News Articles

April 5, 2010

Despite crackdown, enforcement efforts seen as inadequate

Since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995, Randi Daniels has had countless arguments with scofflaws. She and her husband are used to pulling up to a designated parking space in a mall, only to find it occupied by a seemingly able-bodied person loading up heavy grocery bags.

“I’ve been sworn at, when I was using a walker,” says the 61-year-old, who’s now in a wheelchair. “I say to them, ‘I hope you never, ever need this spot.’”

Disabled Parking Spots Still Abused, Advocates Say. Read full article.

Posted to site April 2, 2010

Recently, many CUPE3908 faculty received a notice from their Chairs that seemed to indicate they would be required to complete “COU/AODA Training”.

The Union did not receive any notice of the University’s plan for implementing the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(AODA), which comes into force gradually over the next few years. We are currently awaiting clarification of how this will affect our members.

University Fails to Consult Union on AODA Implementation. Read full article.

Last Updated: Thursday, April 1, 2010 | 1:08 PM ET

By Denise Deveau, Special to CBC News

According to the National Coalition for Vision Health, the number of visually impaired and blind Canadians will double over the next 25 years. (iStock)”I
have lived a very complex existence,” says Valentina Gal, a novel writer and consultant based in Toronto who says technology is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s essential for her writing. On the other, even the simplest of Google searches can turn into an hours-long marathon surfing session.

That’s because Gal has been blind since birth. And like many visually impaired people, she finds that functioning in the online world is not easy. That’s
despite the fact there are text-to-speech screen readers, Braille printers and other tools to help the cause.

Website Accessibility for the Blind Gaining Ground. Read full article.

By Heather Travis
Thursday, March 18, 2010  

Although faculty members may not traditionally view their classroom time as providing a ‘service,’ under new legislation teaching is considered a service professors provide to student ‘customers.’    

Staff members have completed training sessions geared towards the accessibility standards for customer service under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which took effect on Jan. 1.    

Faculty members get a lesson in AODA. Read full article.

Ottawa – March 16, 2010 – The Canadian Transportation Agency today issued a $12,500 penalty to OC Transpo for failing to comply with an order to call out major and requested stops on all of its routes.

OC Transpo Receives Penalty for Failing to Call Out Stops. Read full article.