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ARTICLE · 12 APRIL 2011

The Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2005: Preparing Your Organization For Compliance

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Within less than one year, most organizations will have to comply with the Customer Service Standard (CSS) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

CanadaEmployment and HR
Daniel Pugen
Daniel Pugen
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Within less than one year, most organizations will have to comply with the Customer Service Standard (CSS) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The CSS applies to designated public sector organizations as of January 1, 2011. Commencing January 1, 2012, it will also apply to every other organization that provides goods or services to members of the public or other third parties and that employs at least one employee in Ontario. Simply put, most private sector employers must comply by January 1, 2012.

As noted previously in the LEQ, the AODA is legislation that seeks to gradually improve accessibility for persons living with disabilities through the implementation of five "Accessibility Standards" — Built Environment, Employment, Transportation, Information and Communication, and Customer Service. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, organizations already have a "duty to accommodate" employees with disabilities and in the provision of

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