*** ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS

Are you ready?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is coming to full power in 2025, with new requirements for Ontario's Accessibility standards and the Ontario Building Code.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is an Ontario law mandating organizations to follow standards so their buildings, products and services are accessible to people with disabilities. The province should fully accessible by 2025. All levels of government, the private sector, and non-profits must comply with the Act While many think about access in terms of providing access to people with wheelchairs, or a service animal; however the Act covers access for people with a wide range of disabilities including blindness, visual impairment, hearing disabilities, speech impairments, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities, and organizations must have specific plans to provide access for each of these situations.

Daniel Karpinski Architect

Daniel Karpinski Architect has been providing accessibility audits for the last 20 years, focusing on compliance with accessibility standards of the AODA. Using The AODA, each audit report meets the CAN/CSA-B651-04 Accessible Design for the Built Environment Standard, Part 4 (Interior requirements) as well as Ontario Building Code.

Each audit can bring you:

1. A Report of compliance with accessibility standards and by-laws that maps all the areas of non-compliance, as well as a chart of compliance score for the asset

2. Adjustments to universal accessibility, with a long- and short-term budget recommendations, a schedule of adjustments and standard drawings so you can provide the accessible environment for your tenants.

3. Technical drawings – construction documents allowing you to proceed with the adjustments according to the budget and schedule (see point 2)

4. The updated AODA is not limited to the built environment, but includes accessibility in terms of staff training and education, to ensure compliant and welcoming behavioral in the work environment and public spaces within the buildings and privately maintained public spaces around them. Through our experienced team, we are able to provide these services.

In last fifteen years Daniel Karpinski Architect was providing accessibility standards audits to the following clients:

· Toronto Community Housing Corporation – audits for apartments and offices, and new accessibility standards for accessible units

· Standard Life of Canada, Real Estate Group

· SNC Lavalin O&M/SLA SCU

· GWL Realty Advisors

· Wilson, Blanchard Management Inc., Hamilton

· Total Access Centre, Torontoo

· Taylor Place & Overland Club / Better Living Health and Community Services

· The Salvation Army, Toronto

· Peel Condominium Corporation #353

Adjustment page

Technical drawings – construction documents allowing you to proceed with the adjustments according to the budget and schedule (see point 2)

The built environment is where universal accessibility could be, and it should be provided. But The AODA is dealing with many other issues which are less physical, but related to group trainings, education, and behavioral prophylactic in the work environment and public spaces. We are able to provide these services as well.