Accessibility Standard Coming Into Force For Public Sector
December 29, 2009 10:30 AM
McGuinty Government Improving Customer Services For People With Disabilities
Ontario is reminding public sector organizations that the province's first accessibility standard — for customer service — is coming 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.
CONTACTS
- Thomas Chanzy
Minister's Office
416-325-5211
- Sandy Mangat
Communications
416-212-3262
ontario.ca/community
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"Accessible customer service is about learning how to communicate with someone who has a disability and, most importantly, it is about being willing to help."
– Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community and Social Services
Communities
