Overview

More than 2.6 million people across the province have a disability and may face barriers in their daily living activities when accessing services, entering public buildings or using public transit.

While all levels of government are working to improve accessibility, municipal governments have a special role to play. Municipalities serve communities and manage many important programs and services that affect the lives of Ontarians, such as libraries, social housing and emergency services, and parks and roads.

Accessibility advisory committees advise municipal councils about the requirements and implementation of Ontario’s accessibility standards:

  • customer service
  • employment
  • information and communication
  • transportation
  • public spaces

According to the law, municipalities with 10,000 or more residents must establish an accessibility advisory committee. The majority of committee members must be people with disabilities.

About this guide

This guide will help you build the practical knowledge and skills you will need to contribute to your accessibility advisory committee and carry out the work more effectively.

It can also be a useful resource for municipalities.

While this guide aims to provide relevant and timely information, no guarantee can be given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided. The information in this guide is not intended to provide official or legal advice and should not be relied upon or treated as official advice. Those seeking legal advice should consult with a qualified legal professional.

In case of discrepancy between the content in this guide and Ontario legislation and regulations, the official version of Ontario Acts and Regulations as published by the King’s Printer for Ontario will prevail.

What you need to know

As a member of an accessibility advisory committee for your municipality, you need to understand:

  • how Ontario’s accessibility laws affect your work on the committee
  • your role and responsibilities
  • how to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility
  • the structure and decision-making processes of municipal government

Related information