Q: What is the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act?
A: Currently, 1.85 million people in Ontario have a disability and the number is increasing yearly. To promote the removal of barriers and the achievement of accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities, the province passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), which became law in June 2005. The requirements of the AODA apply to goods and services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, and other structures. The AODA provides for the development, implementation, and enforcement of accessibility standards designed to foster achievement of the legislation’s objectives. The statute requires all non-profit, private, and public sector organizations, including libraries, to begin making their facilities and services more accessible to people with disabilities. The overall goal of the AODA is to make Ontario accessible to persons with disabilities by 2025.
Q: Please explain the various categories of standards which the act deals with.
A: Currently, 1.85 million people in Ontario have a disability and the number is increasing yearly. To promote the removal of barriers and the achievement of accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities, the province passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), which became law in June 2005. The requirements of the AODA apply to goods and services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, and other structures. The AODA provides for the development, implementation, and enforcement of accessibility standards designed to foster achievement of the legislation’s objectives. The statute requires all non-profit, private, and public sector organizations, including libraries, to begin making their facilities and services more accessible to people with disabilities. The overall goal of the AODA is to make Ontario accessible to persons with disabilities by 2025.
The following standards will be created and become law by January 1, 2025:
Accessible Customer Service is the first standard to become law. It came into effect on January 1, 2008. Businesses and organizations that provide goods or services to people in Ontario are now legally required to make their customer services operations accessible to people with disabilities. This standard also requires that staff be given training on how to provide accessible customer service to persons with disabilities.
Accessible Information and Communication standards outline how businesses and organizations may be required to provide access to information in various formats. The standards development committee is in the process of examining input received from the public. After this consideration of public input, the committee will propose a final standard and submit it to the provincial government to be enacted as law. As well, standards have different requirements and timelines depending on the size and type of organization. For instance, larger organizations may need to meet additional accommodation objectives or reporting benchmarks.
Employment Accessibility standards were released for public review on February 18, 2009. Employment Accessibility standards detail specific requirements for the recruitment, retention, and accommodation of people with disabilities.
Accessible Built Environment standards are currently being developed by a standards development committee. These standards will address access into and within buildings and other public spaces.
Accessible Transportation standards will outline aspects of accessible transportation for people with disabilities. This standard is still in development.
The AODA allows for standards to be implemented in stages, to ensure that businesses and organizations will have time to build accessibility improvements into daily operations and future plans.
Once a standard has been developed and made into law, those affected by the standard will have to meet compliance requirements. Some businesses and organizations will be required to file accessibility reports within a specific time period. Non-compliance may result in penalties such as fines.
Q: What aspects of the services provided by libraries are affect by the AODA?
A: The AODA will have a significant impact on libraries in Ontario. Your library’s policies, staff, resources, services, and facilities will all be affected by it. Compliance with AODA standards will make libraries more accessible to everyone by ensuring that users can: get into the library facility and successfully navigate within it; communicate effectively with staff who are trained to respond to specific requests for accommodation; access print and electronic resources using a variety of assistive devices; and fully participate in events and other activities held in the library.
To comply with the Accessible Customer Service standard, library staff must participate in training on how to interact and communicate with persons who have various types of disabilities. Staff must also be instructed on what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing the library’s services. Through implementing the customer service standards, libraries can ensure that accessibility will eventually become part of everyday service delivery.
The proposed Accessible Information and Communication standard could have a profound effect on libraries because providing, disseminating and facilitating access to information is one the cornerstones of library service. This standard outlines how businesses and organizations will be required to provide accessible information in various formats (online, print, verbal, and digital).
Information or communication barriers make it difficult for people to receive or send information. A library user with a visual disability may not be able to read printed materials. A person who is deaf may not be able to use a telephone to access reference or circulation services. Under the Accessible Information and Communication standard, libraries would be required to make print information (either immediately or in a timely manner) available in alternate formats (such as large print, braille, digital, etc.). As well, in order for all library users to fully participate in library services, assistive communication devices such as a TTY/TDD (a special device that allows people who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate) may be required in libraries.
The standard also ensures that information on websites is accessible to persons with disabilities.
It will be necessary to train and educate staff on barriers to accessing information. Staff should also be able to assist users with inaccessible resources. The library will be required to develop policies about providing accessible information and communications.
All Ontarians have the right to access and equitable use of library resources and services. The AODA provides the framework to ensure that persons with a disability have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Q: What strategies can a library use to ensure that it is creating an accessible environment?
A: Libraries can undertake a number of initiatives to ensure that their services, resources, and built environment are accessible to all library users. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
Display prominently a statement about the library’s commitment to accessibility – in the library Mission Statement, on the library’s home page, and/or in the library’s printed materials. Inform your community of users that your library is working towards accessibility for all.
Develop an annual Ontarians with Disabilities Act Plan that addresses key accessibility areas as outlined in the AODA standards. Conduct an accessibility audit of your library in which you identify physical and other access barriers. Plan strategies and identify steps to remove these barriers.
Document the library’s policies, practices, and procedures for providing barrier-free access to information and services. Include information on how a person with a disability may request an accommodation.
Train all library staff (including administrators, student assistants, and volunteers) on providing excellent customer service to persons with disabilities.
Provide adapted computer workstations with technologies such as screen reading, voice dictation, and character-enlarging software in your library.
Establish a process for people to provide feedback on how you provide goods or services to people with disabilities.
Employ universal design principles and web accessibility standards in the development of the library’s online resources.
Ensure that the library’s electronic information resources – including web pages, online catalogue, full-text reference tools, and databases – can be accessed with a variety of adaptive technologies and devices.
In the library’s collection development and procurement policies, include a statement about product accessibility to ensure that the purchase or adoption of web-based software applications and multimedia and electronic materials will incorporate accessibility considerations.
Collect and provide library resources in alternate formats (large print, digital, braille, captioned, audio-described, etc.).
Consult with users who have a disability to learn how they use your library’s services, facilities, and resources.
Envision and encourage universal access and equitable use as goals for your library and its services!
