The Information and Communications Standards under the AODA and the Information and Communication Standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require organizations to make information and communication accessible to people with disabilities. Moreover, both standards require many of the same processes and practices to ensure accessibility. However, there are many important differences between the standards. The third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should coordinate with other provinces and the federal government to ensure that accessibility laws are consistent across Canada. Therefore, requirements in the AODA may one day change to align with mandates under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. In this article, we will explore required accessibility training for educators in Ontario and Manitoba, and how both provinces can improve this training.
Accessibility Training for Educators in Ontario and Manitoba
The AODA’s Information and Communication Standards require accessibility training for educators, including:
- Teachers
- Teaching assistants
- Educational assistants
- Early childhood educators
- School board staff
These educators must receive training on how to design and deliver accessible lessons. Moreover, school boards or other educational institutions must keep records of who has received this training, and when training takes place.
In contrast, Manitoba’s Information and Communication Standard does not require accessibility training for educators. However, committees developing future standards may plan to include mandates for educator training in standards for education. Ontario has set a precedent for this possibility, through recommendations for educator training in its two planned education standards. Forms of recommended training in upcoming Ontario education standards include:
- AODA and human rights training
- Assistive technology training
- Professional development for educators of students with disabilities
- Accessibility training for college and university employees
These forms of training are more specific and more detailed than the current training requirement under the Information and Communications Standards. If these future forms of training are implemented, updates to the Information and Communications Standards may phase out or otherwise change the required basic accessibility training for educators in Ontario.