The latest compliance requirements for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) are quickly approaching. By now, you should be in regulatory compliance in the following areas:
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All requirements under the customer service standard;
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Accessibility policies;
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Posted multi-year accessibility plan;
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Accessible procurement practices;
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Initial implementation of accessible websites, conforming to the international WCAG 2.0 standard;
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In addition to customer service training, staff training on all aspects of the AODA and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to disability.
By January 1, 2016, you must also be in compliance with:
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Accessible employment practices covering the life cycle of employment; and
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Documented individualized accommodation plans including any provisions for emergency response and evacuation.
Reports were due to the government last December 31, 2014 for all organizations with over 20 employees. The Government of Ontario is currently auditing organizations for compliance and will be enhancing its efforts throughout
2016. Audits include all requirements up to and including those coming into effect
in 2016. The government has already imposed penalties of hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result of past audits.
WE CAN HELP!
Pesce & Associates offers AODA Compliance Consulting with a team of experts. Ellen Waxman, former Assistant Deputy Minister of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario and Ian McArdle, long-time Pesce & Associates Partner, are available to work with you to ensure that you meet all AODA reporting and audit requirements in a timely and efficient manner.
Ellen is Ontario’s foremost AODA expert. Prior to leaving the Ontario Public Service, Ellen was responsible for the development of the five AODA standards and the creation of the compliance and enforcement system. Over the past three years, Ellen has designed and delivered the Human Resources Professional Association’s Accessibility Certificate Program and has worked with organizations to meet all of their AODA requirements.
Ian has over forty years’ experience in human resources with an emphasis on labour and employee relations plus over thirty years’ experience working as a volunteer with people with disabilities and as such he is well suited to assist with and participate in the introduction and maintenance of all aspects of the AODA.
For further information, please contact Ellen Waxman at ellen@ellenwaxman.net, or (416) 452-7770. Or Ian McArdle at imcardle@pesceassociates.com or (416) 491-1501 x 25. For more information on additional service offering please visit our website at www.pesceassociates.com.
