Accessibility Standards PolicyPro® (ASPP)

The policy-building resource is aimed at preparing organizations to deal with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards as they become regulations. Accessibility Standards PolicyPro provides:

• Ready-to-use policies and procedures you need to comply by the January 1, 2012 deadline
• A step-by-step methodology that leaves room for you to customize
• A way to receive future updates which will cover the general obligations under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and the other associated standards: the Accessibility Standards for Information and Communication, the Accessibility Standards for employment, the Accessibility Standards for transportation and the Accessibility Standards for built environment.
• Terminology concerning persons with disabilities, applicable statistics, sample policies and checklists and links to resources and helpful information.

In relation to the Accessibility Standards For Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/07, the step-by-step process includes the following eight steps and sample policies:

Step 1. Customer service policy, practices and procedures on providing goods and service to people with disabilities
Step 2. Communication
Step 3. The use of service animals
Step 4. The use of support persons
Step 5. Disruption of services
Step 6. Feedback procedure
Step 7. Training
Step 8. Documentation and annual filing

Subscription Rate

One-year subscription: $575. Annual renewals: $345.

About the author

Suzanne Cohen Share has an MA in Health Policy and Critical Disabilities from York University, including a specialty in disability law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Suzanne taught Health Policy and Government at York University and was an instructor at Brock University.

Suzanne has more than 25 years of experience as a business and accounting consultant and is a popular professional lecturer, researcher, trainer and consultant. She is known as a cross-disability consultant, accessibility auditor, public speaker and author of custom handbooks as required by the customer.

She was on the Accessible Built Environment Standard Development Committee for the Province of Ontario and from time to time has trained the Ontario and Federal government on various accessibility issues.

Through her company Access (SCS) Consulting Services (623921 Ontario Ltd.), Suzanne consults on all matters related to business including restructuring, accounting, inclusive solutions, sensitivity awareness education, compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and federally mandated obligations to people with disabilities. Suzanne was a founder and Director for Central Western Ontario for the Accessibility Consultants Association of Ontario, and is still a member. Her website is www.access-scs-consulting.com.

About the legal editor

Stringer Brisbin Humphrey is a leader in Canadian workplace law. For over 45 years, they have taken a client-centred approach to responsive service, representing employers with labour relations and employment problems. They regularly advise and represent clients on a wide variety of matters, from day-to-day issues to corporate transactions and major pieces of litigation. Their firm’s practice covers a broad spectrum of workplace law, including employment law, occupational health & safety, labour relations and arbitration, human rights, pay equity, and workers' compensation, as well as issues under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. They also provide training, seminars and conferences on the above topics.

About the managing editor

Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., was called to the Quebec bar in 1988 where she practised business and employment and labour law until 1999. She is still a member in good standing of the Quebec Bar Association. Yosie is one of Canada’s best-known and most-respected HR authors, with an extensive background in employment and labour law across the country. She is also the Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources PolicyPro and HRinfodesk Managing Editor. She has researched and written extensively on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and accompanying standards and on similar initiatives across Canada.