Accessibility

Information you can access here includes a variety of municipal initiatives to foster an inclusive community by identifying and removing barriers faced by persons with disabilities. 

The City of London is committed to providing quality goods and services which are accessible to all persons we serve. We have taken many initiatives to foster an inclusive community by identifying and removing barriers to ensure that our goods and services are provided in a way that respects the dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for all people.

Background

Council approved the Accessible Customer Service Policy in October 2008.

Noteworthy in our barrier-free endeavours is the City's development of Facility Accessibility Design Standards that go beyond existing regulations. Originally introduced in 2001 with the most recent update being 2007, these standards have been adopted - or adapted - by more than 50 municipalities and organizations in Canada and the United States.

The City of London's Accessibility Plan is developed annually in partnership with senior city staff, the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) and the public at large.

New standards impact private sector business

The Ontario Government is developing new accessibility standards in the areas of customer service, transportation, information and communications, employment, and the built environment. The Accessible Customer Service Standard is now law, while the other four standards are under development. The standards will apply to all public and private sector organizations in Ontario. You'll find on overview of the status of the five standards on our website.

Training required for City suppliers of goods & services

Businesses and individuals that the City of London has contracted to provide goods or services to customers must ensure that their employees are trained on providing accessible customer service. This includes teachers in the Spectrum Program, construction workers and more. In general, any person or organization that does business with the City of London should receive training before January 1, 2010.

There are many training resources available that can be used at no charge plus on our website you'll find a summary of compliance requirements.

People with disabilities are a significant and growing part of the population.
Over 15 per cent of Ontarians have a disability, and
this number will increase as the population ages.