Background

Ontario businesses and organizations with one or more employees must follow accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) so they can identify, remove and prevent barriers faced by people with disabilities.

Accessibility standards must be reviewed every five years to determine whether they are working as intended or need adjusting.

About the consultation

Access to information and communications is essential for everyone in their day-to-day lives. The Information and Communications Standards under the AODA address how businesses and organizations create, provide and receive information and communications in ways that are accessible for people with disabilities.

The Information and Communications Standards Development Committee — a group of representatives from various sectors, including business, municipalities and people with disabilities — makes recommendations on how to improve existing standards under the AODA around information and communications.

Initial recommendations

The initial report contains 31 recommendations and is separated into Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1

The committee began its review in March 2017 and developed and voted on 30 recommendations.

As a result, Phase 1 addresses the following key areas:

  • the structure of the regulation
  • feedback
  • accessible formats, communications supports and websites
  • information about emergency procedures and public safety
  • educational resources and training
  • libraries (including schools)

Phase 2

Phase 2 contains a proposal for culture change in Ontario. It outlines a new model that would transform and modernize how accessibility is regulated in the province.

It would allow organizations to continuously adapt and improve their websites, web content and technology up to and beyond 2025.

If this model is successful when applied to the Information and Communications Standards, the committee recommends that the government explore how to apply it to other accessibility standards in the future.

Read the committee’s initial recommendations.

Final recommendations

The Information and Communications Standards Development Committee has reviewed all comments, finalized their recommendations and submitted them to the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility for consideration.

As outlined by the act, the Minister shall decide whether to recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that the proposed standard be adopted by regulation in whole, in part or with modifications.

Read the committee’s final recommendations.

Your privacy matters

Your personal information is being collected to help us gain a greater understanding of your feedback. Your responses will be reviewed by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and the Information and Communications Standards Development Committee. Your feedback may also be used in a summary report about this survey.

Please note that your submissions/feedback are subject to the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Some of the non-identifying information shared may be used by Cabinet Office, the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and their service providers to measure website analytics, performance and to improve our services.

Your information will not be placed on mailing lists or released to any third party beyond the Information and Communications Standards Development Committee, except as may be authorized by law. For questions on how personal information collected on this page will be used, please see our Privacy Statement.