If you’re a private or non-profit organization with 20 or more employees, you are required to file a 2014 accessibility compliance report.
Accessibility compliance wizard
To learn what requirements apply to you, visit ontario.ca/accessibilitycompliance. It only takes a few minutes to get a list of accessibility standards that apply to your organization.
File your 2014 accessibility compliance report now!
- Download the step-by-step guide for private and non-profit organizations on how to file your online report.
- Review the sample reporting questions and get ready to answer them.
- Log in to ontario.ca/onesource and file your report.
- Complete your report with the help of the instruction guide.
- Certify the report or get it certified.
To complete your accessibility compliance report, you will need:
- A computer with Internet and email access. The reporting system is compatible with:
- Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or higher
- Firefox 19 or higher
- Your 9-digit Business Number (BN9).
Your BN9 is a number that identifies your organization with the Canada Revenue Agency (i.e., GST/HST, payroll deductions). Organizations with more than one BN9 will need to file a report for each BN9 with 20 or more employees.
Please note the following schedule to comply with the Accessibilities Act.
All businesses and not-for-profits in Ontario must comply with the Accessibilities for Ontarians keeping in mind the following criteria and timetable:
The laws
- If your business or non-profit organization has 1 or more employees, it’s your responsibility to comply with accessibility requirements.
- If you have 20 or more employees, you need to file an accessibility compliance report.
- If you don’t comply, you could face inspections and penalties.
- Businesses or non-profit organizations with 1-19 employees, public sector organizations, private educational institutions and libraries may have to meet different or additional accessibility requirements.
Current requirements:
As of January 1, 2012
You must:
Provide accessible customer service, including:
- Training your staff to serve all customers who have disabilities
- Welcoming service animals and support persons
- Having an accessibility policy in place so employees and customers can know what to expect
- Make your emergency and public safety information accessible upon request (e.g., evacuation plans or brochures)
- Provide customized emergency information to your employees who have disabilities, upon request
- Your first accessibility compliance report was due by December 31, 2012.
As of January 1, 2014
If your business or non-profit organization has 20 or more employees, you must file a second accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2014.
If your business has 50 or more employees, you must:
- Have accessibility policies to help you achieve your accessibility goals, and tell your employees and customers about them
- Have a multi-year accessibility plan that outlines what you will do to meet your accessibility requirements now, and in the future, and put it on your website
- Consider accessibility when purchasing or designing self-service kiosks
- Make sure any old websites you significantly update, new websites and new web content you create are accessible
Future requirements
By January 1, 2015
If your business or non-profit organization has 20-49 employees:
- Create accessibility policies to help you achieve your accessibility goals, and tell your employees and customers about them
- Consider accessibility when purchasing or designing self-service kiosks
- If your business or non-profit organization has 50 or more employees:
- Train your staff on Ontario’s accessibility laws
- Make your surveys, comment cards or other feedback processes (PDF) accessible upon request
By January 1, 2016
If your business or non-profit organization has 20-49 employees:
- Train your staff on Ontario’s accessibility laws
- Make your feedback processes (e.g., surveys or comment cards) accessible upon request
If your business or non-profit organization has 50 or more employees:
- Make your public information accessible upon request
- Make your employment practices more accessible such as how you hire, retain and provide career development opportunities to all your employees
By January 1, 2017
If your business or non-profit organization has 20-49 employees:
- Make your public information accessible upon request
- Make your employment practices more accessible such as how you hire, retain and provide career development opportunities to all your employees
- File an accessibility compliance report online by December 31, 2017
If your business or non-profit organization has 50 or more employees:
- Make new or redeveloped public spaces listed below accessible
- Recreational trails and beach access routes
- Outdoor public use eating areas (e.g., rest stops and picnic areas)
- Outdoor play spaces (e.g., community playgrounds)
- Exterior paths of travel (e.g., sidewalks and curb ramps)
- Parking lots
- Service counters, fixed queuing guides and waiting areas with fixed seating
- Maintain the accessible elements of your public spaces
- File an accessibility compliance report online by December 31, 2017
By January 1, 2018
If your business or non-profit organization has 20-49 employees, you need to make new or redeveloped public spaces listed below accessible:
- Recreational trails and beach access routes
- Parking lots
- Service counters, fixed queuing guides and waiting areas with fixed seating
By January 1, 2020
File an accessibility compliance report online by December 31, 2020.
By January 1, 2021
If your business or non-profit organization has 50 or more employees you must make all your websites and web content accessible.
By January 1, 2023
File an accessibility compliance report online by December 31, 2023.
By January 1, 2025
Ontario is an accessible province.