Ontario Fails To Meet Accessibility Deadline

In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott speaks with David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, about the failure of Ontario to meet its 2025 accessibility deadline set by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). David states, “We woke up on January 1st, and sadly and to no surprise, we still live in a province full of serious disability barriers.” He highlights weak enforcement, insufficient regulations, and the lack of a multi-year plan as key issues. “The government didn’t have that 20-year plan, so the can got kicked down the road.”

David recounts the grassroots efforts that led to the AODA’s passage in 2005 and outlines the AODA Alliance’s new Accessible Ontario Pledge, which includes 10 practical steps for achieving accessibility. “We’re calling on all political leaders to commit to this pledge,” he says. He also criticizes the province’s failure to update accessibility standards for web content, noting that the current regulations don’t cover mobile apps or web applications. “Their enforcement has been pathetic or paltry, depending on the day.”

Despite setbacks, David remains optimistic: “We started with 20 people in a room 30 years ago, and we achieved the impossible.” He urges listeners to support the campaign by visiting aodaalliance.org to sign up for updates and take action. David’s memoir, *Swimming Up Niagara Falls*, detailing his advocacy journey, is available online for free.