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Implementing the First Review of the Information and Communications Standards

After AODA standards come into force, they must be reviewed at least every five (5) years. In other words, the AODA Standards Development Committee that created each standard must also review it every five (5) years, or more often. After a period of public feedback, the Committee must submit the final version of their review to the Minister in charge of the AODA. Then, the minister must recommend to the Lieutenant Governor that the standard be accepted in whole, in part, or with modifications. The first review of the Information and communications Standards became public in 2020. However, the Ontario government has not made any of the changes to the Information and communications Standards that the review recommends. In short, no steps have been taken for implementing the first review of the information and communications standards.

Implementing the First Review of the Information and communications Standards

In this review, the AODA Information and communications Standards Development Committee outlines improvements to make information and communications accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. The Committee recommends changes to the standards to reduce the accessibility barriers that people with disabilities currently face while creating and using information and communication, including:

The Committee recommends changes to the standards to identify, remove, and prevent the barriers that people with disabilities face when they attempt to access information and communications.

Recommendations in the First Review of the Information and communications Standards

The Committee recommends clarifying requirements in the Information and Communications Standards on topics that other AODA Standards also address:

Moreover, the Committee makes many other recommendations to enhance web accessibility:

Furthermore, other recommendations the Committee makes apply to education:

In addition, the Committee also recommends:

Implementing An Accessibility Ecosystem Model for Updating AODA Standards

Finally, the Committee reports that the current procedure for creating and reviewing AODA standards cannot keep pace with modern technology. While methods of creating and using information change rapidly, current standards cannot provide enough guidance to organizations about how to ensure that the information they produce is accessible. As a result, the Committee recommends an alternative system for developing, updating, and enforcing AODA standards. This new system, called the Accessibility Ecosystem Model, would have three components:

The model would affect not only the Information and Communications Standards, but other existing and future standards.

Some of these recommendations are similar to recommendations in the Third Review of the AODA. However, like the Committee’s recommendations, the Third Review’s recommendations have not yet been implemented.

Though the government must hold and publicize reviews of the AODA and each of its standards, no mandate requires the government to follow the recommendations in these reviews. However, Ontario will never become fully accessible until the government improves and enforces the AODA standards. Therefore, implementing the first review of the information and communications standards is a crucial step toward meeting the AODA’s goal of an accessible province by 2025. In contrast, if the government does not implement these recommendations, it will not meet the deadline mandated in its own law.

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