By: Gabriella Rabaa
The fourth review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) has begun, the last that will occur in advance of the 2025 deadline for a more accessible Ontario as set under the Act.
The AODA is a provincial law that applies to government bodies, non-profit organizations, and private sector organizations, which seeks to identify and address barriers for people with disabilities. Under the law, it must be reviewed every three years to measure its effectiveness and identify existing gaps. The review will focus on three key areas:
- The effectiveness and evolution of the AODA, as well as changes that can be made to improve success.
- Building awareness and community support of the AODA.
- Investigating how information, clear planning, enforcement and incentives contribute to building accessibility.
The Government of Ontario appointed Rich Donovan, a globally recognized expert on disability and experience design, to lead the review process. CNIB met with Rich Donovan to provide feedback on how the sight loss community can be involved in the AODA review process and we look forward to sharing further information on our engagement in the near future.
Get Involved
There are multiple ways to provide feedback as part of the review from September 2022 to April 2023. To learn how you can include your perspective, visit the official AODA review website. The final report is due to the Ontario government in June 2023.