AODA Resources

As Ontarians continue physical distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are serving more customers remotely. Stores and other essential services are now meeting more customer needs by phone, over email, or through delivery options. Remote customer service allows customers to make needed purchases while staying healthy and safe. To ensure that all customers have the benefit of remote service, businesses and other organizations must make their service accessible to customers with disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customers with Disabilities in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read full article.

As Ontarians continue physical distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are limiting their travel. However, most people need to travel for essential services, such as grocery shopping or medical appointments. Some of these travellers use assistive devices, such as wheelchairs or scooters, as well as public transit, such as buses. Some passengers can board and secure their assistive devices on vehicles independently. However, other passengers require the assistance of drivers for these tasks. Nonetheless, some public transit drivers are refusing to transport passengers with disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passengers with Disabilities in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read full article.

As Ontarians continue social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities are implementing online learning. Moreover, elementary and high schools may also turn in-person classes into remote lessons students access online. Remote learning will allow students to complete their current year of study while staying healthy and safe. To ensure that all students have the benefit of remote learning at this time, schools and school boards must make the process accessible to students and educators with disabilities. Accessible online learning in the COVID-19 pandemic will help all students in Ontario learn in a safe environment.

Accessible Online Learning in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read full article.

As Ontarians continue social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces are encouraging people to work from home. In addition, some workplaces are providing workers with the technology they need to do their jobs at home. For many Ontario workers, remote work may be a new and strange experience. However, some workers with disabilities already benefit from the accommodation of remote work. Employers who already accommodate employees who work remotely may have an advantage as they extend the same accommodation to non-disabled workers. Workers and employers with previous remote work experience may be able to offer best practices for accessible remote work in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accessible Remote Work in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read full article.

In the third review of the AODA, the Honourable David Onley recommends needed improvements to the Act. One of these improvements is the need for housing that is accessible for people with disabilities. Currently, there are no AODA standards that require houses and apartments to be accessible. Most housing developers do not think about the needs of people with disabilities when they build living spaces. Instead, they assume that everyone living in the spaces they design can use features like stairs and narrow doorways. As a result, there is a shortage of accessible housing. Therefore, Onley’s review recommends that the government should create an AODA standard for housing. In addition, the review recommends that the government create incentives for housing accessibility.

Incentives for Housing Accessibility. Read full article.