The Ontario provincial government just released proposed regulations for the accessibility of the built environment. The standard introduces various amendments to AODA’s Integrated Accessibility Standard (Reg 191/11), including the introduction of the new Part IV.1, entitled Design of Public Spaces Standards (Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment).
The new Standard will only apply to new construction and planned redevelopment, and will primarily apply to the public sector and to large organizations (i.e. organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario). The proposed standard would come into effect on January 1, 2013.
Public Comment
The government is inviting public comments by October 1, 2012, by emailing comments to designofpublicspaces@ontario.ca.
Highlights of the New Proposed Standard
Private sector organizations will have to meet the requirements regarding “public spaces” that are new or redeveloped on or after January 1, 2017 (large organizations) or January 1, 2018 (small organizations). 
While “public space” is not defined, the proposed regulation sets out requirements for the following areas:
- Recreational trails/beach access routes
- Outdoor public-use eating areas like rest stops or picnic areas
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- Exterior paths of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas and accessible pedestrian signals $(document).ready(function () { // toggles the slickbox on clicking the noted link $(‘#four’).click(function () { $(‘#dfour’).toggle(); return false; }); });
- Accessible parking (on and off street) $(document).ready(function () { // toggles the slickbox on clicking the noted link $(‘#five’).click(function () { $(‘#dfive’).toggle(); return false; }); });
- Service-related elements like service counters, fixed queuing lines and waiting areas $(document).ready(function () { // toggles the slickbox on clicking the noted link $(‘#six’).click(function () { $(‘#dsix’).toggle(); return false; }); });
- Maintenance
Proposed Private Sector Requirements
Many requirements will primarily fall within the public sector’s mandate. Beach access routes, playgrounds and recreational trails are likely not on your corporations to do list. Other requirements, however, will also fall within the private sector’s responsibility.
Some examples include:
- Exterior Paths of Travel – large organizations will have to meet the Standard’s requirements for functional exterior paths of travel that are outdoor sidewalks or walkways designed for pedestrian travel, but not intended to provide a recreational experience.
- Parking Lots – all organizations both large and small must meet the requirements for off-street parking facilities. Interestingly, however, there are exemptions to these requirements, including that the requirements do not apply to parking facilities that are used exclusively for employees, buses, delivery vehicles, police, ambulances or impounded vehicle lots.
- Service Counters & Waiting Areas – all organizations both large and small must meet the requirements for any new or redeveloped service counters, fixed queuing guides and waiting areas. As a specific example, when providing a new or redeveloping an existing waiting area, where the seating is fixed to the floor, three per cent of the new seating must be accessible, but in no case shall there be fewer than one accessible seating space.
- Other Requirements: large organizations will have to meet various specific requirements in the public space, such as for ramps, handrails, slopes, landings and stairs. Such requirements include slip resistant surfaces, specified slopes, specified minimum width and length of ramps, curves on ramps, the minimum risers in stairs, etc.
Small vs Large Organization Requirements
While most of the requirements apply to public sector and/or private sector large organizations (50 or more employees in Ontario) only, a few of the requirements also apply to small organizations (1-49 employees in Ontario). Most notably, small organizations must meet the parking facilities, service counter, fixed queuing guides and waiting area requirements.
For example, if you own a small family-run mechanics shop with less than a dozen employees, you will still need to ensure the customer waiting room meets the accessibility requirements in the Standard.
More Info on AODA
For more background on AODA, feel free to visit my past blog posts on the subject:
· AODA for Employers Part 1: Customer Service Standards
· AODA for Employers Part 2: Integrated Accessibility Standards
· AODA for Employers Part 3: Where’s the Teeth?
How will the new Proposed Standard effect your organization?