AODA for Small Business

Delivery: Online.

Accessibility is an important consideration for ensuring businesses can thrive.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is intended to reduce and remove barriers for people with disabilities so that Ontario can become more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Identifying, preventing, and removing barriers for people with disabilities creates an Ontario that is built for everyone – whether you’re pushing a stroller, making a delivery, or using a walker or a wheelchair. People with disabilities will choose a business where they feel welcomed, and where they can easily get the products and services they want.

People with disabilities and older adults are a large and growing group of consumers. There are 2.6 million people in Ontario with a disability; more than 40% of this population is over the age of 65. As the population ages, this number will grow.

Businesses can attract more customers and employees by removing as many barriers to access as possible, making Ontario open for business and open for jobs for everyone.

This presentation will cover an overview of Ontario’s regulated accessibility standards requirements for small businesses in Ontario with less than 20 employees.

Join us to learn what you can do to make your small business AODA-compliant and accessible!

Speaker Bio:

Seema Opal (she/her) is a Senior Program Advisor with the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. Seema’s wide-ranging experiences include strategic policy and program development and evaluation, managing grants programs, and operations management. Seema previously worked at the Ministry of Economic Development and understands the importance of small businesses to the successes of Ontario and that increased accessibility not only benefits people living with disabilities but also the businesses that welcome them. Before joining the government, Seema had the privilege of starting up organizations. She admires the entrepreneurial spirit of business owners.