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Global Accessibility Awareness Day – May 9

Today, May 9, 2013, is the second year for Global Accessibility Awareness Day! This day is meant to “get people talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) accessibility and users with different disabilities”

 

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Happy 2014! Well, it will be if you start preparing your multi-year accessibility plan under the AODA now

Businesses know as well as people how quickly a new year can arrive—along with the new obligations that go along with it. In this case, I’m talking about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and multi-year accessibility plans to meet the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. Large organizations—those with 50 or more employees—must comply by 2014.

 

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Slaw: Ontario accessibility standards: What comes after the December 31, 2012 reporting deadline?

Ontario’s Accessibility Standard for Customer Service came into effect on January 1, 2012 for all businesses and not-for-profits in the province with more than one employee. If an organization has more than 20 employees, an online report must be filed by December 31, 2012 to demonstrate to the government that accessibility has been achieved under the Customer Service Standard. Many organizations are now asking “what comes next?”

 

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Slaw: Recommendations for new Manitoba legislation to remove barriers faced by people with disabilities

Manitoba is the second province in Canada that intends to make their province accessible for persons with disabilities by developing specific standards of accessibility in a number of key areas.

 

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How assistive devices can make workers or customers with a disability more productive

Assistive technology provided by rehabilitation engineers can play a major role in helping to realize the goals of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which goal is to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.

 

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Why website accessibility matters

The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a legally blind woman’s 2010 legal victory over the federal government, ordering the government to make its websites accessible to blind persons. It may not be a case under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, but it does show us how website accessibility matters and has an impact on promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities.

 

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AODA compliance: the good, the bad and the ugly

Today’s post is all about hearing from you! Questions arise as to how organizations are dealing with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act compliance requirements. I want to hear from you about the good, the bad and the ugly! Allow me to share your expertise or stories with the rest of the province. Of course, the idea is to help others meet compliance and use the lessons you’ve learned to encourage others. As for your bad ideas that turned ugly, organizations can really use that information to avoid similar pitfalls.

 

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We are not SHOUTING or SCREAMING! Font sizes and accessibility

Recently I sent an email in a medium-large font to someone who thought I was shouting. The reply I received was disturbing. The person was offended and read the information as if I was angry…

 

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What’s that you say? Bar association releases plain language guide

When a guide to using legal jargon in everyday life offers as its first tip, “Familiarize yourself with Latin,” I’m pretty sure there’s a problem.

 

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Slaw: AODA era part III: Information and communication standard

There are specific requirements for each of the Proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation (PIAR) standards. This post will focus on the specific requirements under the AODA Information and Communication Standard.

 

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Government to appeal ruling over website accessibility for visually impaired

On January 11, 2011, the Treasury Board Secretariat announced that the federal government will file an appeal of a court decision that ordered Ottawa to make all government websites accessible to the blind within 15 months.

 

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Improving web accessibility – our own!

Customers demand more of businesses in so many ways these days—better quality and safety, greater social and environmental responsibility, extra service, and accessibility. The law increases its demands frequently, too. Even our governments and public service providers have a hard time keeping up with the legal requirements! Making improvements in all of these areas can challenge an organization, but only accessibility offers the advantage of access to a market of unrealized potential.

 

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Judge orders federal government to make websites accessible to the blind

In Donna Jodhan v. Attorney General of Canada, a recent significant accessibility ruling, a Federal Court judge has ordered Ottawa to make all of the government websites accessible to the blind within 15 months.

 

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Accessible electronic information and communications: small steps with a big outcome

There are some simple ways all of us can alter our daily habits so that people with a variety of disabilities who depend on a screen reader can understand your information. What is a screen reader? A screen reader reads aloud electronic communications.

 

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Deadline looms for accessibility standards

Public sector organizations in the province of Ontario are working toward the January 1, 2010 deadline for implementing the first stage of compliance to ensure accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities in all areas of daily life. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) outlines the new customer service standards businesses and other organizations in Ontario must attain to make the provision of their goods and services more accessible to people with disabilities. Private sector and non-profit organizations need to comply by January 1, 2012.

 

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