All posts by Lisa Kovac

The AODA has standards for the design of public spaces, but no standards for accessibility in other built environments. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends improvements to all standards and laws governing buildings and public spaces. In addition, the review recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country. For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) have developed federal standards for accessibility in the built environment. Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make buildings more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal built environment standards for accessible paths of travel within buildings.

Accessible Paths of Travel within Buildings. Read full article.

The AODA has standards for the design of public spaces, but no standards for accessibility in other built environments. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends improvements to all standards and laws governing buildings and public spaces. In addition, the review recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country. For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) have developed federal standards for accessibility in the built environment. Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make buildings more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal built environment standards for accessible building entrances.

Accessible Building Entrances. Read full article.

Many separate accessibility standards development processes exist in Canada. For example, Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all have laws that mandate creation of provincial accessibility standards. In addition, the Accessible Canada Act mandates accessibility standards that apply to organizations under federal jurisdiction. However, the government of Canada intends to coordinate federal and provincial accessibility laws. Moreover, the third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should support this aim by aligning its accessibility law, the AODA, with the laws of other provinces and the country. If the governments work together to make these laws more similar, the AODA standards development process may change to align with laws in other places across the country. In this article, we will explore federal standards for accessibility in the built environment.

Federal Standards for Accessibility in the Built Environment. Read full article.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) means finding ways to teach that benefit the widest variety of learners. Moreover, UDL means designing learning goals, materials, and activities in ways that make them accessible to learners with a variety of abilities. Furthermore, two (2) Education Standards Development Committees recommend UDL as an important part of accessibility in the future education standards. For instance, the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) Education Standards Development Committee recommends curriculum based on UDL and differentiated instruction. Likewise, the Postsecondary Education Standards Development Committee recommends college and university teaching that uses UDL best practices. As a result, teachers and other educators should learn best practices for implementing universal design for learning in their classrooms.

Implementing Universal Design for Learning. Read full article.

Cultivating empathy and restorative practices is a universal design for learning (UDL) guideline that supports multiple means of engagement. The UDL guidelines were developed by an organization called CAST. This article will explore how teachers and other educators can help learners empathize and communicate with peers who have different perspectives.

Cultivating Empathy and Restorative Practices in Universal Design for Learning. Read full article.