Accessibility requirements

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is the law that sets out a process for developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards. Government, businesses, non-profits and public sector organizations must follow the standards.

Accessibility laws and standards help to reduce and remove barriers and make Ontario more inclusive for everyone.

Establish an accessibility advisory committee

If your municipality has 10,000 residents or more, your municipality must create a local accessibility advisory committee (AAC) and involve the committee in your planning processes.

Two or more municipalities may set up a joint committee, instead of having their own separate committees.

You can call for members and choose them in any way that works for your community. The only requirement is that most of the committee members have to be people with disabilities.

Municipalities with less than 10,000 residents may establish a committee if they wish or continue any such committee that was previously established, however it is not requirement.

Support your committee

Municipal staff can support the accessibility advisory committee and be a key resource. However, the committee should not be completely dependent on municipal staff to determine its work plan or priorities.

Many municipalities have an accessibility coordinator who promotes and coordinates accessibility throughout the municipality and assists the accessibility advisory committee with its work. The accessibility coordinator can act as the liaison between committee members and municipal staff and elected officials by:

  • guiding committee members through municipal processes
  • providing advice
  • channeling committee members’ questions to appropriate municipal staff

However, municipalities are not required to appoint an accessibility coordinator.

Consult the committee

We encourage you to consult with your accessibility advisory committee about:

  • how to implement the province’s accessibility standards
  • the preparation of your municipality’s accessibility compliance reports
  • any other matters where the committee’s advice would be helpful

What you need to do

By law, you must consult your accessibility advisory committee about:

  • establishing, reviewing and updating your multi-year accessibility plans
  • developing accessible design criteria in the construction, renovation or placement of bus stops and shelters
  • determining the proportion of on-demand accessible taxis needed in your community
  • the need, location and design of accessible on-street parking spaces when building new or making major changes to existing on-street parking spaces
  • building new or making major changes to existing recreational trails to help determine particular trail features
  • the needs of children and caregivers with various disabilities in their community when building new or making major changes to existing outdoor play spaces
  • the design and placement of rest areas along the exterior path of travel when building new or making major changes to existing exterior paths of travel

Planning for growth

You must provide site plans and drawings from developers to your accessibility advisory committee in a timely manner, when requested.

For example, site plans for:

  • subdivisions
  • municipal offices
  • community centres
  • recreational centres

You must seek the committee’s advice on accessibility for people with disabilities on buildings that the municipal council:

  • constructs
  • purchases
  • significantly renovates
  • leases or declares a municipal capital facility

Elements of a site plan that impact accessibility could include:

  • buildings
  • driveways
  • entrances
  • curbs or ramping
  • parking areas
  • sidewalks
  • landscaping
  • fences
  • exterior lighting
  • municipal services

You can engage with your accessibility advisory committee in all other circumstances where it appears appropriate to seek its advice on how to remove barriers for people with disabilities.

Role of the committee

Read the Guide to serving on a Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee to better understand a committee's role and responsibilities. The guide was created to help committee members in their work, so you may want to share it with them.

Disclaimer

The aim and purpose of this webpage is to help individuals and organizations with information related to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its associated Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation O. Reg. 191/11.

While we aim to provide relevant and timely information, no guarantee can be given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided. This guidance is not intended to provide official advice and should not be relied upon or treated as official advice. Those seeking legal advice should consult with a qualified legal professional.

In case of discrepancy between website content and Ontario legislation and regulations, the official version of Ontario Acts and Regulations as published by the King’s Printer for Ontario will prevail.

The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and the Government of Ontario do not endorse or recommend any accessibility consultant(s), their advice, opinions or recommendations.