Proposed Ontario Changes to Accessibility Regulations

The Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure has proposed changes to the Customer Service Standard and Integrated Accessibility Standards regulations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If approved, the changes will be enacted on July 1, 2016, and take immediate effect.

This proposal includes incorporating the Customer Service Standard into the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and making changes to requirements of the Customer Service Standard.

Proposed customer service standard changes include:

·       The types and definitions of obligated organizations under the Customer Service Standard will be matched with those of other accessibility standards (i.e., information and communication, employment, transportation, built environment for public spaces). This means the definitions under the Customer Service Standard of designated public sector organization, provider of goods and services, and private and not-for-profit organizations defined as having between 1–19 employees (small) or 20 or more employees (large), would be removed and replaced with the definitions under the other accessibility standards, as follows:

·       Designated public sector organization

·       Government of Ontario

·       Large designated public sector organization

·       Large organization (private and not-for-profit organizations with 50+ employees)

·       Legislative assembly

·       Small designated public sector organization

·       Small organization (private and not-for-profit organizations with 1 to 49 employees)

·       The term “facilities” will be included throughout the Customer Service Standard where there are currently references to “goods and services.” It will now say “goods, services and facilities”). As noted in the proposal, “facilities” refers to services in buildings or premises that are offered for use to members of the public or third parties (e.g. stadium, banquet hall). It does not refer to the structure or physical features of the built environment which are covered by the building code.

·       Requirements under the Customer Service Standard that currently apply to organizations with 20 or more employees would now apply to organizations with 50 or more employees.

·       How does this change your organization’s implementation 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