Currently, no AODA standards require houses and apartments to be accessible. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends the creation of standards mandating accessibility in housing. In this article, we will outline the benefits of retrofitting housing for accessibility. If AODA standards in housing provide guidelines for removing barriers in existing housing, Ontario citizens can live more independently.
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Guidelines for Accessibility in New Housing
In our last article, we outlined the lack of guidelines within the Ontario Building Code (the Code) for full accessibility in houses and apartments. However, the Code, and other building standards in Ontario cities, include guidelines which could improve the accessibility of new housing. In this article, we will explore how these guidelines could apply to living spaces.
The Need for More New Accessible Housing
Currently, no AODA standards require houses and apartments to be accessible. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends the creation of standards mandating accessibility in housing. In this article, we will outline the need for more new accessible housing. AODA standards in housing should mandate accessibility in new houses and apartments.
AODA Standards in Housing
Currently, only five (5) sectors of the economy have AODA standards that require accessibility for citizens with disabilities. In addition, committees are developing standards in two (2) more sectors, education and healthcare. However, the AODA’s goal is an accessible Ontario by the year 2025. If only seven (7) sectors of the economy have AODA standards, the province will not be accessible in four (4) years. Therefore, the Third Review of the AODA recommends the creation of new AODA standards. For example, the review recommends AODA standards for the housing sector, and suggests some possible guidelines for these standards. AODA standards in housing would give many more citizens with disabilities the chance to live in their own homes.
Removing Financial Accessibility Barriers for Graduate Students with Disabilities
Currently, there are no AODA education standards. However, two AODA standards development committees have drafted recommendations of guidelines that AODA education standards should include. One committee has recommended guidelines for the kindergarten to grade twelve (K-12) education system. In contrast, the other committee has recommended guidelines for the university and college education system. In this article, we outline the Postsecondary Committee’s recommendations for removing financial accessibility barriers for graduate students with disabilities.