January 26, 2010
Ontario is reminding public sector organizations that the province's first accessibility standard — for customer service — came into force January 1, 2010.
The province's ministries, hospitals, schools, municipalities and other public sector organizations must make sure their services are accessible by meeting requirements such as:
- training staff about meeting the needs of customers with a variety of disabilities
- communicating with a person in a manner that takes into account their disability
- permitting customers to bring their service animals, such as guide dogs, onto their premises.
The customer service standard is part of Ontario's plan to make the province accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.
The province's private sector will need to meet these requirements by 2012.
QUICK FACTS
- More than 1.85 million Ontarians have a disability and this number is quickly rising as the population ages.
- By 2017, for the first time, Ontarians aged 65 and over will account for a larger share of the population than children aged 0-14.
- Canadians with disabilities spend $25 billion every year and influence the spending decisions of 12 to 15 million other consumers.
LEARN MORE www.AccessON.ca
A draft Minister’s regulation under the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008 can be read online at www.ontario.ca/community.
The public is invited to submit comments on the draft regulation before February 16, 2010. Submissions can be forwarded in one of the following ways:
Fax: 1-866-340-9112
Mail: Comments on Draft Regulations,
Ministry of Community and Social Services,
Community and Development Services Branch,
80 Grosvenor Street,
4th Floor, Hepburn Block,
Toronto, ON M7A 1E9.
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Contact:
Sheila Alexander 613-962-1144 ldombrowsky.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org