AODA Advisory Committee

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Advisory Committee for KPRDSB has been established under the direction of the Commissioner's Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility (COHREA) to meet and exceed the AODA standards and requirements. Accessibility at KPRDSB is guided through shared responsibilities and collaborative commitments of the AODA Advisory Committee.

The AODA Advisory Committee meets four times each school year with the purposes of carrying out the Board's commitment to providing accessible learning and working environments.

Responsibilities and Opportunities

• To champion accessibility at KPRDSB in effort to strengthen a culture of inclusion for people with and without disabilities;
• To provide ethical leadership and guidance on all matters related to Accessibility; 
• To identify, remove and prevent barriers in the service, working and learning environments of the Board;
• To promote opportunities for collaboration and professional development among members of the AODA Advisory Committee with regard to ongoing accessibility concerns, planning and implementation;
• To provide accessibility recommendations and training to the Board's senior leadership team and the various Board constituencies with the goal of promoting systemic change; and
• To communicate the accessibility plans and achievements of the Board through the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and Annual Accessibility Reports.

The AODA Advisory Committee's Commitment to Accessibility

The AODA Advisory Committee is committed to providing accessible programs, services and environments that support the four core principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): integration, equality of opportunity, dignity, and independence.

Building towards accessible learning and working environments requires shared responsibilities and collaborative commitments from staff, students and the wider KPRDSB community. Our accessibility goals are achieved through the ongoing work of the AODA Advisory Committee which operates under the direction of the COHREA.

The work of the AODA Advisory Committee is guided by the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and summarized at the end of each reporting year in an Annual Accessibility Report. The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan sets out four Multi-Year Accessibility Goals in a coordinated commitment to accessibility.

AODA Standards

As a member of our Board community, individuals may confront accessibility barriers, including those in a position to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. Accessibility standards are building blocks for making real, measurable and effective changes to accessibility.  COHREA's role is to ensure that eliminating barriers is a priority in addressing the five standards identified in the AODA.

Customer Service Standards -  Customer Service Standard mandates that service providers must find ways to break down barriers that prevent customers with disabilities from accessing the services they need.

Information and Communications Standards -  list rules for organizations to create, provide, and receive information and communications that people with disabilities can access. The standards give all people an equal chance to learn and be active in their communities.

Employment Standards - Employment Standard requires that employers must make their workplace and employment practices accessible to potential or current employees with disabilities.

Transportation Standards - Transportation Standard requires transportation companies to inform the public about accessible equipment and features on their vehicles, routes and services. 

Design of Public Spaces Standards - Design of Public Spaces Standard describes ways to make communal spaces more accessible. Most of the spaces it covers are outdoors.

Barriers

A barrier is a circumstance or obstacle that keeps people apart. For people with disabilities, barriers can take many forms including attitudinal, communication, physical, policy, programmatic, social, and transportation. Barriers are especially of concern for KPRDSB students who may have: 

• Vision loss or difficulties
• Deafness or being hard of hearing;
• Intellectual or developmental impairment;
• Learning disabilities; and/or
• Mental health issues.

 Anyone experiencing a barrier should contact us through: