Accessibility
Increasing the Accessibility of Ontario’s
Public Spaces & Main Streets
Welcome to Accessibility
Since
2014, OBIAA has worked with the Province of Ontario to help our BIAs and their
Business Members understand and comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians
with Disabilities Act (AODA). As we continue to champion accessibility for our
BIAs and their members, OBIAA is very pleased to announce our newest
initiative.
Accessing our Heritage is a year-long
project that began in December 2019 and focuses on increasing the accessibility
of Ontario’s heritage buildings, spaces and main streets. A conference for
built environment professionals will be held in the fall to discuss how to
remove barriers to making heritage buildings and spaces more accessible.
The Accessing our Heritage Conference aims to inspire
action and build awareness amongst planners, architects, engineers, heritage
leaders, media, BIAs, businesses, people with disabilities, and more.
This will be a gathering of people who care deeply about heritage and
accessibility and who, through multi-stakeholder dialogue, can develop a vision
that unites their distinct roles and visions in an effort to increase the
accessibility of Ontario’s heritage buildings. The conference will be on
October 20, 2020 at Alderlea in Brampton. More information to follow.
This
project is being guided by an Advisory Committee made up of BIAs, Municipal
Accessibility Staff, individuals with disabilities, and business owners. The
committee members include:
Jim Mountain, Adjunct Professor,
Carleton University, Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism. Former
Director of Heritage Regeneration Projects for the National Trust for Canada
Amanda Motyer, Accessibility Specialist,
Lett Architects Inc.
Mark Buffone, Accessibility Compliance
Coordinator, City Peterborough
Hayley Nabuurs, Master of Urban &
Regional Planning Candidate, Queen’s University
John Lane, Director, Ontario Building Officials of Ontario (OBOA) and Manager, Building Inspections, City of Hamilton
Sarah Cossette, Manager, Library, Arts and Heritage Services Unit, Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
Kay Matthews, Executive Director, Ontario BIA Association
Constance
Exley, Accessing
our Heritage Project Manager and CEO of Accessibility Services Canada
The Business of Accessibility Handbook
The Business of Accessibility Handbook: How to Make Your Main Street Business Accessibility Smart offers no cost and low-cost ideas, gathered from people with first-hand experience, to inspire businesses to go beyond the minimum requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
The handbook includes:
- Low cost and no cost tips on how businesses can be more accessible in such areas as lighting, signage, websites, space layout, and more
- The business case for accessibility and Ontario’s changing demographics
- A Built Environment Accessibility Checklist
- Stories of Ontario businesses
- Frequently asked questions
- Built environment accessibility resources