Making emergency information accessible to the public

Public safety information can help keep people safe when an emergency happens. Ontario’s

Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications can help you do that by making your

emergency and public safety information accessible to people with disabilities.

Does this apply to my organization?

It applies to you if you answer ‘yes’ to both of these questions:

• Do you have emergency procedures, plans or public safety information?

• Do you make them available to the public?

What is emergency and public safety information?

There are many types of emergency and public safety information, for example:

• Emergency plans and procedures, such as tour boat instructions on how to use a lifejacket

• Maps, warning signs and evacuation routes, such as a “Warning: High Voltage” sign or a

map pointing out emergency exits

• Information you give the public about alarms or other emergency alerts, such as a

brochure explaining how a hotel fire alarm works

What do I have to do?

• Upon request, make your emergency and public safety information accessible to people

with disabilities.

• Work with the person requesting the information to figure out how you can meet their

needs, as soon as possible.

You don’t have to have accessible formats on hand and you don’t have to create new emergency

or public safety information. Real-time emergency information (such as announcements and

alarms) isn’t included in the standard. You only have to make information that is available to the

public accessible, upon request.

How do I do it?

1. Assess your information

Focus on things you create before an emergency strikes, like evacuation plans, brochures

or signs. Is there anything that would make it hard for someone with a disability to read,

see, hear or understand?

2. Make it accessible upon request

The law doesn’t tell you what formats to use; it’s flexible so you can work with the public

to figure out what they need.

You can make a document accessible by recreating it in a different format; for example,

printing it in large print for someone with vision loss. But you can also make information

accessible by helping someone to use the original document or resource; for example,

by reading it aloud.

3. Provide it as soon as possible

In some cases, you may be able to make the information accessible instantly. In other

cases, it may take longer – it depends on the individual’s needs, the format and your

organization’s resources.

If you are interested in learning more about Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or how to make accessibility a natural part of your business through the application of Corporate Social Responsibility, please contact Sandra Broekhof @ 416-579-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit www.accessibilitycompliance.ca