Integrated Accessibility Standard

*      Released June 3, 2011

*      On June 3, 2011, the Ontario government released the final Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (the “Final Regulation”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA” or the “Act”). The Final Regulation combines accessibility standards in three areas – information and communication, employment, and transportation – and comes into force July 1, 2011.

*      Combines

*      Information and Communications

*      Employment

*      Transportation

*       

*      Aligning with the Human Rights Code

*      The development of the Final Regulation represents a significant shift in human rights and accessibility law affecting nearly all organizations in Ontario with respect to their human resources practices and in the way they do business.

*      The most noteworthy change is the new requirement that organizations provide training on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities

*       The Final Regulation makes it clear that its requirements do not replace, nor are they a substitute for, the requirements established under the Human Rights Code (the “Code”), nor will the standards limit any rights under other pieces of legislation.

*      Training Requirements

*      The training “shall be appropriate to the duties” of these individuals. And training in the Human Rights Code as it pertains to disability and accessibility.

What has your business done to ensure compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard  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 @ 416-503-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit www.accessibilitycompliance.ca