Accessibility Directorate of Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

Towards an Accessible Ontario

Sustain Ontario

March 11, 2015

Presentation Overview

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• Overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

• Impact of AODA on community gardens

• Design of Public Spaces (DOPS)

• Helpful resources

• Q&A

How can I help you? Customer Service is about influencing attitudes and behaviours.

Ontario Today Five Accessibility Standards

Design of Public Spaces is about making public spaces more accessible.

Employment is about making accessibility a regular part of recruiting, hiring and supporting employees with disabilities.

Information and communications is about helping people with disabilities access information and communications that many of us rely on every day.

Transportation is about making it easier for everyone to travel in Ontario.

Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation

Who is covered by the IASR? Organizations in Ontario

• One or more employees

• Provide goods, services or facilities:

– directly to the public, or

– to other businesses or organizations

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Government

Broader Public Sector

Business

Non-profit organizations

Impact on Community Gardens

Customer Service

• Customer service policy on how you will provide goods or services to people with disabilities

• Train staff on your customer service policies

• Provide accessible feedback process

Information and Communication

• Provide information in an accessible way

• Make new websites and new web content accessible

Employment Standard

• Accessible hiring and recruitment process

• Training employees

• Provide employees with disabilities customized emergency information

Design of Public spaces

• Accessible parking

• Exterior paths of travel

• Outdoor public-use eating areas

• Outdoor play spaces

• Recreational trails and beach access routes

• Service-related elements

• Maintenance

Impact on Community Gardens

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2015 Accessibility Requirements You have new requirements this year

Consider accessibility when purchasing or designing self-service kiosks

Make your surveys, comment cards or other feedback processes accessible upon request

If your organization has 20-49 employees:

If your organization has 50+ employees:

Create accessibility policies and tell your employees and customers about them

Train your staff on Ontario’s accessibility laws

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2016 Accessibility Requirements

Make your surveys, comment cards or other feedback processes accessible upon request

Make your employment practices more accessible

If your organization has 20-49 employees:

If your organization has 50+ employees:

Train your staff on Ontario’s accessibility laws

Make your public information accessible upon request

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2017 Accessibility Requirements

Make public information accessible upon request

Make new or redeveloped public spaces accessible

Make employment practices more accessible

Maintain accessible elements of your public spaces

File an Accessibility Compliance Report

If your organization has 20-49 employees:

If your organization has 50+ employees:

What are the timelines? The AODA Wizard

• Timelines vary, depending on:

– Sector

– Size

– Standard

• Answer a few questions

• Get a personalized summary of what you have to do, by when

• Free and user-friendly

• ontario.ca/AccessON

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Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Areas covered

• Accessible parking

• Exterior paths of travel

• Service-related elements

• Outdoor public-use eating areas

• Maintenance

• Recreational trails and beach access routes

• Outdoor play spaces

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Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Exterior paths of travel

• Sidewalks and walkways that link us between places to work, travel, shop and play

• Includes requirements for:

• Ramps

• Stairs

• Curb ramps

• Depressed curbs

• Accessible pedestrian signals

• Rest areas

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Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Outdoor public-use eating areas

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People with disabilities will be able to use accessible tables in a variety of public spaces, such as:

• hospitals

• university campuses

• parks

Requirements address:

• number of tables

• design of eating areas

• surface area

Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Recreational trails

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• Public pedestrian trails intended for recreational and leisure purposes

• Does not apply to certain types, like wilderness trails, backcountry trails and portage routes

Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Maintenance

Document routine maintenance procedures for accessibility features, such as:

• stairs

• sidewalks

• trails

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• On-street accessible parking

• Rest areas on exterior paths of travel

• Recreational trails

• Outdoor play spaces

Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Consultation

Ontario Building Code Amendments

• Amendments to Ontario Building Code came into effect January 1, 2015, incorporating enhanced accessibility requirements

• Applies to most new construction and extensive renovations

• Does not include residential housing, with the exception of smoke alarm requirements

• Existing buildings, where no work is planned, are not affected

• Amended requirements cover a range of areas including updated requirements for barrier-free washrooms, power door operators, elevators, visual fire alarms and accessible or adaptable seating in public assembly buildings such as theatres, lectures halls and places of worship

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Resources to Help You

Resources to help you Feedback Processes, Websites

• Steps to consider • Tips and examples

• Overview of web accessibility standards

• Best practices and tips

Resources to help you Training

www.AccessForward.ca

• Multiple formats • Interactive web-based video and audio

format • Condensed booklet version

Working Together

• For all sectors • Completes the training requirements

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DOPS Resources

GAATES Illustrated

Technical Guide to

the Accessibility

Standard for the

Design of Public

Spaces

Ontario Building Code

and new accessibility

amendments

Design

guidebook for

the recreation

and parks

sector.

DOPS: Policy Guidelines

• Available @ ontario.ca/AccessON

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Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces Resources to help you comply

Step by step guidance on:

• designing accessible public engagement processes

• organizing and running meetings of all sizes that are accessible to all participants

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For more information...

AODA Contact Centre (ServiceOntario)

Toll-Free: 1-866-515-2025

TTY: 416-325-3408 / 1-800-268-7095

Fax: 416-325-3407

@ONAccessibility Facebook.com/AccessON AccessOntario

ontario.ca/AccessON