The law had intended to achieve accessibility this year
Barriers continue to hamper the benefits of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 20 years after its implementation, as per statutory review reports.
2025 was the target year by which Ontario would achieve accessibility. Despite indications of progress, the objective has overall not been met, according to a media release by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Accessibility standards have been regulated into law to prevent the creation of new transportation services barriers. These standards include information and communications (documents, websites, and emergency procedures); customer service (use of service animals and support persons); employee recruiting and accommodation planning; public spaces (paths and recreational trails, play and eating areas, and parking); and staff training.
However, the majority of regulated accessibility requirements could only be applied to new construction and extensive renovations, even though they fell under Ontario's Building Code. While accessibility standards for elementary and postsecondary education and healthcare are being developed, they have not been legislated.
Barriers persist in terms of transit services, public buildings and washrooms, visitable and livable residential housing for people with mobility disabilities; print and information technology, signage and way finding for people with vision disabilities; assistive listening, captioning and sign language interpretation in public settings and online for people with hearing disabilities; and access to education and healthcare for those with physical, cognitive, mental health or environmental sensitivity disabilities.
The OHRC noted that while the AODA was intended to complement the province's Human Rights Code, most of the regulated standards could not be applied retroactively; thus, existing barriers must be eliminated.
The late David C. Onley said in a 2019 review that Ontario was "mostly inaccessible" and described the pace of progress as "glacial." The Return on Disability Group CEO Rich Donovan wrote in a 2023 interim report that the AODA was an "unequivocal failure" in its existing form and effect.
The OHRC said that the AODA's 20th anniversary "provides an opportunity for renewed leadership and conversation on achieving accessibility." It highlighted the need for a "new comprehensive provincial plan" to achieve the AODA's goal.
The AODA was implemented on June 13, 2005.
