Accessibility in the Workplace Resources

Hiring a person with different abilities or creating an inclusive environment for everyone makes good business sense. Advantages for your business are endless - here are just a few.

• An employee that is loyal, dedicated and a positive impact on your business. It's a fact!
• New clients and business growth. People who have a disability, their family members and close relations represent 51% of the population. Tapping into this market will have a positive impact on your business market share. Let's invite them into our business community.

Accessibility Standards for Business
Ontario is developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards in:
Customer Service
Transportation
Information & Communications
Build Environment
Employment

The first standard that business must comply to by January 2012. Fines will begin to be enforced starting December 2012
*Accessibility Standard for Customer Service
What does this mean to your business? Businesses and organizations in Ontario are now required to provide customer service that is accessible to people with disabilities.

Click HERE to learn more - it's easier than you think!

Below is a list of resources to help you and your business
become more accessible.

 Ministry of Community & Social Services -  Ontario Provincial government web site for the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

How do I file my accessibility report?

Accessibiity for Ontarians with Disabilities Act - Information on The AODA, Accessible Customer Service Act

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act - PDF copy of the act

Ministry of Finance - Ontario Minister of Finance, information from the Ministry of Revenue

Ontario Municipal Accessibility Toolkit - the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks & Treasurers of Ontario - with financial support from the Ministry of Community & Social Services help the municipal sector meet its responsibilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 

The Toronto Enterprise Fund - The Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) supports social enterprises that employ people who are socially marginalized.

The Enabling Accessiblity Fund - The Enabling Accessibility Fund supports community-based projects across Canada that improve accessibility, remove barriers, and enable Canadians with disabilities to participate in and contribute to their communities

Meta Vocational Current Newsletter

Accessibilty Website Evaluation Tool -  WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool provided by WebAIM. It is used to aid humans in the web accessibility evaluation process. Rather than providing a complex technical report, WAVE shows the original web page with embedded icons and indicators that reveal the accessibility of that page.

Job Postings - Durham Region Employment Network provides a great avenue where businesses can post their employment opportunities -  FREE!

Accessibility for the Tourism & Hospitality Industry

Tips & Tricks Tool Kit - provides you with all the key information you need in one handy reference to guide you on your process to compliance. It includes a workplan, an audit checklist, and templates for you to download to adapt to your organization's policies and procedures manual

Job Postings - Durham Immigration Portal provides employers with an avenue to post employment opportunities with diverse needs

Human Resources Professionals Association - webinars, articles

Martin Prosperity - Releasing Constraints: Projecting the Economic Impacts of Increased Accessibility in Ontario

Accessible Website Guidelines - Information on guidelines and suggestions for making Web sites accessible appears on the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) web site. (resource from Accessibility Experts)

Choose the Right Word - the Ministry of Community and Social Services has a section under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities, is a great resource with tips that can help make your communication with or about people with disabilities more successful.

What Are Alternate Format Materials - Find out more about alternate formats and who provides them.

Who Makes Alternate Format Materials and How Can I Get Them? - Find out who provides alternate format materials with links to the organizations who provide them

Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Has a program called Accessibility Works - it explains The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 while providing Information on who must comply, key dates and what the standard is all about. Learn more about the customer service standard and more - all for businesses!

Town of Whitby- Accessibily plans, Town Accessibility Committee, legislation and more...

Durham Region Employment Network - a ton of resources to help businesses understand the steps to hiring a person with a disability or resources to help businesses become accessible.

Durham Region Employment Network - Ability Guide

AODA Training & Testing for the Customer Service Standard

Accessibility Experts
Edie Forsyth
(905) 718-3343
1288 Ritson Rd North, Suite 372, Oshawa
www.accessibilityexperts.ca

Accessibility Professionals of Ontario
Colin McCarthy
(647) 477-8745
84 Silverbirch Place, Whitby
www.accesspros.ca

Abilities Centre
(905) 665-8500
500 Victoria St W, Whitby
www.abilitiescentre.org

Rotary at Work
Joe Dale
(905)706-4348
www.rotaryatwork.com

Durham Region Employment Network
Donna McAllister
(905) 720-1777
www.dren.org

Town of Whitby
Michele Cotton, Accessiblity Officer
905-430-4306
cottonm@whitby.ca

Corporate Training Services - Durham College
905-721-3347
www.corporatetrainingservices.ca