Ontario organizations facing due date at end of this year for report on training, accessibility requirements
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is a unique statute that establishes specific compliance obligations for Ontario employers. Importantly, the AODA works in parallel to the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code). Whereas the AODA sets mandatory accessibility requirements for policies, training, and procedures on a pre-emptive basis, the Code is less prescriptive and requires employers to accommodate accessibility needs on a unique one-to-one basis. Even though the AODA and the Code work in concert, typically employee accessibility concerns are made through the lens of the Code because it provides the best avenue for requesting accommodation or damages. Nevertheless, the compliance obligations imposed by the AODA must be understood.
AODA accessibility standards are based on the size and nature of organizations under the AODA’s O. Reg. 191/11: Integrated Accessibility Standards. Under the AODA, all businesses operating within Ontario with 20 or more employees must file a Compliance Report every three years. The next Compliance Report for businesses and non-profit organizations (outside of the public sector) is due by Dec. 31, 2026.
Employers with fewer than 20 employees do not have to file a Compliance Report but they still have to comply with all requirements applicable to “Small Organizations” (i.e., 1-49 employees in Ontario), such as...
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