dates and people trained
What must be included in the training
E.g., Communication techniques, use of assistive devices etc.
How the training is delivered
Face to face or electronic
When the training should take place
On-going training as changes are made to the policies, practices and procedures
New employee must be trained asap

22. Information and Communication
Provide information and communicate in ways accessible to the persons with disabilities
Website
Make sure that it meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA requirements

23. Service Animals
Service animals include more than a seeing-eye dog. There are certified service dogs for many other disabilities such as epilepsy, autism and PTSD
Identify areas that are open or not open to service animals.
If service animals to certain areas are excluded by law, identify ways to provide accessible services

24. Support Personnel
Identify parts of your premises that can be opened to the public or third parties.
Think about how your services are used by people with a support person.
Develop policy on occasions such as when admission fee may be charged, or where screening of personnel is required. Inform your customer /client of the requirements ahead of time.

25. Employment
Ensure that accommodation is available in the process of recruitment and hiring.
 If a staff member has as a disability, there needs to be an individualized accommodation plan
 Customized emergency information where needed

26. Transportation
Concerning mainly the accessibility of transportation vehicles
Supervision responsibility for transportation companies on contract

27. Built Environment Design of public space Outdoor public-use areas
Exterior paths of travel
Accessible parking
Service-related elements
Maintenance
Building code
Internal accessibility

28. Disruption of Services
Identify circumstances that can affect services
E.g., Repair /maintenance of parking lot
Notify people who might be affected by the disruption well in advance

29. Feedback Process Determine how to receive feedback. By telephone
In writing
By or otherwise.
Decide how to respond to feedback, including complaints.

30. Documentation For all policies, practices and procedures
Notify the public of the availability of these documents and be able to provide the documentation upon request
Organizations will 20 or more employers need to have the documentation available to the public

31. Thank you!