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Accessibility for Ontarians

Latest Updates

  • April 19, 2023 – OPSBA Submission to Ontario’s Fourth Improvement Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
  • August 3, 2022 – Letter to Ministers Lecce and Cho regarding accessibility in public education
  • October 25, 2021 – Joint post-secondary-K-12 submission to Minister Cho regarding accessibility compliance reporting
  • October 4, 2021 – OPSBA submission to the K-12 Education Standards Development Committee regarding proposed recommendations for an Education Accessibility Standard
  • May 3, 2019 – OPSBA Letter to Minister Thompson re: school board policies on service animals
  • July 14, 2017 – OPSBA Submission Re: Education Accessibility Standard Engagement
  • June 29, 2017 – Joint School Board Submission to the Ontario Human Rights Commission regarding an update of the Guidelines on Accessible Education

Ontario Human Rights Commission Training Videos

These video training sessions are a two part series, focusing on the the vital importance of education to a person’s social, academic and economic development – and the need for accessibility and accommodation in the process. The presentation gives up-to-date information about human rights and responsibilities for students, parents and educators, and practical guidance to education providers to meet their legal duty to accommodate.

Session 1 (48 minutes)

Session 2 (37 minutes)

By Any Measure/Pour La Pleine Mesure Videos

OPSBA, along with The Ontario Student Trustees’ Association and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario are pleased to present a video titled “By Any Measure.” The video showcases successful student and staff-led initiatives that are making accessibility integral to school culture in Ontario. The video will be used across the province to promote accessibility awareness and inspire students to take part in Ontario’s commitment to being fully accessible by 2025.

The videos may be downloaded, embedded and shared by clicking on the links below each version.

Updates to the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation

​On July 1, 2016, important updates were introduced to Ontario Regulation 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards, pursuant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario has provided a Quick Reference Guide to inform obligated organizations of the changes to the Regulation.

For more information on the impact these updates will have on school boards, please click here.

Customer Service Standard and Staff/Volunteer Training

To support school boards in compliance with the regulation, OPSBA has collaborated with other school board associations and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario on the development of an implementation Resource Guide Accessible Schools: Leading The Way.

Additional training modules are offered by AccessForward, which has updated its Customer Service Standard training module for staff and volunteers to reflect the July 2016 updates.

AODA Compliance Reporting
2017 was an AODA compliance reporting year and designated public sector organizations, including school boards, were required to file a report by the end of the year. The next accessibility compliance reporting year is 2020.

Integrated Accessibility Standards and The Teachable Project

The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation incorporates the standards related to Information & Communication, Employment, Transportation and Design of Public Spaces.

To support school boards in compliance with the regulation, OPSBA collaborated with other school board associations and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario on the development of The TeachAble Project. This is a comprehensive website, enlivened with videos featuring staff and students from many Ontario schools, designed to support boards in incorporating concepts of accessibility in the learning and teaching environment. The site is organized into easy-to-navigate hubs. The Model Lesson Plans hub offers 21 model lesson plans (K-12) which align with Ontario curriculum and education policy initiatives. They were developed by practising teachers. The Access to Success hub offers a range of professional development modules that provide accessibility awareness training to support program delivery and teaching practice. The Accessibility+ hub is a remarkable inventory of resources, web links, books, videos and other information related to accessibility and teaching accessibility awareness. Accessibility+ can be used by staff, parents, community members and school boards for professional development, program planning and teaching, and to build general awareness.

OPSBA also collaborated with an Accessibility Working Group of school boards in South Western Ontario to develop sample policies and procedures to assist school boards in implementing various requirements of the IASR. These documents are posted on the Ontario Education Services Corporation website.