The Challenge:
The “Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Act” (AODA) is new legislation that applies to hundreds
of thousands of businesses in Ontario, as well as to community
groups and public services. The AODA aims to remove many
of the barriers people experience in public and commercial
areas.
People with disabilities are a growing consumer market
in Canada. Nationally people with disabilities account for
an estimated $25 billion a year in consumer spending and
influence the spending decisions of twelve to fifteen million
other Canadians.
Over one-in-eight Ontarians have disabilities that keep
them from more fully participating in society. That will
only increase as baby boomers move into their senior years.
According to Statistics Canada by 2025 the number of Ontarians
with disabilities will grow to about 1 in 5.
The Response:
OBIAA and TABIA, in partnership with the Ministry of Community
and Social Services are developing resources to help small
businesses increase their awareness of accessibility and
to promote accessibility best practices in their businesses.
TABIA represents the local small business community on
the Customer Service Standards Development Committee which
is presently creating proposed accessibility standards for
the AODA.
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