Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Welcomes You

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Calling all Accessibility Advisory Committees (AAC) of Ontario, your voice needs to be heard!

By Geof Collis
February 26, 2010

With the uneven implementation of the Customer Care Standard in School Boards, Hospitals and a broad range of community services and the absence of any meaningful enforcement mechanism, it is more important than ever that your voices be heard

Calling all Accessibility Advisory Committees (AAC) of Ontario, your voice needs to be heard!- Full Article

Seeing-Eye Dog Refused Entry to Restaurant

Manager apologizes, but advocates for the blind say it happens too often

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | 12:27 PM ET
Joel Daze said his dog is his eyes, and she gets him where he needs to go. (cbc)

manager of a Subway restaurant has apologized to a visually impaired Ottawa man who was refused service at the restaurant because he wasn’t allowed to bring his seeing-eye dog inside, and advocacy groups for the blind say this happens far too often.

Seeing-Eye Dog Refused Entry to Restaurant- Full Article

Guelph Man Gets His Wheelchair-Accessible Door

March 10, 2010
Joanne Shuttleworth

GUELPH — Matt Wozenilek can’t wait to try out the wheelchair-accessible door at his neighbourhood 7-Eleven store after taking the company to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and winning.

Wozenilek, 58, can’t get around without a wheelchair and didn’t like that he couldn’t enter the 7-Eleven store at Stevenson Street North and Speedvale Avenue — the only convenience store in his neighbourhood — without someone opening the door for him.

Guelph Man Gets His Wheelchair-Accessible Door- Full Article

Accessibility Standards for Customer Service: A Student Perspective

By Kayla Preston-Lord, first-year student, Faculty of Art
Last Modified:02/03/2010 2:12:35 PM

years ago, the Government of Ontario passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which will update accessibility standards across the province. The act rolls out in five parts, with 2025 as the goal for a fully accessible Ontario. The first part, Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, came into effect on January 1 of this year, and requires every service provider to take part. This includes the faculty, staff and student monitors here at Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD).

Accessibility Standards for Customer Service: A Student Perspective- Full Article

“Coalition on Emergency Preparedness for People With Disabilities”

– Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Canada (IEPC) is developing training
materials for emergency reception centres and shelter staff and volunteers on how best to assist people with disabilities during an
emergency or disaster.

TORONTO, Feb. 26 /CNW/ – Ontario-wide – Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami and other catastrophic events have keenly demonstrated
the need for emergency preparedness for government, businesses, households and individuals. When planning for disasters or emergencies, special consideration needs to be taken to include people with disabilities.

“Coalition on Emergency Preparedness for People With Disabilities”- Full Article

Accessibility Being Tackled in Chatham-Kent

Members of the Chatham-Kent accessibility advisory committee were congratulated
at the Feb. 8 council meeting upon the submission of their 2010-2011 terms of
reference.

The committee was created in 2002, and Coun. Marjorie Crew said, “if you
look at the list of things they have accomplished and done over the last few
years, it’s quite amazing.”

Businesses Honoured for Accessibility

Area businesses and individuals were honoured for making the community more
accessible on Tuesday.

The Chatham-Kent Accessibility Advisory Committee handed out its annual awards
at the Thames Campus Arena.

City Council Chambers equipped to serve people with hearing loss

Burlington City Council Chambers is now fitted with new assistive listening
devices to accommodate people with hearing loss. Small, cordless, battery operated
receivers are available during council and standing committee meetings to help
people hear the proceedings more clearly.

“Our goal is to ensure Burlington is a place where all people, regardless
of their ability, can fully access programs and services offered by our city.
Ensuring that our facilities meet the needs of all citizens is important to
sustaining a vibrant society, and enhancing customer service and direct citizen
engagement,” said Mayor Cam Jackson.

Talking Elevator Makes City Hall More Accessible

Posted February 17, 2010

St. Catharines city hall is becoming more accessible — with an elevator that now tells you which floor you’re on and listening devices that mean you won’t
miss a word your city councillor is saying.

Talking Elevator Makes City Hall More Accessible- Full Article

Landlord Must Pay $10,000 to Disabled Tenant Refused Transfer

TORONTO, Feb. 9 /CNW/ – After being refused a transfer five times by their landlord, Peter and Louise Dixon turned to the Human Rights Legal Support Centre for help. Mr. Dixon, a bilateral amputee, viewed several empty units in his building and was told they were not “suitable.”

Landlord Must Pay $10,000 to Disabled Tenant Refused Transfer- Full Article

AODA Alliance Calls on All Parties to Strengthen Bill 231 to Prevent More Inaccessible Elections in Ontario

February 8, 2010

The fallout continues from Elections Ontario’s operating a polling station in the February 4, 2010 by-election that was inaccessible to voters with disabilities,
and its then denying to the media that the polling station was inaccessible.

Inaccessible Toronto Polling Station in February 4, 2010 Provincial By-election Highlights Urgent Need for Strong Provincial Legislation to Ensure Accessible Provincial and Municipal Elections

February 5, 2010
The February 5, 2010 Toronto Sun reported that a polling station in the February 4, 2010 Toronto provincial by-election was inaccessible to voters with
disabilities. (Making this incident worse, Elections Ontario initially denied that the polling station was inaccessible.

Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance Chair’s 2009 Year-end Report

It is my honour to provide you with my first Year-End Report since I took on the role of Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Alliance last February. We have accomplished a great deal in 2009 in our ongoing campaign for a barrier-free Ontario.

There has been progress over the past year. Yet Ontario clearly remains behind schedule to meet the goal, required under the AODA, to become fully accessible
by 2025.

Inaccessible Toronto Polling Station in February 4, 2010 Provincial By-election Highlights Urgent Need for Strong Provincial Legislation to Ensure Accessible Provincial and Municipal Elections

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