The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) and the AODA include the same definition of disability. However, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) interprets this definition broadly. The OHRC’s Policy on Ableism and Discrimination Based on Disability explains how people who have a disability are protected from discrimination. In addition, the Policy explains that the Code also protects people who are perceived to have a disability.
All posts by Greg Thomson
What is the Ontario Human Rights Code?
Under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR), organizations must comply with the standards of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). In addition, they must also follow requirements under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code). In other words, the AODA and the Code work together to promote accessibility and reduce discrimination in Ontario.
Epilepsy Awareness Month
March is Epilepsy Awareness Month!
Epilepsy Awareness Month takes place across Canada in March every year. During this month, Canadians can learn about what epilepsy is and how it affects people’s lives in different ways.
Epilepsy Awareness Month
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have seizures. A seizure happens when brain activity is disrupted for a few seconds to a few minutes. Moreover, the kind of seizure a person has depends on which parts of the brain are affected.
International Wheelchair Day
Today is International Wheelchair Day!
International Wheelchair Day takes place around the world on March 1st every year. On this day, people celebrate the positive impact that wheelchairs have on their lives. International Wheelchair Day raises awareness about how people who use wheelchairs move through and involve themselves in their communities.
International Wheelchair Day
Wheelchairs
A wheelchair is one of the most well-known symbols of accessibility worldwide. People use wheelchairs to travel:
Accessibility Law Reviews Across Canada
Many separate accessibility standards development processes exist in Canada. Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all have laws that mandate creation of provincial accessibility standards. In addition, the Accessible Canada Act mandates accessibility standards that apply to organizations under federal jurisdiction. However, the government of Canada intends to coordinate federal and provincial accessibility laws. Moreover, the third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should support this aim by aligning its accessibility law, the AODA, with the laws of other provinces and the country. If the governments work together to make these laws more similar, the AODA standards development process may change to align with laws in other places across the country. In this article, we explore accessibility law reviews across Canada.