Slaw: The AODA era part I: The accessibility standard for customer service, how much time do I have?

March 10, 2011 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Accessibility Standards, Standard for Customer Service

The AODA customer service standard outlines what businesses and other organizations in Ontario must do to make their goods and services more accessible to people with disabilities by January 1, 2012. Every person or organization that provides goods and services to members of the public or other third parties, and has at least one employee in Ontario, must comply.

For more, read my latest post on the topic on Slaw.

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Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.

Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 18 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor of the following publications, Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources PolicyPro, HRinfodesk and Accessibility Standards PolicyPro from First Reference. Yosie is one of Canada’s best known and most respected HR authors, with an extensive background in employment and labour across the country. Read more

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2 thoughts on “Slaw: The AODA era part I: The accessibility standard for customer service, how much time do I have?”

Yosie Saint-Cyr says:

March 20, 2011 at 4:55 pm

As stated by the Ministry, if you are self-employed, either as a sole proprietor or in a partnership, you should not count yourself as an employee in determining how many employees you have. In this situation you and any business partner that you may have are not employees. However, any other individuals who work for you may be considered employees depending on the nature of the relationship.

If you run your own business and it is incorporated, you may be an employee of the corporation along with other employees you have.
Andrew Lawson says:

March 16, 2011 at 10:30 am

Great review Yosie. I have a question that concerns one-person organizations such as mine—I am a self-employed consultant/training provider to businesses. Do you think I am considered that “one employee in Ontario” thus requiring me to comply with this law?