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  1. IntroductionTab through to explore the different topics in this section.
  2. The RequirementsTab through to explore the different topics in this section.
  3. Serving People With DisabilitiesTab through to explore the different topics in this section.
  4. SummaryTab through to explore the different topics in this section.
  1. Organizational Classification Chart

    The 5 classes of organizations:

    • Includes every ministry of the Government of Ontario, the Office of the Premier, and the Legislative Assembly including constituency offices of the members of the Assembly.

    • A designated public sector organization* with 50 or more employees ( such as municipalities, hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards , and organizations that provide public transportation )

    • A designated public sector organization* with one to 49 employees ( such as the Ontario Office of the Fairness Commissioner and some municipalities ) .

    • A private or not - for - profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has 50 or more employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations .

    • A private or not - for - profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has one to 49 employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations .

* Designated public sector organization Refers to organizations listed in Schedule 1 (Broader Public Sector) of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. These organizations include hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards, and organizations that provide public transportation.

Designated public sector also means every municipality and every person or organization listed in Column 1 of Table 1 of Ontario Regulation 146/10, of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006

People with a Support Person

People with a Support Person

A support person can be a paid personal support worker, an intervenor, volunteer, family member or friend. A support person might help your customer with communication, mobility, personal care or with accessing your services.

A person with a disability is permitted to bring their support person with them to any area of your premises that is open to the public or to third parties.

If your organization charges for admission, such as a movie theatre, it must provide advance notice of what admission fee or fare, if any, will be charged for a support person, for example, through a prominently placed sign or a notice on your website.

A professional support person who helps a person who is deafblind to access information and with communication.
Refers to other businesses or organizations that may be your customers. This includes consultants, manufacturers and wholesalers as well as providers of other business and professional services.

If your organization is a public transportation provider…

...then fares for a support person must be waived when they are accompanying a person with a disability who relies on their support. This requirement is specified under the Transportation Standard. It is the responsibility of the person with a disability to demonstrate their need for a support person to the public transportation provider

Tips:

  • If you’re not sure which person is the customer, take your lead from the person using or requesting service, or simply ask.
  • Speak directly to your customer, not to their support person.
  • If your organization charges an admission fee or fare, be familiar with its policy on fees or fares for support persons.
  • It’s good practice to confirm with your customer whether they want the support person to be present while confidential matters are being discussed.

For decision makers – When it may be necessary to require a support person

In limited situations, you may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person for health or safety reasons. You must first consult with the person with a disability and consider available evidence before you determine that:

  • a support person is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others on the premises; and
  • there is no other reasonable way to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability and the health or safety of others on the premises.

In such a situation, you must waive the admission fee or fare for the support person, if one exists.

Tip:

  • Identify ahead of time if there are situations where a support person might be required to accompany a person with a disability for health or safety reasons, and consider how you and your staff will handle such situations.
 
 

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