Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Project
Project SummaryNew legislation, The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, sets a goal of an Accessible Ontario by 2025. The legislation requires all public and private organizations or businesses to provide service to persons with disabilities. School Boards are among the first to be required to comply with the regulations. Once again, school boards have the opportunity to provide leadership by making the provisions of the Act work for all Ontarians.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 defines 5 areas for which standards will be set –
- Customer Service
- Built Environment
- Employment
- Information and Communication
- Transportation
The first area for which standards have been developed is Customer Service. By Regulation, compliance with this standard for those in the educational sector is required by January 2010.
In November, 2008 OESC partnered with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario in an Enabling Change Project to develop resources that will assist school boards with meeting the requirements of the standard. The first set of resources is Accessible Ontario – Customer Service: A Guide for School Boards. The Guide has been developed using the combined expertise from senior officials in school boards and staff from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. They have ensured that the document is practical, timely and useful. It contains exemplar policies and procedures accompanied by explanatory notes, definitions and useful web links.
The second stage of the project is currently underway and will provide boards with resources to assist them in meeting their training obligations under the Customer Service Regulation.