Yet More Local Media Coverage of the Ontario Election’s Disability Issues While Many Major Newspapers and Networks Still leave Their Readers/Viewers Uninformed About Them

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update

United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All People with Disabilities

Website: www.aodaalliance.org

Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com

Twitter: @aodaalliance

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

 

Yet More Local Media Coverage of the Ontario Election’s Disability Issues While Many Major Newspapers and Networks Still leave Their Readers/Viewers Uninformed About Them

 

February 23, 2025

Summary

 

With four more days until the Ontario election, there’s more good local media coverage of this years’ Ontario election’s disability issues. Below you can find excellent reports in The Pointer, The Hamilton Spectator, and Simcoe.com.

 

As well as the three articles below, CBC TV News in Toronto ran an excellent news item on February 19, 2025, on snow barriers in Toronto. However, it did not connect these barriers to the Ontario election’s disabilities issues, such as the failure to effectively implement and enforce the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

 

Yet several of the major newspapers and networks have still to tell their readers, viewers and listeners about issues central to 2.9 million Ontarians with disabilities.

 

The Ontario Conservative party is still the only party not to respond to the AODA Alliance’s request on January 6, 2025, for each political party to make the Accessible Ontario Pledge during the election campaign. Should we hear back from the Tories, we will make their response public.

 

Meanwhile, the highly successful February 19, 2025, Ontario Election Candidates’ Debate has gotten unprecedented attention from the public. Over 500 people attended in person or online. Another 1,500 have viewed the archived video. That’s strong proof that are issues in this election are newsworthy!

 

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The Pointer February 21, 2025

 

Originally posted at https://thepointer.com/article/2025-02-21/is-voting-accessible-to-all

 

Is voting accessible to all?

 

Able-bodied Ontarians may not think twice about walking into their local polling station on February 27. The ability to mark their X with ease, something often taken for granted, is not the same for many living with disabilities across Ontario.

Barriers still exist for some who want to exercise their democratic right. Despite a complaint filed more than six years ago to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal attempting to force improvements, the backlogged system will not be able to hear arguments in the case until September, months after the snap winter election.

 

By Joel Wittnebel

 

For the last six years, David Lepofsky has known that for those with vision loss, voting on election day is not as simple as walking through the door with a piece of ID and a Voter Information Card.

In 2018, when Lepofsky attempted to cast his ballot in that year’s provincial election using the “accessible” voting machines at his local polling station, his marked ballot fell to the floor, revealing his vote to a poll worker.

“The essence of democracy depends on the secret ballot and what that means in practice is you have to be able to independently mark your own ballot, in private, and then verify for your choice,” Lepofsky says. “If you’re sighted you don’t even have to think twice…As a blind person I can’t do that with a printed ballot.”

Lepofsky is the chair of the non-partisan Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODA Alliance). It has been advocating for 15 years to improve access to services and infrastructure across Ontario.

The Province has consistently failed to take this issue seriously, with subsequent governments failing to achieve a pledge made in 2005 to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. “I’ve called on Elections Ontario to take important new steps to improve the chances for accessible voting in this election, and they have had years to prepare to properly fulfill the guarantees to voters with vision disabilities by the Charter of Rights and the Ontario Human Rights Code.”

Lepofsky’s 2018 incident is the subject of a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, which has taken six years to filter its way through the significantly backlogged system. A hearing is now scheduled for September, well after the current snap election concludes.

According to Lepofsky, Elections Ontario has not disputed the facts of the incident, and apologized to him for what happened. But sufficient steps have not been taken to ensure it doesn’t occur again.

“I’ve slammed into two ugly roadblocks in this case so far,” Lepofsky says. “Elections Ontario has failed to take the steps needed for voters like me, and has tried to throw procedural barriers in my way that would make this interminable human rights process take even longer. Second, the Human Rights Tribunal process has become dysfunctional, with inexcusable delays.”

On its website, Elections Ontario states it is committed to ensuring voting is accessible to all Ontarians and is committed to “identify, prevent and remove access barriers so that persons with disabilities can fully participate in the electoral process”.

Elections Ontario offers in-home voting for those who apply, as well as assistive technology and accessible voting machines. All polling locations are inspected to ensure they meet Site Accessibility Standards.

 

CAPTION: Accessible voting machines typically allow the user to listen to voting options through headphones, then press corresponding buttons to make a selection. A ballot is printed off for submission. (Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services)

 

As Lepofsky’s case demonstrates, these accommodations are not foolproof, but he says there are simple solutions.

The establishment of a Voters with Disabilities Hotline for voters to report accessibility barriers would assist Elections Ontario in identifying and fixing issues in a timely fashion; auditing Elections Ontario staff to ensure they can effectively assist voters with disabilities; and creating a directive for all Returning Officers and other frontline staff that if a problem with someone with disabilities occurs, they must notify all staff and take action to ensure the issue does not recur, are all recommendations from Lepofsky.

“It is ridiculous that I have to mount a legal battle for such an obvious and important accommodation, and that Elections Ontario fails to recognize that it needs to do much better,” Lepofsky says.

The crux of the issue comes down to consistency. Protecting the integrity of a voter’s ballot is paramount to the election process. Lepofsky’s case demonstrates that current processes in place from Elections Ontario do not stand up to the high level of scrutiny required to preserve the cornerstone of democracy for those living with disabilities. Lepofsky has used the accessible voting machines in the 2011, 2014 and 2018 elections.

“My life experience is two out of three, and it’s got to be three out of three.”

This is not the first time Lepofsky has had to fight to break down barriers for those living with disabilities. Anyone who has ridden a subway, bus or streetcar in Toronto will have experienced the fruits of his decades of tireless advocacy.

Through two separate Human Rights Tribunal complaints in 2005 and 2007, Lepofsky fought and won orders to have Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) vehicles announce their arrival at all stops to assist those with disabilities.

“My complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal in that case was it’s got to be consistent and reliable, and I won,” he says, noting it is a similar argument to the one he’s using in his case against Elections Ontario.

Following the victories against the TTC, the Tribunal ordered the appointment of an official monitor to oversee the work that needed to be completed. He’s looking for something similar for Elections Ontario, along with the creation of a comprehensive plan for addressing these long-standing barriers for those with disabilities.

“It’s been a very constructive process, it really helped,” he said, of the appointment of an official monitor.

Rubbing salt in the wound is these barriers to voting are also barriers to progress and change at a time when the province needs it perhaps more than ever. Numerous reviews of Ontario’s implementation of legislation to improve accessibility for those living with disabilities have found progress to be “glacial”, leaving Ontario filled with “soul-crushing barriers” for people with disabilities. The PC government has completely ignored the issue, shunning any communication and potential assistance from Lepofsky and the AODA Alliance.

“The disability vote has to have a full chance like everybody else to be heard at the ballot box,” Lepofsky says. “We are now at a point where we reached 2025, the Legislature had unanimously said that the government must have led us to be an accessible province by then, and we’re not there.”

The AODA Alliance has requested Ontario’s political parties sign the Accessible Ontario Pledge—a promise to take real action to break down accessibility barriers upon taking office after the February 27 election.

The Ontario Liberals, NDP and Green Party have all signed the pledge and agreed to all, or the majority of its recommendations (the Green Party committed to all of them).

The PCs have not signed the pledge.

The AODA Alliance along with other accessibility advocacy organizations held an all-candidates debate on February 19 related to these issues. It was attended by over 500 people, both in person and virtually.

 

Email: joel.wittnebel@thepointer.com

 

 

Hamilton Spectator February 21, 2025

 

Originally posted at

 

https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/as-the-province-falls-short-of-accessibility-goals-huntsville-leaders-focus-on-workplace-inclusion-for/article_4c457b63-027c-512c-a00f-5538f0b05d21.html

 

As the province falls short of accessibility goals, Huntsville leaders focus on workplace inclusion for people with disabilities

 

With Ontario failing to meet its goal of achieving full accessibility under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, communities and individuals are left with lingering questions about how the next provincial government will address the issue.

 

By Megan Hederson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter muskokaregion.com

 

With Ontario failing to meet its goal of achieving full accessibility under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, communities and individuals are left with lingering questions about how the next provincial government will address the issue.

 

In terms of disability support in the workplace, Coun. Dione Schumacher, chair of Huntsville’s accessibility committee, said she’s frequently asked, “So, how do you become a more inclusive employer?”

 

The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, but rather a focus on individualized accommodations and creating an environment which recognizes each employee’s needs and contributions.

 

“As an employer, you need to kind of gear to your employee’s strengths and focus and build up your team based on the strengths that each one of them provides,” Schumacher said.

 

For some people with disabilities, job-sharing, specific tasks or modified schedules are required. Providing a coach or mentor — similar to how any position does on-the-job training — can help employees learn new tasks and adjust to the workplace.

 

“There are just even simple things that people can do to make their business more open for that person,” Schumacher said, adding physical modifications aren’t the only form of accommodation.

 

Some employees with visual, hearing and motor impairments may need braille, magnification tools, large print, digital formats, captioning services or other assisted resources and devices.

 

Other accommodations can be as straightforward as employers prioritizing education, like implementing disability sensitivity or inclusivity training for staff to promote a welcoming work environment.

 

“Coun. Schumacher … she’s great in keeping that sort of narrative on the top of people’s minds,” YMCA’s Saleem Hall said, adding it’s important to keep the conversation going throughout the entire community.

 

For the upcoming YMCA job fair, there has been discussion around disability inclusion, with YMCA and Community Living Huntsville involved in supporting employers on compliance and legislation related to hiring those with disabilities.

 

While the job fair organizers can’t disclose specific employers’ diversity and inclusion practices, Hall said he believes most are open to considering differently-abled individuals to fill their workforce needs — as they should be.

 

“It’s an ongoing dialogue,” Hall said. “It is not about a charitable act. It is about ‘this person can do the work, and I need them.’”

 

Diane Lupton, manager of community supports for Community Living Huntsville, shared a similar perspective to Hall.

 

“Sometimes I think employers are just afraid to try it because they don’t know what to expect, or the misconception is that people with disabilities can’t do the job,” Lupton said, adding it’s crucial to break down that misconception so employers will give people opportunities.

 

Community Living provides support during the onboarding and initial employment process, such as helping with funding for proper work wear, navigating training and paperwork, and maintaining communication with the employer to address any issues.

 

Policy and government action gaps, such as the 21-hour per week employment threshold required by Employment Ontario for funding, can be a barrier for some individuals, Lupton said.

 

“Any form or amount of employment should be considered a success for the people you support,” she said.

 

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance describes itself as a non-partisan organization focused on advocating for the Accessible Ontario Pledge for people with disabilities and monitoring political parties’ commitments, or lack thereof.

 

  • On Jan. 13, the Green Party of Ontario was the first to make the Accessible Ontario Pledge requested by the Alliance, which proposes an increase in funding, improvements to public transportation, more employment opportunities, and accessible housing for Ontarians with disabilities.
  • On Jan. 31, the Ontario New Democratic Party responded to the Alliance’s call for political parties to make the pledge, highlighting their commitment toward implementation of the act “as soon as possible.”
  • On Feb. 10, the Ontario Liberal Party made “detailed commitments” to collaborate with the Alliance for full and effective enforcement of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and permanently double the Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.
  • The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has yet to respond to the pledge. The party has faced significant criticism from the Alliance regarding efforts toward compliance and disability inclusivity.

 

Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for MuskokaRegion.com. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

 

 

Simcoe.com February 19, 2025

 

Originally posted at https://www.simcoe.com/politics/provincial-elections/ontario-election-2025-simcoe-county-accessibility-advocates-call-on-the-next-government-to-add-more/article_5953aa90-5644-5436-9d41-23d530a41e51.html

 

ONTARIO ELECTION 2025: Simcoe County accessibility advocates call on the next government to add more teeth to AODA

 

Breaking Down Barriers assists thousands of residents with disabilities.

 

By John Edwards Simcoecom

 

Breaking Down Barriers is an independent living centre that assists people with disabilities in Simcoe County.

Representatives from Breaking Down Barriers would like to see the next government add more teeth to the disabilities act.

 

A pair of advocates who assist individuals with disabilities in Simcoe County believe the laws governing accessibility need to be clarified.

 

Maureen Smithers is a program co-ordinator, and Teresa Gal is executive director of Breaking Down Barriers, an independent living centre that serves thousands across Simcoe and Grey counties.

 

As of Jan. 1, businesses, governments and organizations were slated to be fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The piece of legislation first introduced in 2005 was designed to develop, implement and enforce accessibility standards across Ontario.

 

They believe the next government needs to clear up some of the confusion with the act.

 

Smithers said the AODA is a great document on paper but added “we are not there yet.”

 

“One of the things we hear a lot from people is they don’t understand who actually has to comply with the law that is the AODA. Who does the reporting? How do we report?” she said. “To make that more understandable for Ontario citizens, I think would be vitally important. It’s all great to say let’s work toward an accessible Ontario. There’s fines, there’s rules. It’s a law. Where is the accountability? Where were the teeth to this project?”

 

Breaking Down Barriers offers AODA training for businesses and organizations across the region.

 

Gal said on site visits they are asked what if they are not compliant and what happens next?

 

“And, you know, we don’t have those answers,” she said. “Is that clearly defined? Is there going to be somebody that is opening up an entire new job sector? That individuals with disabilities will be going out into the community and they themselves maybe taking on that leadership role. That might be something, right?”

 

Gal said they offer guidebooks for driving and other activities, she would like to see one for the AODA that’s clearly defined. She said if someone is renting their space, who is responsible for making sure it’s accessible, the business owner or the landlord?

 

She believes it’s important for businesses to be fully accessible as a best practice.

 

“I mean every business, and we all know this, the premise is customer service. And that’s always been the backbone. So, make it a best practice to ensure accommodation for all because that’s giving somebody respect and dignity,” she said.

 

Smithers said access to accessible transportation continues to be an important issue and needs to be a priority.

 

“It’s a wonderful thing to have accessible transportation, but it becomes inaccessible when the people who need it can’t access it,” she said. “If you were to go into some buildings and they have an accessible elevator, but it’s broken for four days in a row, well, you know what, that’s not actually accessible. So, it’s that type of thing that I think are the people we talk to get very frustrated with.”

 

Smithers added it’s a similar situation with barrier-free homes, saying it’s a great idea to have accessible units but they need to be affordable.

 

For more information visit breakingdownbarriers.ca

 

John Edwards is a reporter for Simcoe.com. You can reach him at jedwards@simcoe.com.