Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2015 Requirements

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act ("AODA") is being phased in over a number of years with the aim of achieving accessibility for persons with disabilities in the whole of the Province of Ontario by 2025.  All organizations in both the private and non-profit sectors that provide goods and services in Ontario, with at least one employee, are required to comply with the provisions of the Accessible Customer Service Standard.

The definition of customers is quite broad, and many organizations that do not think they provide goods and for services directly to a customer may still need to comply with the AODA.  For example, the definition of customer is broad enough to include the organization's vendors, suppliers and other contacts, even if those contacts are not an end user of the organization's products or services.