Introduction

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 sets out the roadmap to make Ontario accessible by 2025. Under this act, accessibility standards are being developed and implemented to break down barriers in key areas of everyday life.

These standards will increase accessibility for people with disabilities in the areas of customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation and the built environment.

The government of Ontario is preparing to lead the way towards an accessible province, in 2010 the government of Ontario was the first public service organization to report compliance with the first standard - Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation (ASCS), Ontario Regulation 429/07.

As we await the additional standards under AODA, we are guided by the Ontario Human Rights Code and obligations set out in the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA).

Each year, the government sets the course to prevent, identify and remove barriers through annual accessibility plans required under the ODA.

Building on last year's plan, the 2010-11 accessibility plans will continue moving the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) towards the goal of an accessible province for all Ontarians.

The ministry's accomplishments during this timeframe are many. Of special note: the ministry helped support the municipal procurement of 377 conventional and 67 specialized transit buses - a total of 444 new accessible replacement buses in 2009. At the end of 2009, 84.6 per cent of municipal conventional transit buses in Ontario were accessible, up from 38.6 per cent in 2003.

To view other ministries' Accessibility Plans please visit: Ontario.ca

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