Skip to main content Skip to main menu

News Articles

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

Bird Box Challenge: There’s More to Being Blind Than Just Wearing a Blindfold

The recent popular Netflix movie Bird Box has inspired the Bird Box challenge, which encourages viewers to wonder what it is like to be blind. The movie’s main character, Malorie, played by Sandra Bullock, must take a dangerous journey with her children while all three wear blindfolds. The movie shows Malorie doing many things while blindfolded, from caring for her children to moving around safely.


What is the Transportation Standard?

The Transportation Standard of the AODA requires transportation service providers to make the features and equipment on routes and vehicles accessible to passengers with disabilities.

The Transportation Standard requires transportation companies to inform the public about accessible equipment and features on their vehicles, routes and services. They must provide this information in accessible formats upon request. Furthermore, when accessible equipment is not working, companies must find other ways to accommodate passengers. They must also ensure that the equipment is fixed as soon as possible. Moreover, companies must train workers and volunteers to:


Accessible Information at Work

Under the Employment Standard of the AODA, employers must provide accessible information to workers with disabilities through accessible formats or communication supports upon request.

Accessible information should include:

  • Documents or announcements available to every worker in an organization, such as:
    • Company newsletters
    • Health and safety information
    • Announcements of policy updates
    • Memos or word-of-mouth details about workplace social activities
  • What a worker needs to do their job, such as:
    • Presentations or videos

Accommodating Workers with Epilepsy

The Employment Standard under the AODA requires employers to accommodate workers with disabilities.  This article will specifically look at accommodating workers with epilepsy and outline the kinds of accommodations workers might need.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have seizures. A seizure happens when brain activity is disrupted for a few seconds to a few minutes. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which parts of the brain are affected.


Service Animals in Schools: Proposed Amendment to Legislation

The Ontario government has proposed an amendment to legislation that would simplify the accommodation process for students who use service animals in schools.

First, we provide a brief introduction to service animals and then we discuss how the proposed legislation could benefit children who use service animals in schools.

Service Animals

A service animal is an animal, typically a dog, that helps someone with a disability maintain independence. Service animals help people with many disabilities and medical conditions, such as: