Design of Public Spaces Standard
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a law that sets out accessibility standards that organizations must follow. The standards aim to make Ontario more accessible and inclusive.
Accessibility Plan
An accessibility plan describes the actions an organization will take to prevent and remove barriers and when it will do so. An accessibility plan creates a road map for an organization to increase accessibility. It’s the actions that support an organization’s commitment to accessibility and its accessibility policies.
Accessibility Policy
An accessibility policy states what rules or principles an organization will put in place to support achieving its accessibility goals.
Accessible Formats
Formats that are an alternative to standard print and are accessible to people with disabilities. May include large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, and braille.
Accessible Off-street Parking Spaces
Includes open area parking lots and structures intended for the temporary parking of vehicles by the public, whether or not the payment of a fee is charged and includes visitor parking spaces in parking facilities.
Accessible On-street Parking Spaces
Includes parking spaces located on highways, as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, that provide direct access to shops, offices and other facilities whether or not the payment of a fee is charged.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Crossing devices that tell a pedestrian when it is safe to cross the street in a non-visual format (for example, through the use of sound or vibration).
Amenities
Items that provide conveniences or services for use by the public, examples of which include drinking fountains, benches and garbage receptacles.
Beach Access Routes
Routes that are constructed and are intended for pedestrian use by the public and that provide access from off-street parking facilities, recreational trails, exterior paths of travel and amenities to an area of a beach that is intended for recreational use by the public.
Communication Supports
Supports that individuals with disabilities may need to access information. Some examples include plain language, sign language interpreter, reading the information out loud to a person with vision loss, adding captioning to videos or using written notes to communicate with someone who is hard of hearing.
Curb Ramp
A slope that cuts through a curb, or is built up to a curb.
Designated Public Sector Organization
Refers to organizations listed in Schedule 1 (Broader Public Sector) of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. These organizations include hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards, and organizations that provide public transportation. Designated public sector also means every municipality and every person or organization listed in Column 1 of Table 1 of Ontario Regulation 146/10, of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.
Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly
Includes every ministry of the Government of Ontario, the Office of the Premier, and the Legislative Assembly including constituency offices of the members of the Assembly.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) sets out the accessibility standards under the AODA. The standards are rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario need to follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers so that people with disabilities have more opportunities to participate in everyday life. The standards are: Customer Service, Information and Communications, Employment, Transportation and Design of Public Spaces.
Large Designated Public Sector Organization
A designated public sector organization with 50 or more employees (such as municipalities, hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards, and organizations that provide public transportation).
Large Organization
A private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has 50 or more employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations.
Legislative Assembly
Refers to the Offices of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario including all the offices of the Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), their constituency offices in their ridings and the offices of those appointed on the address of the Assembly, such as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Maintenance Planning
Activities that are intended to keep existing public spaces and elements in existing public spaces in good working order or to restore the spaces or elements to their original condition, examples of which include painting and minor repairs.
Ontario Government
Refers to the executive of the government and operational branches, including all the ministries of the Government of Ontario and the Office of the Premier.
Planned Significant Alteration
The organization must determine what is a planned significant alteration in the context of the redevelopment of the public space. It does not include maintenance activities such as repairs, environmental mitigation or environmental restoration.
Ramp
A constructed sloped surface (not in or connected to a building) that helps a person move from one level to another.
Rest Areas
In respect of recreational trails and exterior paths of travel, a dedicated level area that is intended for public use to allow persons to stop or sit.
Sidewalk
A paved walkway along the side of a road, to be used by pedestrians.
Small Designated Public Sector Organization
A designated public sector organization with one to 49 employees such as the Ontario Office of the Fairness Commissioner and some municipalities.
Small Organization
A private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has one to 49 employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations.
Stairs
A series of steps (not in or connected to a building) that lead from one level to another. Stairs should be located directly beside the exterior path of travel.
Vibro-tactile Walk Indicators
Pedestrian crossing signal push button devices that vibrate and can be felt through the sense of touch to communicate pedestrian crossing timing in a non-visual way.
Walkway
A constructed route for pedestrians in outdoor public spaces that may connect buildings or amenities.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.