The Integrated Accessibility Standard has specific training requirements for following the Human Rights Code around Accessibility. In fact, the AODA states that no part of this Act can diminish the legal requirements of the Human Rights Code.
The Standards of the AODA obligate large organizations to complete specific accommodations. The goal is that all large and small, public and private companies will be in compliance with the AODA by 2025. The Human Rights Codes expects compliance unless the organization can prove undue hardship. This can include financial ability, health and safety requirements, and other technical feasibility. When planning for compliance with the standards of the AODA, your company has to follow the law, i.e., the Human Rights Codes. Remember that the Human Rights Code of Ontario overrides all of the Laws and Standards in Ontario. It is important to consider this when planning for compliance with all standards.
The Standards designed under the AODA are to ensure system wide changes across the province. They are designed so that people with disabilities in the province of Ontario can participate in all parts of life in Ontario. It is the only legislation that was signed by all three parties in the Legislature. That means that all governments have to take this very seriously.
What is your company or organization doing to ensure compliance with the Standards of the AODA and ensure the Human Rights Code is still legal?
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
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Integrated Accessibility Standard
Accessibility Plan: What does it mean?
The new Accessibility Standard requires that every large organization file an Accessibility Plan by January 1, 2013. This Plan has to cover a 5 year plan and must be reviewed and updated regularly. Each plan has to include your company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for anybody with a disability. This definition of disability includes visible and invisible disabilities and also temporary, episodic and permanent disabilities.
The prevention of barriers means that there are policies, practices and procedures that ensure that all people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company.
The removal of barriers includes an examination of all of your company’s policies and practices to ensure that none of them are inadvertently excluding people with disabilities. This has to be done in an organized and efficient fashion and needs to ensure that policies are examined with an accessibility lens. To begin, each company should examine the following sections: customer service, information and communication, built environment and employment.
According to the Integrated Accessibility Standard this accessibility plan needs to be available to the public and available in accessible formats. It also has to be reviewed and update every five years. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario will be examining this to ensure that compliance is key and people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company’s life.
What is your company or organization’s plan for the examination, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities?
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
The new Accessibility Standard requires that every large organization file an Accessibility Plan by January 1, 2013. This Plan has to cover a 5 year plan and must be reviewed and updated regularly. Each plan has to include your company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for anybody with a disability. This definition of disability includes visible and invisible disabilities and also temporary, episodic and permanent disabilities.
The prevention of barriers means that there are policies, practices and procedures that ensure that all people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company.
The removal of barriers includes an examination of all of your company’s policies and practices to ensure that none of them are inadvertently excluding people with disabilities. This has to be done in an organized and efficient fashion and needs to ensure that policies are examined with an accessibility lens. To begin, each company should examine the following sections: customer service, information and communication, built environment and employment.
According to the Integrated Accessibility Standard this accessibility plan needs to be available to the public and available in accessible formats. It also has to be reviewed and update every five years. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario will be examining this to ensure that compliance is key and people with disabilities are included in all parts of your company’s life.
What is your company or organization’s plan for the examination, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities?
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
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Integrated Accessibility Standard
Training: What is different?
The New Integrated Accessibility Standard has to provide training in all parts of the new standard, i.e., Information and Communication, Transportation and Employment. This has to be done by the designated dates. The one thing that is different is that each organization has to provide training in the Ontario Human Rights Code. In particular, the Human Rights Code training has to include the parts that pertain to people with disabilities.
This training has to be provided to all employees, volunteers and all people who participate in developing your company’s policies as well as all people who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of your company.
The training can be personalized to your company’s needs. This training has to be appropriate to the duties of employment, volunteers and other persons. This training has to be done as soon as practicable and ongoing as changes to the policies continue. This training should be on-going as barriers to people with disabilities are removed or prevented.
Each company has to keep a record of training providing the dates of training, what was covered and the number of individuals which training was provided. This part of training has to be done by January 1, 2014 for large organizations.
How will these changes to training requirements change/update your training plan for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard?
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
The New Integrated Accessibility Standard has to provide training in all parts of the new standard, i.e., Information and Communication, Transportation and Employment. This has to be done by the designated dates. The one thing that is different is that each organization has to provide training in the Ontario Human Rights Code. In particular, the Human Rights Code training has to include the parts that pertain to people with disabilities.
This training has to be provided to all employees, volunteers and all people who participate in developing your company’s policies as well as all people who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of your company.
The training can be personalized to your company’s needs. This training has to be appropriate to the duties of employment, volunteers and other persons. This training has to be done as soon as practicable and ongoing as changes to the policies continue. This training should be on-going as barriers to people with disabilities are removed or prevented.
Each company has to keep a record of training providing the dates of training, what was covered and the number of individuals which training was provided. This part of training has to be done by January 1, 2014 for large organizations.
How will these changes to training requirements change/update your training plan for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard?
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
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Ensuring Compliance in the Long Run
An important piece of the Customer Service Standard is ensuring that the standard is implemented and cleared for auditors from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario – the regulator of the AODA. The Customer Service Standard requires each private sector company to be in compliance with all 13 requirements. The use of the Accessibility report for customer service standard would form the basis of a customized checklist of the proper documentation required for filing compliance as well as keeping records for future audits.
This would also
* develop a consistent approach for the new integrated accessibility standard (released June 7th, 2011)
* develop key messages for targeted staff regarding accessible customer service and accessibility
* help to make accessibility a natural part of your business
* allow for a review of your business services to ensure all are in compliance with the AODA
* A review of corporate policies that have an impact on accessibility
* An accessibility audit of company/organization’s buildings.
How is compliance audited in your company/organization??
Is there a separate approach?
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 http://www.accessibilitycompliance.ca/
This would also
* develop a consistent approach for the new integrated accessibility standard (released June 7th, 2011)
* develop key messages for targeted staff regarding accessible customer service and accessibility
* help to make accessibility a natural part of your business
* allow for a review of your business services to ensure all are in compliance with the AODA
* A review of corporate policies that have an impact on accessibility
* An accessibility audit of company/organization’s buildings.
How is compliance audited in your company/organization??
Is there a separate approach?
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 http://www.accessibilitycompliance.ca/
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Many companies have developed a compliance strategy to aid with the implementation of the requirements of the Customer Service Standard. This is a first, essential step as it ensures consistency with the new Integrated Accessibility Standard compliance. The communication strategy has to include accessibility best practices that will be implemented effectively and efficiently across your company. As well, it has to communicate to the staff the ways in which a multi-year accessibility plan will be implemented. The support begins with the leadership and the development of a compliance action plan. This plan will be implemented and communicated through reports. This communication is both internally and externally. This will help with compliance with all standards.
How is support and guidance offered in your company/organization?
How would you like it to be offered??
What do you need to do to successfully implement the Customer Service Standard?
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 http://www.accessibilitycompliance.ca/
How is support and guidance offered in your company/organization?
How would you like it to be offered??
What do you need to do to successfully implement the Customer Service Standard?
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 http://www.accessibilitycompliance.ca/
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Ensuring Compliance in the Long Run
An important piece of the Customer Service Standard is ensuring that the standard is implemented and cleared for auditors from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario – the regulator of the AODA. The Customer Service Standard requires each private sector company to be in compliance with all 13 requirements. The use of the Accessibility report for customer service standard would form the basis of a customized checklist of the proper documentation required for filing compliance as well as keeping records for future audits.
This would also
* develop a consistent approach for future standards (released June 7th, 2011)
* develop key messages for targeted staff regarding accessible customer service
* help to make accessibility a natural part of your business
* allow for a review of your business services to ensure all are in compliance with the AODA
* A review of corporate policies that have an impact on accessibility
* An accessibility audit of company/organization’s buildings.
How is compliance audited in your company/organization??
Is there a separate approach?
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
This would also
* develop a consistent approach for future standards (released June 7th, 2011)
* develop key messages for targeted staff regarding accessible customer service
* help to make accessibility a natural part of your business
* allow for a review of your business services to ensure all are in compliance with the AODA
* A review of corporate policies that have an impact on accessibility
* An accessibility audit of company/organization’s buildings.
How is compliance audited in your company/organization??
Is there a separate approach?
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
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Release of the integrated accessiblilty standards
The Ministry of Community and Social Services has released the new Integrated Accessibility Standard on June 7, 2011. This new standard combines the Information and Communication, Employment and Transportation Standard. Large and small organizations will need to file regular compliancy reports for the Customer Service Standard and this Integrated Standard. You can read more about it at:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2011/elaws_src_regs_r11191_e.htm#BK0
This regulation also asks each company to develop and file an Accessibility Plan over many years. This ensures compliance with making Ontario completely barrier free, which is the goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The training requirements have increased to include volunteers and content on the Ontario Human Rights Code.
As you work toward compliance with the Customer Service Standard, ensure that when planning for compliance, it is important to develop key partnerships and compliance with all regulations implemented across the province.
What have you and your company done to ensure you are ready for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard?
In the future, you will see more information on compliance with the Customer Service Standard and the Integrated Accessibility Standard. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2011/elaws_src_regs_r11191_e.htm#BK0
This regulation also asks each company to develop and file an Accessibility Plan over many years. This ensures compliance with making Ontario completely barrier free, which is the goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The training requirements have increased to include volunteers and content on the Ontario Human Rights Code.
As you work toward compliance with the Customer Service Standard, ensure that when planning for compliance, it is important to develop key partnerships and compliance with all regulations implemented across the province.
What have you and your company done to ensure you are ready for compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standard?
In the future, you will see more information on compliance with the Customer Service Standard and the Integrated Accessibility Standard. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
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