AODA standards mandate how organizations must make themselves accessible to people with disabilities. Moreover, the standards outline organizations’ responsibilities, and the deadlines they must meet. AODA Standards development committees are responsible for creating and maintaining the standards. For example, each committee consults extensively with the public to make recommendations to include in its proposed standards. The committee then submits its final recommendations to the minister in charge of the AODA. Finally, the minister must recommend to the Lieutenant Governor that the standard be accepted in whole, in part, or with modifications. The AODA Kindergarten to Grade Twelve (K-12) Education Standards Development Committee submitted its final recommendations to the government in 2022. In the same year, a Technical Sub-committee submitted final recommendations on the accessibility of transitions within and beyond the K-12 education system. However, the government has taken no more steps toward enacting AODA K-12 education standards, including transition recommendations.
Accessibility of Transitions Within and Beyond the K-12 Education System
The Technical Sub-Committee recommends guidelines to prevent and remove barriers students face during transitions. For example, transitions include:
- From early intervention programs to Kindergarten
- Between school systems
- From high school to:
- Work
- Community life
- Higher education
The Sub-committee recommends:
- Processes for students transitioning from early intervention programs to Kindergarten
- Supports for transitioning Indigenous students with disabilities
- Plans to promote successful transitions throughout education
- Accessibility in programs promoting successful transitions to work
- Alerting students with disabilities to financial supports available during and after school transitions
- Transitions facilitators for students with disabilities
- Alerting students with disabilities to assessments needed in school transitions
- Promoting alternative transition programs and pathways for students with disabilities
- Standardizing processes for transitioning students to document their disabilities
- School transition programs for students with disabilities
Currently, there are only five (5) AODA standards. Consequently, the government must enact standards in many more sectors, including education. In other words, enacting AODA requirements for accessible school transitions is a crucial step toward meeting the AODA’s goal of an accessible province by 2025. In contrast, if the government does not implement these recommendations, it will not meet the deadline mandated in its own law.