In an increasingly digital world, it’s crucial to ensure that information shared online is accessible to everyone. This includes emails, articles on websites, and especially PDF files. PDF files have become popular for sharing information because they can be accessed anywhere, making it quick and easy to provide documents to people.
Over the years, the financial industry has adapted to the convenience of online banking. It has become an essential service that provides loans, checking and savings accounts, and investment opportunities that millions of people rely on at the click of a button.
When we talk about accessibility, we often think about physical accessibility. However, document accessibility is just as important. An accessible document allows all people, regardless of ability or disability, to access and use the document.
Ontario has led Canada in recognizing the rights of people with disabilities to participate fully in the public sphere without physical and social barriers. Human rights legislation, including the Ontario Human Rights Code, has identified disability as requiring protection from discrimination since the 1980s, but Ontario was the first jurisdiction in Canada to enact legislation making it mandatory for public and private services and facilities to be fully implemented by AODA Compliance to people with disabilities with specific timelines and penalties for non-compliance.
As a public sector member, understanding what accessible PDFs are and why they’re important is essential to ensuring that everyone, regardless of disability, can access and interact with digital documents.
Disability affects many Canadians. Over 22% currently have a disability and this figure increases to 38% for those over 65. With 1.85 million Ontarians affected, the prevalence of disability is expected to grow from one in six today to one in five in the next 20 years. These numbers will have an increasing influence on many Canadians as they consider the accessibility of businesses and services, often influenced by family members or friends with disabilities.
The seismic shift in our work culture post-2020 has turned long-held assumptions about the workplace upside down. Organizations are now more open to a spectrum of work models, from fully remote to the traditional office, and everything in between. With these changes, it’s imperative to examine how each model caters to the needs of the entire workforce, including individuals with disabilities. In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll probe into the core concepts of accessibility and its implications for remote, in-person, and hybrid work models.
For many organizations, particularly small businesses and non-profits, the costs associated with becoming compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) can seem daunting. However, a variety of funding opportunities and resources are available to help ease this burden. This blog outlines key sources of financial support and guidance that can assist organizations in meeting AODA standards.
Language is a powerful tool; it can inspire, comfort, and unite, but it can also oppress, demean, and divide. For the disability community, language plays a crucial role in the fight for inclusivity. It is especially significant in shaping public perception and personal identity.] In a society where words reflect and sometimes dictate our collective beliefs and behaviours, the careful selection of terminology is paramount. Yet, all too often, disability is discussed in a way that is euphemistic, reducing complex human experiences to seemingly innocuous terms.
