The provincial government is currently seeking comments from the public on the proposed changes to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, a regulation made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The period for public comment is open until April 16, 2014 and details can be found on the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment website.

Here are some of the highlights of the proposed amendments to the regulation:

1. The definition of small private and not‑for‑profit organizations would be changed from organizations with 1 ‑19 employees, to organizations with 1‑49 employees, and the definition of large private and not‑for‑profit organizations would be changed to organizations with 50 or more employees.   The requirements under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service that currently apply to organizations with 20 employees or more would now apply only to organizations with 50 employees or more.
2.  In order for an animal to be a service animal under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service it would need to meet the following criteria:
   1. Be trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability in a way that relates to that person’s disability;  and
   2. The animal must be readily identifiable as an animal used by the person for reasons related to the person’s disability or the person must provide a letter from a regulated health professional confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons related to the person’s disability.
   3. The requirements on who must be trained on the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities would be broadened to cover all employees, volunteers, people who participate in developing the organization’s policies, and all other people who provide goods and services or facilities on behalf of the organization.   Training will need to be provided on an ongoing basis however the frequency is not defined.

The full description of the proposed changes to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service regulation can be found here.

As always, organizations should ensure that they are complying with the current requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, and may want to consider how the proposed changes might impact their compliance with the regulation.

You can find more information on complying with AODA and the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service on our website.

Filed in: Human Rights

Tags: Accessibility, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act