A Failed Game Changer: Post-Secondary Education and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Abstract

With the passing of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”), Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to develop and implement mandatory accessibility standards. For the post-secondary education sector, these standard were expected to bring about significant changes and to improve access to education for persons with disabilities. The AODA has not, however, lived up to this potential. This paper looks at the implications of the AODA within the post-secondary education sector. It considers some of the AODA’s strengths and shortcomings and proposes legislative amendments to more fully address the barriers faced by students with disabilities.

Keywords: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accessibility standards, disability law, equality law, disability and education, human rights