Integrated Accessibility Standard

Within in the disability community, there is a large discussion around how many organizations are not in compliance with the AODA customer service standard and have not begun planning for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  I thought I would review each of the questions to help you ensure you are in compliance.  I am discussing the requirements for the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  Please let me know how far in compliance you are.

Training:  What is different? 

The New Integrated Accessibility Standard has to provide training in all parts of the new standard, i.e., Information and Communication, Transportation and Employment.  This has to be done by the designated dates.  The one thing that is different is that each organization has to provide training in the Ontario Human Rights Code.  In particular, the Human Rights Code training has to include the parts that pertain to people with disabilities. 

This training has to be provided to all employees, volunteers and all people who participate in developing your company’s policies as well as all people who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of your company. 

The training can be personalized to your company’s needs.  This training has to be appropriate to the duties of employment, volunteers and other persons.  This training has to be done as soon as practicable and ongoing as changes to the policies continue.  This training should be on-going as barriers to people with disabilities are removed or prevented. 

Each company has to keep a record of training providing the dates of training, what was covered and the number of individuals which training was provided.  This part of training has to be done by January 1, 2014 for large organizations. 

How will these changes to training requirements change/update your training plan for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard?

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

The AODA and the Human Rights Code

Within in the disability community, there is a large discussion around how many organizations are not in compliance with the AODA customer service standard and have not begun planning for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  I thought I would review each of the questions to help you ensure you are in compliance.  I am discussing the requirements for the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  Please let me know how far in compliance you are.

The Integrated Accessibility Standard has specific training requirements for following the Human Rights Code around Accessibility.  In fact, the AODA states that no part of this Act can diminish the legal requirements of the Human Rights Code.

The Standards of the AODA obligate large organizations to complete specific accommodations.   The goal is that all large and small, public and private companies will be in compliance with the AODA by 2025.  The Human Rights Codes expects compliance unless the organization can prove undue hardship.  This can include financial ability, health and safety requirements, and other technical feasibility.  When planning for compliance with the standards of the AODA, your company has to follow the law, i.e., the Human Rights Codes.  Remember that the Human Rights Code of Ontario overrides all of the Laws and Standards in Ontario.  It is important to consider this when planning for compliance with all standards.

The Standards designed under the AODA are to ensure system wide changes across the province.  They are designed so that people with disabilities in the province of Ontario can participate in all parts of life in Ontario.  It is the only legislation that was signed by all three parties in the Legislature.  That means that all governments have to take this very seriously. 

What is your company or organization doing to ensure compliance with the Standards of the AODA and ensure the Human Rights Code is still legal?

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

Integrated Accessibility Standard

Within in the disability community, there is a large discussion around how many organizations are not in compliance with the AODA customer service standard and have not begun planning for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  I thought I would review each of the questions to help you ensure you are in compliance.  I am discussing the requirements for the Integrated Accessibility Standard.  Please let me know how far in compliance you are.

Accessibility Plan:  What does it mean?

The new Accessibility Standard requires that every large organization file an Accessibility Plan by January 1, 2013.  This Plan has to cover a 5 year plan and must be reviewed and updated regularly.   Each plan has to include your company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for anybody with a disability.  This definition of disability includes visible and invisible disabilities and also temporary, episodic and permanent disabilities. 

The prevention of barriers means that there are policies, practices and procedures that ensure that all people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company. 

The removal of barriers includes an examination of all of your company’s policies and practices to ensure that none of them are inadvertently excluding people with disabilities.  This has to be done in an organized and efficient fashion and needs to ensure that policies are examined with an accessibility lens.  To begin, each company should examine the following sections: customer service, information and communication, built environment and employment.

According to the Integrated Accessibility Standard this accessibility plan needs to be available to the public and available in accessible formats.  It also has to be reviewed and update every five years.  The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario will be examining this to ensure that compliance is key and people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company’s life. 

What is your company or organization’s plan for the examination, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities?

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

Accessibility report on the customer service standard

Within in the disability community, there is a large discussion around how many organizations are not in compliance with the AODA customer service standard.  I thought I would review each of the questions to help you ensure you are in compliance.  Here is the beginning.  Please let me know how far in compliance you are.

Question Twelve:   Does your organization post a notice at a conspicuous place on your premises, on your website, or by another reasonable method, that the documents required by the Customer Service Standard are available upon request, and do you provide those documents in a format that takes a person’s disability into account?

What does it look like for you to check yes to this question??

To mark yes to this questions means that the notice is available to the public about how to get documentation related to the Customer Service Standard (e.g., policies, service disruption notices, training plans).  The notices are placed in an obvious place on your premises as well as available in other formats. 

Some sample evidence include sample notice is provided (e.g., website link and/or poster).   The notice states that alternate formats are available.  There could also include a link to the company’s Accessible Customer Service Policy.  Notice is available in a variety of formats (e.g., websites, posters, audio, etc). 

Is there anything else that could be done to ensure that a company can check YES to this eleventh question?

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 @ 416-503-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit www.accessibilitycompliance.ca