In the third review of the AODA, the Honourable David Onley recommends needed improvements to the Act. One of these improvements is the need to address accessibility for people who have environmental sensitivities (ES). During the public meetings Onley held while preparing his review, attendees outline the need for removing barriers for people with ES.
All posts by Greg Thomson
Physical Distancing and Public Spaces After the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, we cheer ourselves by thinking of future socializing in-person. We also think about returning to work or activities we love. These hopes help us through the challenges of physical distancing. Moreover, these challenges show us that we can be more flexible or more creative than we thought we could. For instance, structures and spaces have adapted to physical distancing requirements during the pandemic. Many of these adaptations are also practices that make spaces more accessible for citizens with disabilities. Governments are mandating new guidelines for how people arrange or move through buildings and other spaces. In the post-COVID-19 future, more people may recognize the value of adapting spaces to meet citizens’ diverse needs. Consequently, governments that approve designs for public spaces may think differently about physical distancing and public spaces after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accessibility Training for Architects After the COVID-19 Pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, people out in public are learning to think differently about the spaces they travel through. For instance, workers and customers need more open space around them, to comply with physical distancing. Features such as wide aisles and fixed-queuing guides for line areas keep people safe. These features also make spaces more accessible for people with disabilities. In short, accessible building features make spaces safer for everyone. However, many architects lack knowledge about the features allowing people with disabilities to navigate spaces. As a result, they often design buildings without accessible features. Accessibility training for architects after the COVID-19 pandemic would help designers create buildings with fewer barriers and more safety.
Physical Distancing and Building Design After the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, we cheer ourselves by thinking of future socializing in-person. We also think about returning to work or activities we love. These hopes help us through the challenges of physical distancing. Moreover, these challenges show us that we can be more flexible or more creative than we thought we could. For instance, structures and spaces have adapted to physical distancing requirements during the pandemic. Many of these adaptations are also practices that make spaces more accessible for citizens with disabilities. Governments are mandating new guidelines for how people arrange or move through buildings and other spaces. In the post-COVID-19 future, more people may recognize the value of adapting spaces to meet citizens’ diverse needs. Consequently, more architects may think differently about physical distancing and building design after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclosing Disability in the Workplace After the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, we cheer ourselves by thinking of future socializing in-person. We also think about returning to work or activities we love. These hopes help us through the challenges of physical distancing. Moreover, these challenges show us that we can be more flexible or more creative than we thought we could. For instance, work during the pandemic has taken new forms and new strategies for success. Many of these strategies are also practices that help employers accommodate workers with disabilities. For instance, workers needing time off or other support during the pandemic may need to disclose personal information to their employers. In the same way, workers who need accommodations because of disability begin the process by disclosing their disabilities to their employers. Therefore, employers may be better able to support workers disclosing disability in the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic.