Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.

Accessibility is not a checklist item that only needs to be considered in some projects, or at the end of a process. Rather, these practices should be woven into every step of a project and role in a team. An accessible product stems from everyone on a team owning and shouldering the responsibility. It's part of our jobs as creators.

We know it's one thing to agree to a set of principles, and another thing altogether to change a process. With these guiding principles in mind, we then turned our attention to figuring out how to actually ensure accessibility in our work.

The most important thing about accessibility is – it is necessary for some but a benefit for all.  They could help many people.

What do you do to help make accessibility a natural way of living?

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 orsandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca

Office 365 makes digital environments more accessible for persons with disabilities

Office 365 is even more accessible now for persons with disabilities, with several key improvements released.

Narrator, the built-in screen reader, has new voices that can speak as many as 800 words a minute with six levels of verbosity, so you can get varying indications of text properties and control over how much punctuation you hear, and verbal hints when automatic suggestions are available; and Document Libraries and SharePoint Online include headings for easy navigation.

There are also high-contrast themes available on PCs to assist visibility, an advanced proofing and editing service to help people with dyslexic, as well as expanded tools to help authors check how accessible their content is, among other enhancements.

For more information, visit https://blogs.office.com

The most important thing about accessibility is – it is necessary for some but a benefit for all.  They could help many people.

Will you be able to use some of these in your organization?

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 orsandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca

GFD launches guidelines on inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), has launched guidelines on inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in election 2016 in Accra. The aim is to promote full inclusion and effective participation of persons with disabilities in the society as well as empower organisations with such persons.

Mr Joshua Makubu, Elections Project Coordinator, GFD speaking at the launch, said many decision making processes have paid lip service to the issue of disability and as such most policies developed particularly in Ghana have not made adequate provisions for Persons with Disabilities.  He said the guidelines therefore seeks to ensure that disability issues are adequately included in political party manifestoes as well as in programmes of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) , the Information Service Department and other stakeholders.

The guidelines entails a number of challenges confronting persons with disabilities such as access to polling stations, access to information, employment opportunities, mental health issues, inclusive education and how these can be implemented effectively to make it disability friendly. Mr Makubu said this was very necessary for the country as a democratic state to allow all stakeholders enjoy their piece of the national cake and feel part of the society.

He thus appealed to government to upgrade all special needs schools in the country to enable it meet international standards.He as well urged that government appointments should also include persons with disability for the development of the economy and the nation at large.

‘If government wants to improve women participation in politics they can as well increase the number of persons with disabilities in parliament for better legislation.’ Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, the Deputy Chairman of Operations, NCCE said the guidelines when implemented would help nip the gaps in the governance and operation systems and enhance the work of the NCCE for effective communication and participation.  He, therefore, appealed to stakeholder institutions to get copies of the guidelines to enhance their activities and their way of communication with persons with disabilities.

Mrs Abigail Amponsah Nutakor, the Head of Gender and Disability EC, said persons with disability could do a lot during this electioneering year and thus, urged those interested as polling officials to make their intentions known to the EC to be able to take part in the process.

The guidelines are in brails, large fonts and normal fonts for easy accessibility by persons with disabilities.

Source: GNA

Do you think you could use some of these guidelines in your organization?  Do they comply with the AODA?

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 orsandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca

Getting to compliance

Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the act) came into force in 2005 and sets out a clear goal and timeframe to make Ontario accessible by 2025.  The next few blogs will talk about how the province and your own organization can do to work towards compliance. 

Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the act) came into force in 2005 and sets out a clear goal and timeframe to make Ontario accessible by 2025.  The next few blogs will talk about how the province and your own organization can do to work towards compliance. 

• Audit up to 2,000 organizations.
• Organizations will be selected for audits to ensure that they are in compliance with the act.
• Continue to follow up when necessary with NOPOs, Director’s Orders, fines and prosecution.

Result: Maintain confidence in the assurance framework.

Compliance with the AODA and the various applicable standards is mandatory and failure to comply may lead to fines. Moreover, compliance with the obligations under AODA can be relevant to other matters arising in the human rights sphere and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Has your organization been complying with all parts of the AODA?

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 orsandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca