The Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) is currently accepting public feedback on the proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation (IAR) and proposed changes to the Customer Service Regulation. The public feedback process is required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
The IAR harmonizes the AODA standards for information and communications, employment and transportation into a single regulation. Accessibility standards are the rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario have to follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. The development of the IAR was informed by public input on the summary of the proposed regulations received in fall 2010. Over 950 comments were submitted by over 100 organizations, municipalities and individuals during this process. The current consultation is the final public review and comment period before the regulation is finalized by government.
Public feedback will be accepted until March 18, 2011. For more information, visit the Ministry of Community and Social Services website at www.mcss.gov.on.ca.
To request alternate formats of relevant materials, or to provide feedback, contact the MCSS by e-mail at integratedaccessibilityregulation@ontario.ca, by fax at 416-325-9620, by phone at 1-888-520-5828, or by TTY at 1-888-335-6611. Submissions can also be made by mail to:
Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
Ministry of Community and Social Services
777 Bay Street, Suite 601a
Toronto ON
M7A 2J4
See also “Response to the Proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act,” CMHA Ontario and Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, October 2010, available at www.ontario.cmha.ca/submissions.