Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Welcomes You

We hope you find this site a great resource for all things to do with the AODA and that you'll come back often as we continually update the site.

Ontario’s Disabled Fighting to Protect Their Voting Rights

Posted By ANTONELLAARTUSO , QUEEN’S PARK BUREAU CHIEF
February 6, 2010

Activists for the province’s disabled community are calling for tough legislation to protect their voting rights after Elections Ontario set up a polling
station down a flight of stairs.

Ontario’s Disabled Fighting to Protect Their Voting Rights- Full Article

Man in Wheelchair has Trouble Voting in Toronto Centre Byelection

By antonella artuso
Last Updated: 4th February 2010, 10:32pm

Just a stone’s throw away from Queen’s Park — where legislators passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act just a few years ago — Elections Ontario set up a polling station that could only be accessed by going down a flight of stairs.

Local resident John Wood told the Toronto Sun that he had to abandon his wheelchair and struggle with help down the stairs to cast a ballot in the Toronto Centre byelection Thursday.

Man in Wheelchair has Trouble Voting in Toronto Centre Byelection- Full Article

Badeyes Design & Consulting Partners with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™

By Geof Collis
Badeyes Design & Consulting
February 2, 2010

To further its commitment to web accessibility, Badeyes Design and Consulting has partnered with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ in order to add another layer of accessibility to sites it designs.

With the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) now in force it makes even more sense to make websites as accessible as possible and eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ helps us do just that.

Read full article at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=186

Mobility Transit Draws Fire

Aurora
February 01, 2010 08:11 AM
Riders complain about vehicles, penalties
By Sean Pearce

It takes a lot to get Aurora’s Tyler Barker upset, but York Region Transit’s Mobility Plus service has been making a pretty good go of it lately, he says.

Mobility Transit Draws Fire- Full Article

Municipal Bylaws Must Follow Human Rights Code: OMB

TORONTO, Jan. 25 /CNW/ – Municipalities have to consider the needs of everyone – including people with disabilities or on social assistance – when making
bylaws. The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) made that ruling late last week, saying “municipalities – and this Board – are bound by the (Human Rights) Code.”

Municipal Bylaws Must Follow Human Rights Code: OMB- Full Article

Angled Intersection Presents Challenges

Posted By Anthony Dixon
Posted January 15, 2010

operations committee is recommending a traffic count in the village of Killaloe to determine if the minimum criteria for traffic signal installation is satisfied.

As previously reported in The Daily Observer, the county’s accessibility advisory committee recommended a specialized traffic light for the village at the intersection of County Road 512 (Queen Street) and Lake Street be installed for safety reasons. The intersection has some unique properties as it essentially
includes McCarthy’s Lane and Water Street. The multiple intersections don’t meet at a typical 90 degrees. Some of the intersections are offset, some come
in at angles, while Queen Street features a curve at that point and is situated at the top of a hill.

Angled Intersection Presents Challenges- Full Article

Accessibility Challenges Still Ahead for Port Hope

Posted By JOYCE CASSIN NORTHUMBERLAND TODAY
January 22, 2010

-The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) is asking for council’s assistance to make Port Hope a more accessible community for all who live there and for those who visit.

Accessibility Challenges Still Ahead for Port Hope- Full Article

Lawyers Say Justice not Being Served

Posted By NICK GARDINER , STAFF WRITER
January 20, 2010

“Complete hogwash and double-speak.”

That’s the reaction of Brockville lawyer John Johnston to a Monday press release from Legal Aid Ontario announcing increased “access points” for local services despite the anticipated closure of legal aid offices in Brockville and Perth.

Johnston said plans for a toll-free telephone number and expanded court services mask the true intentions of the provincial government to cut costs and jobs by closing local legal aid offices.

Lawyers Say Justice not Being Served- Full Article

Toronto Community Housing to make buildings more accessible

DAVID NICKLE | Jan 19, 2010 – 4:48 PM

When Penny Lamy moved into her new accessible apartment in Regent Park last September, it was, she said, “like a fog lifted.”
“I feel like I’ve had a fog lifted since I finally got settled,” said Lamy, who must use an electric wheelchair to move around. “Other tenants are really excited there as well.”

Toronto Community Housing to make buildings more accessible- Full Article

Who Will Pay for Province’s Generous Plan for Full Accessibility?

by Mike Beggs
Posted to site January 16, 2010

With the draft report finally in and before Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur, Toronto taxi industry leaders say the high standards of accessible service called for in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) must be supported by government funding.

Who Will Pay for Province’s Generous Plan for Full Accessibility?- Full Article

Tips for Webmasters: Improve Your Websites’ Accessibility

By Geof Collis
Badeyes Design & Consulting
January 16, 2010

In anticipation of the upcoming Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Information and Communications
Standard, I have put together some tips for Webmasters on how to make your website
accessible.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=18

Township Investigates Electronic Voting

Posted By DEANNA CLARK , STAFF WRITER
January 12, 2010

Elizabethtown- Kitley Township voters may get the chance to cast their votes electronically this coming election.

Council determined at its regular meeting Monday night to have township staff do costing on both telephone and Internet voting.

“This is a pure accessibility issue,” township administrator-clerk Yvonne Robert told council.

Township Investigates Electronic Voting- Full Article

Accessibility Group Gets Small Pay Raise

Posted By BRIAN SHYPULA, Staff Reporter
PostedJanuary 9, 2010

Volunteers with the Perth County accessibility advisory committee will be paid more to attend meetings in 2010.

Perth County councillors approved paying the volunteers $97.71 a meeting — the standard council committee rate for meeting which last less than three hours — to a maximum of six meetings a year.

Accessibility Group Gets Small Pay Raise- Full Article

CBC Radio1 Ottawa Interviews Minister Meilleur on the Customer Care Standard

By Geof Collis
January 9, 2010

On December 31, 2009 CBC Radio1 Ottawa interviewed Minister Meilleur regarding the then soon to become Law Customer Care Standard. I was also interviewd after she spoke, you can listen to the interview or download it.

CBC Radio1 Ottawa Interviews Minister Meilleur on the Customer Care Standard- Full Article

More barriers drop

Posted By ALISON LANGLEY , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
January 6, 2010

Removing service barriers for people with disabilities means much more than simply making sure buildings are accessible, says a member of the mayor’s disability advisory committee.

“Yes, ramps are important but it really goes way beyond ramps,” said Ian Greaves, of Niagara Falls.

The main focus, he said, is education and a new government standard that came into effect Jan. 1 is a step in the right direction.