Upcoming Events

We understand that you may or may not be aware of accessibility issues and so in order to educate, enlighten and advocate for accessible information we provide workshops, training and special events.

Some of these events are free, others have a fee. For dates, locations and costs, please visit www.golcommunications.ca/training_forums.html.

"Disability-Friendly" Forums - Fredericton, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria, Edmonton

Disability organizations, government and accessibility specialists come together in centres across Canada to make the case for businesses to become “disability-friendly”.

These accessibility forums are part of a cross-Canada series generating awareness of accessibility best practices for those who are physically disabled.

The next two accessibility take place in Victoria (September) and Toronto and Edmonton (October).

  • Organizations taking part in this forum include:
    Canadian National Institute for the Blind
    Canadian Hearing Society
    Learning Disabilities Society of Canada
    March of Dimes
    Government of Canada
    Government of Ontario

  • The reasons why the disability organizations have come together for this forum are:
    To advocate for universal accessibility
    To provide a platform for organizations that represent those with disabilities
    To generate awareness, to business of the economic benefits of being “disability-friendly”
    To generate awareness of the compliance requirements of the Government of Ontario AODA legislation

Universal AccessibilityMore than 4.5 million Canadians live with a disability. In Ontario, it is 1.85 million individuals. This number grows as our population ages. Those with disabilities have the same purchasing preferences as people without disabilities. However, those with disabilities are often unable to make purchases because of barriers. Companies that are “disability-friendly” have a distinct advantage to capture the purchasing dollar of those who are disabled. Presentations by disability associations will identify how businesses can properly approach their clientele.

Accessibility Training Workshops

Overview of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

This one-day session is an introduction to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), its purpose, history and its relationship to the national and global environment, key components of the act, and an overview of implications to public and private sector organizations.

  • We will:
    Summarize the related standards that will be encapsulated under the AODA.
    Discuss the language of disability.
    Provide a definition of disability as it is recognized under this act.
    Provide an overview of the main categories of disabilities and the common accommodations. You will be introduced to the different types of Assistive Technology used to help people with disabilities.

Finally we will have case studies of successful and unsuccessful accommodations, discussing the pitfalls, and how to avoid them, followed by questions and answers and a test of the concepts learned throughout the day.

 

Accessibility Standard for Customer Service under AODA

Universal AccessibilityThe customer service standard, which came into force January 1, 2008, is the first standard developed under the authority of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Other standards to move organizations in Ontario forward on accessibility are being developed in the areas of transportation, information and communications, employment and the built environment.

Building on the foundation established in Introduction to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, this workshop will expand on legal obligations with a focus on policy, procedures and practices.

  • What You’ll Take Away
    A perspective on the compliant delivery of services to customers with disabilities from the perspective of the organizational policy, practice & procedures developer.
    The experience of analyzing different policy scenarios through the lens of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service including the chance to work through practical problems.
    Tools for use within the participant’s organization.


Accessibility Best Practices Forum and Training Workshop

These two-day accessibility forums and workshops are a cross-Canada series of events held in provincial capitals across Canada. Toronto is next on the schedule with October 27 and 28 the dates. Because of partnerships with disability organizations and the corporate sectors, these sessions are offered at no cost to attendees.

The purpose of these forums and training sessions are to:
Advocate for universal accessibility to both private and public sector
Identify the case for organizations to be accessible, and for individuals to think accessibility.
Provide hands-on accessibility training
Generate awareness of the compliance requirements of the Government of Ontario AODA legislation

The forum will also include an update of accessibility standards as part of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities. Customer Service accessibility standards have already been passed into law, with compliance required by both the public and private sectors.

Scheduled presenters are from the federal and provincial governments, accessibility specialists from the private sector.

For More Information about these events Contact Us