Making Buildings Accessible

The Ministry of Community and Social Services has performed reviews on public buildings in terms of accessibility.  After decades of human rights law, with accessibility requirements firmly established, why are not all buildings in Ontario appropriately
accessible? Why does the Ministry need to review anything, yet again? Why
does The Ministry simply not require that buildings open to the public are
actually open to the entire public? Is this latest “review” simply just one
more excuse for the Government to forget its own human rights legislation?
Or does the Ministry even need an excuse as it seems to have forgotten that
accessibility is a matter of law, not pleading?

The Ministry’s latest paper is ensuring that parking lots, washrooms, hallways and elevators are more user-friendly. Property owners are being asked to make businesses accessible during renovations and aren’t be forced to retrofit existing properties. Why are they being asked to do what the law requires?

This review is in preparation for the Built Environment Standard of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.  This is under public review right now.  The final standard is expected to be passed into law sometime in the Fall. 

Is your work building fully accessible? What can you do to make it accessible?      

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