Components of the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

The Integration Accessibility Standard requires that all organizations prepare a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.  The first companies have to submit this by January 1, 2014.  The requirements include that organizations must:

1. Establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan, which outlines the organization’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under this regulation;
2. Post the accessibility plan on their website, if any, and provide the plan in an accessible format upon request; and
3. Review and update the accessibility plan at least once every five years.

The Government of Ontario, as a leader in the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, has developed an accessibility plan. 

·      To begin the process of developing this plan to compliance, the organization must:

·      Assess their current operating environment

·      Review its practices and premises (to understand how best alter and improve accessibility)

This assessment allows each organization to

·      Examine how it currently treats persons with disabilities

·      How it can do better in policy and physically to include all people with disabilities in all parts of your organization

·      Allow you to compare your current policies with the Integrated Accessibility Standard compliance requirements

·      Assess the work that needs to be done in the future

It is crucial that the assessment include input from a wide range of people: employees, customers, accessibility experts, persons with disabilities—anyone who might use the organization’s products, services, facilities or public spaces. 

An Accessibility Compliance Consultant can help:

• Plan for Compliance including a pre-assessment
• Develop Key messages for all staff
• Develop resources/tools to aid toward compliance
• Support key relationships
• Assist in the development of a multi-year accessibility Plan
• Plan for audits

Let me know where you stand in the development of the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.  Will you be ready for the compliance deadline? 

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