Disability Barriers?
by Karen Chan, EO Summer Student
Over the past three years, the Government of Ontario has aided progression toward equity for disabled persons through such methods as the Ontario Disability Support Program, special education, and the Ontario Building Code. It is now proposing to create the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA). This includes a Workplace Accessibility Tax Incentive, and the extension of the Retail Sales Tax Rebate program to improve access for disabled people.
Some of the legislation involved in the promotion of access for disabled people includes revised standards for the Ontario Building Code, the Ontario Corporations Tax Act (which allows tax deductions for building modification for improved access), and the Ontario Disability Support Act (which provides income and employment supports for eligible persons with disabilities).
The ODA is a continuation of the government's effort to provide equal opportunity for disabled people.
Unfortunately, with the development of the new ODA, it appears that the government has overlooked two important issues which are essential to the efficacy of the ODA. It has not mandated some form of enforcement for the ODA beyond that of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and it appears to intend to not make the ODA mandatory. The problem is that there is just not enough money to effectively support the program, which the government seems unwilling to admit.
How can disability barriers come down if the money barriers stay up?
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