The first review of the AODA’s Information and communications Standards became public in 2020. In this review, the AODA Information and Communications Standards Development Committee outlines improvements to make information and communications accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. The Committee recommends changes to the Information and Communications Standards, to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers in information. In addition, the Committee recommends an alternative system for developing, updating, and enforcing AODA standards. This new system would affect the Information and Communications Standards, as well as other existing and future standards. This article will discuss the Committee’s recommendations for more programs to train captionists in Ontario.
More Programs to Train Captionists in Ontario
The Committee reports that Ontario has a shortage of trained captionists. While programs to train captionists exist, the demand for these professionals will increase as AODA Standards continue to develop. For example, compliance with recommendations in the First Review of the Information and Communications Standards would require captionists to:
- Provide communication supports and accessible formats, including for:
Likewise, the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) Education Standards Development Committee points out a probable shortage of captionists. In short, more captionists will be needed in the coming years to comply with pending requirements in new and improved AODA standards.
Therefore, the Committee recommends more programs for training captionists in Ontario. The government should consider creating a post-secondary course to train new captionists. For example, a training course for captionists could be offered concurrently with a course for court stenographers. Furthermore, the government should involve other stakeholders as it considers how to create this course, including:
- Colleges and universities
- Employers
- Apprenticeship bodies
Ideally, many of these institutions might develop their own courses, with support from the government. As a result, the future supply of captionists will meet the projected demand.