This Policy posits that educators have tended to treat students with disabilities as “just not as capable of succeeding academically” (OHRC, p. 37), therefore implementation of universal and inclusive design is crucial by law.

Teachers' “Duty to Accommodate" section of the policy is based on the principles of “dignity, individualization, as well as integration and full participation” (OHRC, p. 42) of all students, but particularly those with IEPs.

The OHRC’s policy is explicitly clear on the expectation of educators, stating that “At all times, the emphasis must be on the individual student’s needs and not on the type of disability” because “[b]lanket approaches to accommodation that rely solely on categories, labels and generalizations are not acceptable” (OHRC, p. 44). Educators are therefore expected to accommodate all students appropriately and individually, regardless of labels, with the students’ input, self-advocacy, and other identities in mind (e.g. culture and language) (p. 44).