Accessibility
AODA
Background
- Over 15% of Ontarians have a disability. That’s more than 1 in every 7 people. Several laws in Ontario have addressed disability accommodation and accessibility to promote access for people with disabilities and some progress has been made. Despite this, accessibility remains limited. People with disabilities still do not enjoy the access that others in Ontario enjoy. They cannot count on accessibility being available and have had to rely on complaint mechanisms to ensure their rights to equal access.
- By the year 2000, fifty per cent of complaints at the Ontario Human Rights Commission were based on disability. It became clear to government that a complaint-based system was not an effective way to address disability especially in light of Ontario’s aging population in which the number of people with disabilities will increase. The government determined that measures had to be advanced to address disability in a more systematic manner. The University is committed to providing goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. This policy outlines how the University fulfills this commitment and what individuals can expect when accessing services at the University.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) was enacted as a way to systemically address barriers and achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities. It allows the government to develop specific standards of accessibility and to enforce them. The purpose of the accessibility standards is to move organizations in Ontario forward on accessibility. The standards will set requirements in a number of key areas. New requirements may be added in the future. Ontario will now move step by step towards accessibility that is widespread and commonplace, accessibility that people with disabilities can count on, on a daily basis. In this way Ontario will fully benefit from the contributions, involvement and spending power of people with disabilities.
There will be five accessibility standards under the AODA:
- Customer Service Standard
- Transportation Standard
- Information and Communication Standard
- Employment Standard
- Built Environment Standard
Resources:
- 1. Customer Service Standard
- The Customer Service Standard has already been passed into law and requires the University and other public sector organizations to meet and report on specific customer service requirements. Among these requirements are:
- Train staff, volunteers, contractors and any other people who interact with the public on a number of topics as outlined in the customer service standard.
- The University is conducting face-to-face and on-line orientation for all employees and service providers. The on-line module is available through Course Link.
- Create a policy or procedure that addresses:
- allowing people to use their own personal assistive devices to access your goods and use your services
- allowing people with disabilities to be accompanied by their guide dog or service animal
- permitting people with disabilities who use a support person to bring that person with them while accessing goods or services
- Provide notice when facilities or services that people with disabilities rely on to access or use your goods or services are temporarily disrupted.
- Establish a process for people to provide feedback on how you provide goods or services to people with disabilities
The expectations of the Customer Service standard are very consistent with providing the best experience for all who come to the University of Guelph to learn, work, visit, or access services.
Resources
- 2.-5. Transportation Standard, Information and Communication Standard, Employment Standard, Built Environment Standard
- These standards are in various stages of development and will soon become law. More information will be provided on this website as these standards become law.
This website was created and is maintained by the University of Guelph’s Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee (APDAC).