Posts Tagged ‘AODA’

New Accessible Customer Service Standards come into force July 1st. Are you ready?

June 22nd, 2016 by Katie Douglas

On July 1, 2016, the Accessible Customer Service Standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the AODA) are changing. The changes apply to all organizations in Ontario with one or more employees that provide goods or services to the public.

The AODA is organized into five ‘standards’: customer service, information and communications, transportation, employment, and the design of public spaces. These standards are being phased in gradually and will be fully implemented in 2025. We’ve previously written about the new employment standards coming into force under the AODA in 2017. Those changes apply to all organizations with fewer than 50 employees. Read up on them here.

Below is a brief summary of the changes coming July 1st under the Customer Service Standard. Organizations with questions or which are unsure if they are meeting their obligations under the AODA are encouraged to contact us. Continue reading “New Accessible Customer Service Standards come into force July 1st. Are you ready?”

Small organizations: new accessibility standards apply to you starting 2017

May 31st, 2016 by Katie Douglas

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the AODA) removes barriers to participation in society for people with disabilities by requiring organizations to follow various “Accessibility Standards.” Currently, small organizations –organizations with 1 to 49 employees – must meet two Accessibility Standards. The first, Information and Communications Standards, require that, if requested, organizations provide or arrange for communication supports (e.g.. sign language interpreters) and information in accessible formats (e.g. large type brochures) for people with disabilities. Further, small organizations that provide goods or services to members of the public (e.g. a food co‑operative) must meet the Customer Service Standards which require that they provide their goods and services in a way that is accessible to people with disabilities, including accommodating service animals. Continue reading “Small organizations: new accessibility standards apply to you starting 2017”

AODA updates 2015 – will you comply?

October 14th, 2014 by Lauren Blumas

Summer is over and 2015 is around the corner. As the calendar flips over into the New Year, most organizations will be subject to additional requirement under Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the AODA) via the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (the Regulation).

The Regulation applies to “every organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or other third parties and that has at least one employee”. The application is intended to be broad and indeed captures most of our clients.

Continue reading “AODA updates 2015 – will you comply?”

AODA year-end report and upcoming standards

December 21st, 2012 by Celia Chandler

As we reported to you earlier in the year, in 2012 many of our clients became subject to requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005). Employers with at least 20 employees are obliged to report on compliance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service by December 31, 2012.

Continue reading “AODA year-end report and upcoming standards”

Reporting Deadline under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act for Organizations with 20 or more Employees Nears

October 18th, 2012 by Shelina Ali

As of January 1, 2012 all organizations that provide goods and services to members of the public and that have at least one employee in Ontario are required to comply with the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service regulation (the Regulation) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.  In addition, if your organization has 20 employees or more, it must file an online report with the Ministry of Community and Social Services regarding  its compliance with the Regulation by December 31, 2012. Please visit the Ministry of Community and Social Service website for more information about filing you Customer Service Accessibility Compliance Report.

For more information on the requirements of the legislation, see our previous post on the topic.