What Is The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)?
Building on the Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990 and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) was implemented with the goal of an accessible province by the year 2025.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) develops, implements and enforces mandatory accessibility standards in both the public and private sector, to remove barriers to accessibility. Ontario is developing standards in 5 areas:
- customer service
- employment
- information and communications
- public transportation
- built environment (buildings and other structures)
The Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation and the Integrated Accessibility Standardsare now law and apply to all people, businesses and organizations that:
- provide goods or services either directly to the public or to other businesses or organizations
- have one or more employees in Ontario
Private sector and not-for-profit organizations must meet Accessibility Standards for Customer Service by January 1, 2012.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards incorporate employment, information and communications and public transportation standards and was released June 2011.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards are to be met, incrementally, between the years 2011 and 2021.
The built environment standards are being finalized.
What Happens If You Don't Comply?
Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Ontario can take enforcement action and have the legal authority to develop and implement processes for:
- compliance reporting
- inspections
- orders and monetary penalties
- proposed amounts for these penalties range from $200 to $15,000, depending on the size and type of organization, their compliance history and the impact of the violation
- appeals