Prepare Your Building for AODA Compliance
If you are in property management, you need to rapidly brush up on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) if you don’t know what it is. This law mandates that people with physical or cognitive impairments should be able to enter both public and private institutions. Digital accessibility for websites, applications, and other web content is also included in the AODA. Ontario strives to be accessible to those with impairments by 2025 using the AODA, making it a key point of interest for property management groups in Ontario.
What is the AODA?
A comprehensive law from 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, was established to create, implement, and enforce requirements for accessibility relating to goods, services, facilities, employment, lodging, and structures in Ontario.There are consequences for not adhering to the guidelines, and organizations with more than 20 employees must submit an accessible report regularly outlining how they are doing so.
Organizations of all types are covered by the AODA, including:
- Companies in the private sector and their registered charity
- Non-profit institutions
- Educational establishments
- Hospitals
- Municipal administrations and their departments, boards, commissions, and committees
- Multi-residential buildings (MURBS)
As of 2023, these organizations must file compliance reports by December 31st.
Preparing Your Building for AODA Compliance
To make Ontario more inclusive and accessible for everyone, the AODA aims to lower and remove obstacles for individuals with disabilities. Buildings must be inspected to identify any obstructions that prevent all users from having inclusive experiences. It should be possible for everyone to enter the building from the street, park there (if parking is available), and then have access to all the essential functioning areas of the structure.
Although the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act does not compel you to rebuild your workplace, you may need to examine your compliance obligations with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing if your company is conducting substantial construction or renovation. It is a mandatory requirement to have accessible public entrances and compliant access to all key functional places for a building.
Additional features that can be used to enhance a building’s visitor experience include:
- Designated accessible parking spaces if parking is provided for visitors
- Access to public transit for sites located near transit stations
- Accessible pathways or trails
- Access to all floors of a building via elevator
- At least one universal washroom
- Visual and audible emergency systems such as fire alarms
- Wayfinding strategies in places to help with navigation throughout the building
- Safety warning features for overhead or protruding hazards
Next Steps
Starting your accessibility journey might first seem intimidating and complex. It’s critical to realize that obtaining Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act compliance won’t happen overnight, but you can keep working toward it.
To help prepare and maintain accessibility compliance, Ignis Building Solutions offers the Ignis Accessibility Audit Program (IAAP). The IAAP includes an independent audit of your accessibility features and functionality by qualified professionals. Results are benchmarked against the national rating system to determine whether the building is considered accessible and/or what scores could be improved. This program is a cost-effective alternative to the standard government channels while maintaining the level of compliance needed for your building and its visitors.
From multi-residential buildings to retail establishments, Ignis Building Solutions is here to help you become AODA compliant. Contact us today to learn how to meet AODA compliance.