You can play a part in creating an accessible Ontario
Whether it’s accessible routes and entrances into buildings, lower counter heights at cash registers, large print menus in restaurants or training for staff to serve customers with learning disabilities, you can help usher in a new era of accessibility in Ontario.
The Ontario government is now recruiting members for committees that will develop standards to improve accessibility under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
The AODA is poised to make Ontario a world leader in improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Standards will make it possible for people with disabilities to participate fully in the social and economic life of the province.
The new act will see government working hand-in-hand with the disability community and the private and public sectors to jointly develop proposed standards to be achieved in stages of five years or less, leading to a fully accessible Ontario in 20 years. Standards will be set in both the public and private sectors to address the full range of disabilities, including physical, sensory, mental health, developmental and learning.
The first two standards development committees will be customer service and transportation.
Access to customer service, whether in the public or private sector, is essential to daily living for all people with disabilities. Accessible transportation is critical to daily living for people with disabilities so they can get to work, to school or to the doctor.
Members of the committees will include people with disabilities or their representatives, representatives of industries or sectors, government ministries, and professionals with relevant experience.
Recruiting is now open for the first two committees. The application deadline is November 10, 2005. Application deadlines for other committees will be announced in the future.
Additional information and application packages in alternate formats are available by calling 1-888-520-5828 or toll-free TTY 1-888-335-6611.
