The government enacted the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in 2005. This Act lays the framework for the development of province-wide mandatory standards on accessibility in all areas of daily life. Its goal is to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. Through the application of province-wide accessibility standards, will improve access to all Ontarians by identifying, breaking down and preventing barriers to accessibility.
Resources
About the Standards
Accessibility standards are the rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario will follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility.
The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service applies to all organizations that provide goods or services either directly to the public or to other organizations in Ontario that have one or more employees in Ontario. Accessible customer service is about changes to how we serve customers with disabilities.
Ontario’s next four standards are all part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. The regulation sets out the requirements for each of the standards, as well as general requirements that apply to all, such as:
- developing accessibility policies and plans
- training employees and volunteers, and
- considering accessibility when purchasing goods or services.
These standards will remove barriers in four areas:
- Employment - expanding Ontario’s labour pool and welcoming people with disabilities into more workplaces
- Information and Communications - giving people with disabilities access to more of the information we all depend on
- Transportation - making it easier for people with disabilities to get to where they need to go
- Built Environment – will help remove barriers in new construction and extensive renovation of buildings and outdoor spaces for people with disabilities
The regulation applies to public, private, and not-for-profit businesses and organizations that:
- provide goods, services or facilities either directly to the public or to other businesses or organizations, and
- have at least one employee in Ontario.
Customer Service Standard
The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service applies to all organizations (public, private and non-profit) that provide goods or services either directly to the public or to other organizations in Ontario and that have one or more employees in Ontario.
Policies and procedures have been established to provide services to people with disabilities. Reference: Ontario Regulation 429/07.
Administrative Procedure AP#434-1, AP#434-2, AP#434-3, AP#434-4, AP#434-5, AP#434-6, AP#805-1, AP#434-8, AP#434-9.
Action Plan
- The Board will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that all services, policies, and procedures are consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity to all with particular attention for persons with disabilities.
- The Board will welcome all members of the school and broader community to its facilities by committing staff and volunteers to providing services that respect the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities. Such services will incorporate measures that include but are not limited to the use of assistive devices and service animals.
- To ensure greater awareness and responsiveness to the needs of a person with disabilities, the Board will provide appropriate training for all staff and volunteers who interact with the public or other third parties on behalf of the board. As new staff are hired, the training will become a component of their orientation training and will be provided within a reasonable time frame.
- So that adherence to this policy can be achieved efficiently and effectively, the Board, its managers and school-based administrators will consider the impact on persons with disabilities when purchasing new equipment, designing new systems or planning initiatives.
Employment
The Accessibility Standard for Employment will help organizations support and keep more skilled employees. It will make accessibility a normal part of finding, hiring and communicating with employees who have disabilities.
Recruitment
Required to notify employees and identify through postings the availability of accommodations for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process.
Action Plan
- Post appropriate wording/notice on Board website in both the Accessibility Section and the Career Section.
- Include appropriate language into internal and external job postings – Proposed Language – Pursuant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), if you require accommodation at any time throughout the application process, please refer to the Careers Section on the Board web site for details and/or contact (name of person who will be receiving applications) prior to the posting closing date so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Recruitment/Assessment and Selection Processes
Required to notify job applicants when qualified candidate is invited to participate in the selection process that accommodation is available upon request in relation to materials or processes to be utilized. The Board must consult with the applicant invited to participate in the selection process who requests an accommodation and must provide for/arrange for the provision of suitable accommodations.
Action Plan
- Include appropriate language in internal and external postings and re-state to candidates invited to participate in the selection process.
- Update relevant policies and procedures.
- Train HR/AS departmental staff and other resource staff who are involved in recruitment/selection process.
Notification to Successful Applicants
When making offers of employment, Board must notify successful applicant of their policies for accommodating persons with disabilities.
Action Plan
- Fold into job offer letters language advising employees of disability management policy and procedure and duty to accommodate in employment
- Ensure HR/AS staff are aware of requirements Incorporate into employee orientation
- Document sign-off (Training Confirmation Form)
Accessible Formats/Communication Supports
Where a disabled employee requests, the Board is required to consult with the employee to provide or arrange to provide accessible formats and communication supports for information needed to perform their job and information that is generally available to other employees.
Action Plan
- Ensure staff consults with disabled employees to determine most suitable and accessible communication format
- Work in collaboration with Communication and ICT departments regarding technological solutions re: formats
- Amend policies and procedures as necessary
Workplace Emergency Response Information
The Board is required to provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees with disabilities if individualized information is necessary based on the type of disability and if the Board is aware of the need for accommodation.
The Board must provide the information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for such accommodation. The individualized workplace response information may be shared with the person designated by the Board to assist employees with disabilities if the employee consents (e.g. Principal). This information must be reviewed if the employee moves to a different work location, when their overall accommodations needs in place are reviewed and when the employer reviews its general emergency response plans.
Action Plan
- Distribute numbered memo with Individual Emergency Response Plan form annually to all employees and provide to new employees through orientation process.
- Review and/or amend Emergency Preparedness (PO 414) and related Administrative Procedure (414-10) to adapt to Persons requiring specialized assistance instead of referring only to Students (procedure may need to be specific relative to employees and students and generic relative to visitors, Community Use, etc.)
- Modify Fire Plan as applicable
- Train site-based managers on requirement
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Need to define a written process to develop documented accommodation plans for employees with disabilities which involves employee participation. Subsequently plan the means by which the employee is involved on an individual basis and the process by which an employee can request an evaluation through an outside medical expert at the Board’s expense to assist in the determination regarding the Board’s ability to achieve a suitable accommodation.
Action Plan
- Include in annual sign off process of policies and procedures the Disability Management Policy and Administrative Procedure.
Return to Work Process
The Board needs to ensure its Return to Work processes vis-à-vis Disability Management Policy and Administrative Procedure properly document a Return to Work process for employees absent from work due to disability and who require disability related accommodations in order to return to work.
Action Plan
- See Disability Management Policy and Administrative Procedure
- Increase employee/manager awareness of Policy and Administrative Procedure
- Continue to educate union/employee groups on Disability Management best practices, case law and Board processes
Performance Management/Career Development/Succession Planning/Redeployment
For these processes and practices the Board must consider the accessibility needs of disabled employees and their individual accommodation needs.
Action Plan
- Ensure leadership/succession processes properly consider such needs by way of documents, practices, etc.
- Ensure performance management takes into consideration accessibility requirements.
Policies and Procedures
Numbered policy directives are issued to district school boards and school authorities to outline Ministry of Education’s expectation regarding implementation of ministry policies and programs.
Policies and Administrative Procedures
Action Plan
- Policy and Procedures Committee will review all relevant policies and procedures and update accordingly.
Transportation
On July 1, 2011 the Transportation Standard came into effect for public transportation providers. The Accessibility Standard for Transportation will make public transportation services more accessible by making it easier for people with disabilities to get to where they need to go.
Action Plan
- The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) and Durham Student Transportation Services are committed to providing integrated and accessible transportation to all students. The DCDSB has a transportation policy and administrative procedure for accessibility. These focused services are attained through an application process governed by student services and transportation departments.
- Appropriate alternative accessible transportation services are provided for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are identified before the commencement of each school year or during the school year, based on the needs of the students with the disability.
- An individual student transportation plan is required for all students receiving accessibility related transport. Documentation has been provided to all stakeholders with regards to the communication process for the Individual Student Transportation Plan.
Reference: Section 75, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, DSTS – Student Transportation
Information and Communication
The Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications came into effect on January 1, 2021. This standard will help people with disabilities access sources of information that many of us rely on every day.
For example, it will:
- help people with vision loss access more websites using their screen readers;
- expand large print and digital collections in public libraries; and
- provide students with course information and learning materials in accessible formats.
- Information regarding emergency procedures, plans or public safety information, will be provided in accessible formats, such as large print, starting January 1, 2012.
Other requirements will be phased in between January 2012 and 2021.
Feedback
DCDSB has a process for receiving and responding to feedback that ensures that the processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communications supports, upon request.
Reference: Section 13, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Accessible websites and web content
- DCDSB website and web content is accessible and conforms with WCAG 2.0 level AA. Reference: Section 14, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Accessible formats usable by persons with disabilities and communication supports that facilitate effective communication. Reference: Section 14, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
- Social media posts will conform with accessibility requirements by including alternative text with all pictures.
Accessible Format and Communication Supports
- Upon request provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities;
- In a timely manner that considers the person’s accessibility needs due to disability; and at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons;
- Consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, with the final determination as to which accessible format or communication support shall be used, rests with DCDSB.
- Notification to the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.
Accessible training for educators
Accessibility training for all educators
Reference: Section 16, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- DCDSB shall provide educators with accessibility awareness training related to accessible program or course delivery and instruction.
- DCDSB shall keep a record of the training provided under this section including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided. Reference: Section 16, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Training resources to support accessibility awareness training for teachers and other classroom staff related to accessible program or course delivery.
- Create curriculum resources K-12 that promote student awareness of accessibility issues.
- Building effective professional learning communities together requires that partners at all levels of the education system create the conditions that provide all students with the best possible opportunities to learn and to maximize their potential. DCDSB is committed to providing ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers and support staff to improve learning outcomes for all students. DCDSB is guided by the principles outlined in Learning for All K- 12 to implement Universal Design for Learning, Differentiated Instruction and the Tiered Approach to prevention and intervention.
- Educational and Training Resources and Materials, Reference: Section 15, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Educational or training materials are provided in accessible formats.
DCDSB receives Special Equipment Amount (SEA) funding to assist with the costs of equipment essential to support students with special education needs where the need for specific equipment is recommended by a qualified professional. This equipment is to provide students with accommodations that are directly required and essential to access the Ontario curriculum and/or a board determined alternative program and/or course and/or to attend school.
Built Environment
The Accessibility Standard for Built Environment will help remove barriers in buildings and outdoor spaces for people with disabilities. The standard will only apply to new construction and extensive renovation.
Action Plan
- DCDSB maintains an annual facilities renewal program to upgrade board facilities to support access to all sites and building. Reference: DCDSB Inventory of Accessible Facilities Section 6 of Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.
- Ongoing compliance to maintain existing equipment (doors, ramps, rails, curb-cuts, handicap parking, signage).
- Contingency funds to address student/staff accessibility projects during current year.
