In 2001, the Province introduced the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), which stated that every municipality having a minimum population of 10,000 shall establish an Accessibility Advisory Committee.
The Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), is a law passed by the Ontario legislature that allows the government to develop specific standards of accessibility and to enforce them. The standards are made into laws called regulations, and they provide the details to help meet the goals of the AODA. The AODA is the foundation on which the standards are built.
The purpose of the accessibility standards is to move organizations in Ontario forward on accessibility. The standards will set requirements in a number of key areas and will be reviewed at least every five years. New requirements may be added. Ontario will move step by step towards accessibility that is widespread and commonplace. The goal of the Act is to make the Province of Ontario completely accessible by 2025.
Businesses and organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario will have to meet certain accessibility standards in five important areas of our lives.