Accessibility Experts - Making your business accessible.
Charles Beer Report – Review of the AODA
Report of the Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, by Charles Beer. Click on Charles Beer Report for more details.
IPSOS REID Survey - AODA and Accessibility
A recent study conducted by IPSOS REID reveals that people in Ontario are relatively unaware of the sweeping legislative changes recently passed into law under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (A.O.D.A.). Click press release for the results of the survey.
AODA Accessible Customer Service Training
Are you looking for Accessible Customer Service Training so that you can meet the legislative requirements under the AODA? We offer a variety of workshops and courses (3 hour, 1 hour, E-Learning, Train the Trainer). Go to "services" for a complete listing of our workshops. Our training assists you in being compliant with the Ontario Regulation 429/07.
Accessibility Experts - Consulting and Training Firm
We provide consulting services and training and are passionate about making Ontario accessible. We can help you to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and serve your customers with disabilities effectively.
Our services
- Accessible customer service training
- Accessibility planning and development
- Train the Trainer
- E-Learning
- Web Accessibility Training
- Accessibility Assessment
- Document Accessibility
- Policy Development and Review
- Consulting Services
- Accessible Elections
- Building Assessments
AODA Compliance it’s the law - $100,000 fine per day!
Are you providing Accessible Customer Service for persons with disabilities? Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) you must comply to the new standards. Organizations can be penalized if they are found guilty of an offense under this Act. A fine of $100,000 per day to your organization plus $50,000 to each Director if found liable on conviction. The AODA enforces the customer service standards through inspections, compliance orders and administrative penalties.
What do I need to do to comply?
You must provide accessible customer service. In order to meet the legislative requirements you will need to:
- Have policies and procedures in place
- Provide training for all staff (full time, part time, volunteers and contractors) which meet the AODA Customer Service Standard.
- Offer alternative formats
- Have a feedback mechanism
- Have a notification of disrupted service procedure
- Develop a procedure for service animals and support staff provision
Make sure you are in compliance by being familiar with the act. Click on Ontario Regulation under the AODA, 2006 to see what the legislative requirements are.
When do you have to comply?
Public sector organizations must comply to the Customer Service Standards by January 1, 2010.
Private business, non profit organizations, or any other service provider must comply by January 1, 2012.
Are there other standards?
Yes, there are other standards that the Government of Ontario is developing. We have included links to each of the standards listed under the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities - AccessOn website:
The other four standards are:
- Information and Communication (Learn more about the Information and Communication Standard).
- Built Environment (Learn more about the Accessible Built Environment Standard)
- Transportation (Learn more about the Accessible Transportation Standard)
- Employment (Learn more about the Employment Accessibility Standard)
These will be cimplemented soon and yes, you will need to comply with them also.
You will need to file reports, click on the how to file your report for more information.
We can help
Accessibility Experts have worked with many public organizations; townships, cities, regional governments, libraries, school boards, conservation authorities, private sector organizations, non-profits and government ministries. We are the trainers for Accessible Customer Service for Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO), Ontario Hospital Association, Elections Ontario, TVO and many other organizations.
Why us?
Accessibility Experts have extensive background and expertise in all areas of the legislation and the needs of persons with disabilities. We are a credible, responsive and trusted supplier of accessibility training and consulting with a company goal of helping organizations to meet each required standard under the AODA.
Extensive consultation processes are undertaken with all customers to identify and develop each organizations individual solution. We design accessible customer service training that is tailored to the individual needs of the company; training that ensures you are meeting the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and fulfilling the needs of your customers with disabilities.
We follow each of the AODA Standards , W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, CNIB Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines and London Facility Accessibility Design Standards. We continually receive information form colleagues and the many committees we are part of. It helps us provide expert advice and training. It also enables us to produce accessible documents, accessible web sites and advise on building assessments, customer service audits and accessible renovations.
