Under the AODA, public-sector organizations must complete accessibility compliance reports every two (2) years. Similarly, private-sector organizations with twenty to forty-nine (20-49) workers, or fifty (50) or more workers, must complete accessibility compliance reports every three (3) years. The next accessibility compliance reports for organizations in both the public and private sectors are due on December 31st, 2023. Moreover, the Ontario government will not give any extensions after December 31st, 2023. Therefore, organizations should have the knowledge they need to complete their reports, this time next year. In the coming year, organizations can gain this knowledge by assessing how compliant they are with AODA standards. Moreover, organizations can use this assessment to improve the accessibility of their services.
Accessibility Compliance Reports for Organizations in the Public and Private Sectors
When staff of most organizations fill in their accessibility reports next year, they will need to answer questions about how well they comply with mandates in the AODA standards. To answer these questions, staff can spend time in early 2023:
- Reminding themselves what the mandates in the AODA standards are
- Assessing how well their organization fulfills AODA requirements
- Making any needed changes to:
- Policies
- Programs
- Spaces
- Services
For instance, some staff may learn that their organization is not doing enough to fully comply with one or more AODA standards. These organizations have time to change their policies or find better ways to serve their staff and clients.
In contrast, staff at other organizations may find that their workplaces comply with the AODA. However, the process of assessing their compliance may still lead to long-term benefits. For example, organizations may consult people who have disabilities to assess compliance. These consultants could suggest improvements to policies and services that go beyond AODA requirements. Organizations choosing to exceed AODA compliance can meet the needs of many more people with disabilities.
Our next series of articles will outline the steps organizations in the public and private sectors must take to comply with the five current AODA standards. We will also suggest ways to assess compliance and change services to make them more accessible.