As a business owner or employer in Canada, you must provide an accessible workplace for all employees and customers, including those with disabilities. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was created in 2005 to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. The AODA sets out guidelines and standards for accessibility in Ontario, including training requirements for businesses and organizations.
We provide comprehensive AODA training courses that meet all the requirements set out by the government. Our courses are designed to help businesses or organizations achieve compliance with the AODA and provide the best possible experience for employees and customers with disabilities. Our training program covers the requirements of the AODA, including the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) and the Customer Service Standard. The IASR applies to businesses and organizations with 50 or more employees, while the Customer Service Standard applies to all businesses and organizations in Ontario, regardless of size.
AODA DEFINITION
What is AODA?
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) includes a comprehensive set of laws that outlines the standards that businesses and organizations must follow to ensure that their products, services, and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities (Source: Government of Canada, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, URL: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a11, 2016).
The purpose of AODA training is to ensure that businesses and organizations in Ontario are compliant with the AODA requirements. Compliance with the act not only creates a more inclusive environment for people with disabilities but also helps businesses to avoid costly lawsuits and fines.
Moreover, AODA training helps businesses to create an inclusive and accessible environment, which can lead to an increase in customer satisfaction and loyalty. By providing accessible goods, services, and facilities, businesses can attract and retain customers with disabilities, who represent a significant portion of the Canadian population.
What are the key components of AODA?
One of the key requirements of the AODA is the creation and implementation of an accessibility plan. This plan outlines the steps that an organization will take to identify and remove barriers to accessibility. The plan must be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. In addition to the accessibility plan, the AODA outlines specific standards that organizations must meet in order to comply with the law. The five standards are:
• Customer Service Standard
• Information and Communication Standard
• Employment Standard
• Transportation Standard
• Design of Public Spaces Standard
What are the applicable standards?
The AODA Standards provide organizations with a framework for accessibility. The standards are designed to identify, remove and prevent barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing goods, services, and employment opportunities.
Customer Service Standard
The Customer Service Standard requires organizations to provide accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This includes:
• Ensuring that customers with disabilities are able to access goods and services
• Providing customers with disabilities with the same level of service as all other customers
• Training employees on how to interact with customers with disabilities
Information and Communications Standard
The Information and Communications Standard requires organizations to make their information and communications accessible to people with disabilities. This includes:
• Ensuring that all information is available in accessible formats
• Ensuring that all websites and web content are accessible
• Providing accessible communication supports to people with disabilities
Employment Standard
The Employment Standard requires organizations to make their employment practices accessible to people with disabilities. This includes:
• Ensuring that all job postings and recruitment materials are accessible
• Providing accommodations during the hiring process and on the job
• Providing accessible performance management and career development opportunities
Transportation Standard
The Transportation Standard requires organizations to make their transportation services accessible to people with disabilities. This includes:
• Ensuring that all transportation services are accessible
• Providing accessible transportation information
• Providing accessible transportation training to employees
Built Environment Standard
The Built Environment Standard requires organizations to make their physical spaces accessible to people with disabilities. This includes:
• Ensuring that all new buildings and major renovations are accessible
• Ensuring that all existing buildings are made accessible over time
• Providing accessible parking, entrances, and elevators
AODA Legislation
Ontario businesses must follow the Ontario Regulation 191/11: Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities. In 2016, the five standards of the AODA were consolidated under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). While each of the five IASR standards has specific requirements, there are also general requirements that apply to all of them. These include training, an accessibility policy, and an accessibility plan.
The AODA applies to all businesses and organizations in Ontario with one or more employees, except for federally regulated organizations, which are subject to the Accessibility for Canadians with Disabilities Act (ACDA). The AODA also applies to all levels of government, including municipalities, universities, and hospitals.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a crucial legislation in Ontario that aims to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in various areas of life. The law provides a framework for addressing and preventing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Although AODA is a provincial law, other provinces have their versions of the legislation.
Which are the alternatives to AODA in other provinces?
Quebec: Act to Secure Handicap Persons in the Exercise of their Rights with a View to Achieving Social, School, and Workplace Integration (Quebec Law 2004, chapter 11)
The Quebec Act to Secure Handicap Persons in the Exercise of their Rights with a View to Achieving Social, School, and Workplace Integration requires organizations to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. The law also prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (Source: Government of Quebec, Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration)
Manitoba: Accessibility for Manitobans Act
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act requires organizations to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. The law applies to both public and private sector organizations in the province (Source: Government of Manitoba, Accessibility for Manitobans Act, URL: https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/40-2/b026e.php).
British Columbia: Accessibility 2024
Accessibility 2024 is a long-term plan by the British Columbia government to make the province accessible by 2024. The plan includes initiatives to increase accessibility in various areas, including transportation and employment (Source: Government of British Columbia, Accessibility 2024, URL: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/careers-myhr/about-the-bc-public-service/diversity-inclusion/diversity-inclusion-strategy)
Nova Scotia: Accessibility Act
The Nova Scotia Accessibility Act aims to make the province accessible by 2030. The law requires organizations to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility and provides for the creation of an Accessibility Advisory Board (Source: Nova Scotia Legislature, Government of Nova Scotia)
Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Island Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
The Prince Edward Island Accessibility Standards for Customer Service requires organizations to provide accessible goods and services to persons with disabilities. The law also requires organizations to create accessibility plans and train employees on how to interact with persons with disabilities.
What is the federal legislation?
Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA)
The Canadian Human Rights Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including disability. The Act requires employers and service providers to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities (Source: Government of Canada, Canadian Human Rights Act, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/, 2021).
Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
The Accessible Canada Act is a federal law that aims to make Canada barrier-free by 2040. The Act requires the federal government and federally-regulated entities to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. (Source: Government of Canada, Accessible Canada Act, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-0.6/)
AODA TRAINING
What is AODA training?
AODA training is a mandatory training program that educates businesses and organizations on the AODA requirements and the steps they must take to ensure compliance with the act. The training aims to provide businesses with the knowledge and skills necessary to create accessible environments for people with disabilities.
The training covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
• The AODA standards
• Customer service and accessibility
• Accessible communication
• Accessible Transportation
• Accessible employment practices
Who is responsible for AODA training?
All businesses and organizations operating in Ontario are required to undergo AODA training. The responsibility for AODA training lies with the business owner or the organization’s management team. Failure to comply with the AODA requirements can result in costly fines and legal action.
Who needs AODA training?
All employees of organizations that provide goods and services in Ontario must receive AODA training. This includes both public and private organizations, regardless of their size. The AODA applies to all sectors and industries. Some industries that have a significant impact on accessibility and inclusion, such as healthcare, education, and transportation, should take extra steps to ensure that their employees receive adequate AODA training. For instance, healthcare providers must ensure that their employees can communicate effectively with patients with disabilities and provide them with the necessary accommodations. Similarly, educational institutions must ensure that their curriculum is accessible to students with disabilities. All employees, including part-time and contract employees, need to receive training within the first week of their employment.
Can you do AODA training online?
This course requires only theoretical training and evaluation, making it suitable for both classroom and online formats. Online training adheres to the same standards as classroom training, ensuring that it is recognized and accepted. In fact, online training can be more convenient and efficient, as it eliminates the need for in-person attendance and allows for flexible scheduling.
Moreover, classroom trainings often have certain requirements imposed by the Ministry of Labour, such as a minimum duration of 8 hours, which may not always be necessary for the content being covered. Online training can be more efficient in this regard, as a well-designed 2-hour course can cover all the necessary material effectively.
Additionally, online training can be a more cost-effective option for employers compared to organizing in-person classroom sessions. Online training programs also provide businesses with access to detailed analytics, allowing them to track employee progress and ensure that all employees complete the training.
However, keep in mind that employers are responsible for selecting the appropriate level of training for their workplace, so it’s essential to check with your employer to ensure they accept online training for this purpose.
Is there a free AODA training?
The short answer is: No, not really.
The long answer: AODA courses can be developed either by the employer themselves, in which case they can be provided to you for free but have a cost of development for the employer; Alternatively, they can be developed by a private company such as ours.
When a private company develops such a program, many costs are associated with the process (human resources, programs licenses, host and servers, content research, voice-overs, software development, marketing, learning machine system development etc.); therefore, it cannot be free.
Depending on the website that sells it, its commitment to user experience, and its user panel investments, developing an AODA course will cost upwards of $10,000.
Websites that claim to offer free AODA training usually do so at the expense of users’ privacy or security as they have to recover their investments somehow. Your data will be sold to other third parties or used to promote related services (such as other programs or systems advertised as needed).
In more extreme situations, such websites may offer you the content for free but charge you for the certificate or unlocking the testing section, in most cases a price that is 2 or 3 times higher than what other private companies are selling the program for because at that point you have already invested time in completing the program with them.
Stay away from such websites because when you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.
Where can you purchase AODA online training?
In today’s fast-paced society, AODA online courses have become the cheapest and most convenient solution to get your training done. There are many methods and providers of AODA training. With any training, it is essential to select a high-quality AODA education provider and one that will provide the most value (best information retention in employees) for the time and money.Ensuring your AODA program materials are always up to date is also extremely important as the amount of health and safety regulations and enforcement is steadily increasing and constantly updating.
How we compare
Designed for Workers. Built for Business
AODA CERTIFICATE
What do you need to learn?
To get AODA certification, you must complete AODA training that meets the requirements set out in the AODA. At eSafetyFirst, we offer online AODA training that covers all the requirements of the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Our AODA training program is designed to help organizations understand their obligations under the AODA and create inclusive environments for all Ontarians.
Our AODA training program covers the following topics:
• Introduction to the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Understanding accessibility and disability;
• Communication with people with disabilities;
• Accessible customer service;
• Accessible information and communication;
• Accessible employment;
• Accessible transportation;
• Accessible design of public spaces.
How long is the AODA certificate valid?
Ontario workers will be required to re-take their AODA certification regularly, often on a yearly basis. Even though the legislation was implemented over a decade ago, many employers and workplaces still fail to abide by these standards. Additionally, organizations may require their employees to take the training on a regular basis as part of their compliance with AODA requirements.
How will I receive my training certificate with eSafetyFirst?
The certificate will be automatically available for printing once you complete the course and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
All our courses will come with a PDF certificate at the end of the program.
This PDF file will have two pages: a standard certificate and a wallet-size training record.
The employer should store certificates, while the employee should carry their wallet cards at all times during work.
Students who prefer to receive wallet cards in a physical format can request and purchase a physical wallet card from eSafetyFirst. This optional item is not included in the course price and will cost an additional $10 for printing and shipping.
If you do not have the time to make your laminated wallet card, you may find it rather convenient to order this card directly from us.
How can I find my AODA certificate if I lost it?
In most cases, this question is addressed to us by individuals who took their training with a different company. As a private company, we can only store and access our customers’ data. Therefore, if you did your training with another company, you need to contact them to receive a copy of your certificate.
If you are a customer of eSafetyFirst.com, then all you have to do is to Login to your account, and you can, at any time, download a copy of the certificate you received from us.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, as a business owner or employer in Canada, it is crucial to prioritize accessibility and inclusivity in the workplace. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets forth guidelines and standards that aim to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. By providing comprehensive AODA training courses, businesses and organizations can ensure compliance with the legislation and create an environment that caters to the needs of employees and customers with disabilities. By embracing accessibility, businesses not only fulfill their legal obligations but also foster a culture of inclusivity, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved. By taking proactive steps towards accessibility, businesses contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.