The Transportation Standards under the AODA and the Transportation Standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require organizations to make transportation accessible to people with disabilities. Moreover, both standards require many of the same processes and practices to ensure accessibility. However, there are many important differences between the standards. The third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should coordinate with other provinces and the federal government to ensure that accessibility laws are consistent across Canada. Therefore, requirements in the AODA may one day change to align with mandates under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. In this article, we will explore requirements for individual transportation plans for students with disabilities in Ontario and Manitoba.
Individual Transportation Plans for Students with Disabilities in Ontario and Manitoba
The AODA’s Transportation Standards and the Accessible Transportation Standard of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require school boards to create and implement individual transportation plans for students with disabilities. An individual transportation plan is a written plan detailing how a student will travel from home to school and back again.
Like public transit, transportation to and from school can take place on conventional transit or specialized transit. School boards must provide integrated transit, where students with and without disabilities travel on a conventional school bus. In addition, school boards must provide specialized transit for any student who cannot travel on integrated transit, due to:
- Accessibility barriers
- Safety concerns
School boards should consult with parents to identify students who need individual transportation plans:
- Before the start of each school year
- During the school year, if students’ needs change
During this consultation, parents and school staff should identify each student’s needs and how to meet them. For instance, the written plan should describe how each student will, with or without assistance:
- Board
- Be secure while driving
- Deboard
Furthermore, the plan must outline the responsibilities of every person or company involved in the student’s transportation, including:
- Students
- Parents
- Drivers
- School staff
- School boards
Differences
In Manitoba, private schools must also have individual transportation plans for students with disabilities. However, only students travelling on integrated transit can benefit from a plan. In other words, if a private-school student needs specialized transit, the school is not responsible for meeting their needs. In addition, private schools do not need to provide integrated transit to a student with a disability if doing so would constitute undue hardship. Conversely, Ontario’s standards do not require private schools to have individualized transportation plans for students with disabilities.