Accessibility

About AODA

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) became law on June 13, 2005. This Ontario law aims to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario must follow accessibility standards to become more accessible. The goal of the act and the standards is to make the province accessible for all people with disabilities by 2025.

The AODA accessibility standards recognize five areas of daily life:

• Customer service
• Transportation
• Information and communication
• Employment
• Built environment

Transportation, Information and Communication and Employment Standards are part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). Besides requirements specific to each standard, the IASR includes the following general requirements:

• develop accessibility policies and plans
• train employees and volunteers
• consider accessibility when purchasing goods or services

The requirements apply to public, private, and non-profit organizations that provide goods, services or facilities to the public. 

AODA Compliancy at the Town

Town AODA compliancy efforts

• Developed an Accessible Customer Service Policy
• Trained staff (full and part-time), volunteers and elected officials
• Ensured that contractors and any other people who interact with the public (in connection with the town) are familiar with the town's accessible customer service practices
• Provided ways in which the public can provide feedback to the Town

Mandatory training

• The purpose of the act
• How to interact with people with various disabilities
• How to interact with people who use a service animals or support persons
• How to use and maintain assistive devices available on town-owned property
• What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing service
• Details on the town's accessibility policy, procedures and practices

Notification of disruption of service

The Town will inform customers of any temporary service disruptions as soon as possible. We will post notices at the facility or location, and on the Town’s website. Notices will include all known information about the disruption. For example, reason for disruption, duration, and alternate methods of service. 

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Accessibility Advisory Committee is a citizen volunteer committee. The Committee advises the Mayor and Council on matters related to the identification, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities. Visit the Accessibility Advisory Committee web page for more information.

Service animals at Town facilities

You are allowed to bring your service animal into areas that are open to the public unless the animal is excluded by another law.

Service animals are not pets

According to the AODA’s Customer Service Standards, one of two conditions must apply for your animal to be considered a service animal:

1. The animal is easily identifiable as relating to your disability (for example, it is a guide dog or other animal wearing a vest or harness)
2. You can provide documentation from a regulated health professional confirming the animal is required due to a disability

If your guide dog/service animal does not wear a vest or harness, you can show documentation from one of these regulated health professionals:

• audiologist or speech-language pathologist
• chiropractor
• nurse
• occupational therapist
• optometrist
• physician or surgeon
• physiotherapist
• psychologist
• psychotherapist or mental health therapist

In some cases, the law does not allow service animals.

Accessible customer service

Accessible customer service is now the law and came into force on January 1, 2008. This means that organizations that provide goods or services must make their customer service operations accessible to people with disabilities. 

As a municipality, the Town of Halton Hills was required to meet the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service by January 1, 2010. Meeting these standards involved identifying and removing barriers to customer service in:

• operational practices
• policies and procedures
• communications

The Town also provided staff training. The customer service standard is the first in a series of standards that will help lead to a fully accessible Ontario. To request information in alternate formats, please fill out the Alternate Formats Form. You can also contact the Town Clerk.

• Alternate Formats Form
• Customer Service Policy
• Integrated Accessibility Standards Policy
• AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2013-2017
• Multi-Year Accessibility Plan - 2013 Annual Status Report
• 2015 Annual Status Report
• AODA - Multi-year Accessibility Plan 2018-2023
• Multi-year Accessibility Plan 2023-2027

Provide feedback

The Town is committed to providing excellent and efficient accessible customer service. We welcome public input as it helps to identify barriers that exist so that we can work to address them. If you’d like to offer your feedback or provide a suggestion, please submit a Citizen Inquiries form.

Website Accessibility

We are continually incorporating accessibility into our website by following the guidelines set out by the AODA (the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) and World Wide Web Consortium. Presently, the information provided through Town of Halton Hills’ websites is in two possible versions: Hypertext Mark-up Lange (HTML) or Portable Document File (PDF). Currently, HTML is accessible via screen readers while some PDF documents may not be.

If you require PDF communications in an alternative format you can request accessible formats and communication supports through staff contacts listed on the related page you are viewing. This accessibility statement is limited to the Town of Halton Hills’ websites. The Town assumes no responsibility for the websites that are linked to, hosted by or otherwise electronically connected to the Town’s websites or web server.

MagnusCards available in Halton Hills

Additional resources

• Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Government of Ontario Accessibility Laws
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)
• Canadian Hearing Services
• Arch Disability Law Centre
• The Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• The Canadian Association of the Deaf

Emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities

Halton Region provides public education resources on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. A series of pamphlets address physical, visual, auditory and non-visible disabilities. The series also includes considerations for seniors, travellers and people living or working in high-rise buildings.