News Articles

News articles regarding the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Additional Regulation Isn’t Necessary to Resolve the Issue of Fake Service Animals

James A. Kutsch, Jr. PhD
President and CEO, The Seeing Eye
Originally posted October 5, 2016
Editors Note: While this article refers to the US it can easily be applied in Canada.

News stories across the nation continue to report an increase in the number of people who pretend that their pet dog is a service animal. The major concern stems from the unruly behavior of these supposed service animals, and how their presence jeopardizes the safety and access rights of legitimate service animal teams.

Additional Regulation Isn’t Necessary to Resolve the Issue of Fake Service Animals. Read full article.

Ontario Taking Steps to Increase Employment for People with Disabilities

New Employers’ Partnership Table to Help Connect People to Jobs and Businesses to Talent September 27, 2017
Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

Ontario has established a new Employers’ Partnership Table to advise the government on innovative ways to connect more people with disabilities to jobs and businesses to talent.

Tracy MacCharles, Minister Responsible for Accessibility, was in Toronto today to make the announcement at the Accessibility Innovation Showcase Employer Forum.

Ontario Taking Steps to Increase Employment for People with Disabilities. Read full article.

Blind Man Says Tribunal Ruling Aids in Discrimination

Louise Dickson / Times Colonist
September 20, 2017

Graeme McCreath stood in the B.C. Court of Appeal, his German shepherd guide dog at his feet, and asked the judges to imagine being refused hotel or rental accommodation or having taxis deliberately pass by.

“Imagine not having access to any public place or even service in a restaurant,” McCreath said Tuesday.

Blind Man Says Tribunal Ruling Aids in Discrimination. Read full article.

Wheel-Trans users fear new program will force them to use inaccessible TTC

TTC hears concerns about long waits and inaccessible stations at annual meeting ByNatalie Nanowski,
September 20, 2017

Michele Gardner (centre) and Robert Muzzy (right) say broken elevators make it difficult to ride the TTC. (Natalie Nanowski/CBC)

Michele Gardner never uses the TTC. Not because of delays or overcrowding, but because it scares her.

“I really don’t like using the regular transit, especially because I know that it’s not fully accessible,” said Gardner.

Wheel-Trans users fear new program will force them to use inaccessible TTC. Read full article.

Driving a Taxi is Not a ‘Legal’ Right

TIMES COLONIST, SEPTEMBER 23, 2017
Re: “Taxi driver has rights in dispute with passenger,” letter, Sept. 21.

Guide dogs can greatly increase accessibility for the blind, but
unfortunately they can also result in them being discriminated against and refused services. As a result, governments have passed legislation (e.g.,
Guide and Service Dog Act) to explicitly protect the rights of the blind and to prohibit anyone from denying them access to public buildings or public services. There are no exceptions or exemptions in the legislation.

Driving a Taxi is Not a ‘Legal’ Right. Read full article.