Standards help remove barriers

Vienna Austria - May 1 2015: A bus assistant is preparing accessibility platform for physically disabled person in a wheelchair to board in the bus.

In 2005, Ontario was the first province to pass legislation that required the removal of any barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in normal daily activities. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) allowed the province to develop, implement and enforce standards for accessibility, and applies to both private and public spaces. CSA Group worked with relevant stakeholders to provide standards that support Ontario’s goal of becoming fully accessible by 2025.

The first step in ensuring that people with disabilities can enjoy barrier-free access to the places where they work, play and visit is to ensure that accessibility is built into the design of public facilities and spaces. CSA B651 Accessible Design for the Built Environment contains the technical requirements for making buildings and other facilities accessible to persons with a range of physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities. Available in both official languages, B651 can be referenced in whole or in part by a variety of adopting agencies or jurisdictions.

In addition to B651, CSA Group standards for accessibility cover a wide range of areas, including: 

• customer service standards for people with disabilities (developed in partnership with the Government of Ontario); 
• accessible design for automated banking machines; 
• accessible design for self-service interactive devices; 
• inclusive design for aging populations; and 
• motor vehicle transportation for persons with physical disabilities, including transit buses. 

Learn more about standards for accessibility on the CSA Group website. For more information on these and other standards, contact CSA Group. 

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