The Human Rights Branch (HRB) took over responsibility of the Board’s Accessibility portfolio at the start of the 2022/2023 school year, in September 2022. The HRB’s oversight of accessibility work at the WRDSB enhances efforts to fulfill the Board’s ongoing obligation for non-discrimination of people with disabilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). Specifically, the HRB works closely with the Accessibility Committee to track and report progress in the implementation of the Board’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. It also fosters a shared responsibility of championing accessibility awareness and leadership on all matters related to accessibility. The HRB engages in ongoing professional development:

  • For compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
  • To improve organizational capacity in evolving accessibility work

Accessibility Policy and Procedures

The HRB has oversight and/or reviewing responsibilities for Board policies and procedures that provide human rights and accessibility guidelines and, include either the OHRC or AODA legislative references. Over the 2022/2023 school year, the HRB reviewed and aligned the following with AODA and Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation 191/111 (IASR) guidelines:

The proposed Accessibility policy and procedures revisions reflected the OHRC framework for non-discrimination of persons with disabilities.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

The WRDSB 2021-2026 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) represents the Board’s plans to meet obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). We aim to ensure equitable access to our buildings, programs and services for all WRDSB:

  • Students
  • Families
  • Staff
  • Community members

The WRDSB MYAP outlines recent achievements in this important work over the past few years, as well as ongoing and future objectives to continuously identify and eliminate barriers encountered by persons with disabilities at the WRDSB. 

The objectives, outcomes and measurements outlined in the MYAP are guided by the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation 191/111 (IASR). They are organized into the six standard areas of:

  • Customer Service
  • Employment
  • Information and Communication
  • Physical Environment
  • Transportation
  • Systemic

Stakeholder Engagement

Engagement of stakeholder groups for feedback on the objectives and outcomes of the MYAP is fundamental. It helps us to ensure full access to programs, services and facilities at the WRDSB for all:

  • Students
  • Staff 
  • Communities

This includes persons identifying as disabled or living with disabilities. 

The stakeholder forums are facilitated on a regular basis (currently, every 2 years) by the:

  • Human Rights Branch
  • Accessibility Committee’s lead for customer service standards

They aim to engage discussions and feedback on ongoing MYAP activities from various Board committees. Feedback received during each stakeholder engagement session is reviewed and integrated within the existing or future MYAP.

Annual Accessibility Report

The Human Rights Branch provides an annual report to the WRDSB Board of Trustees which highlights: 

  • Key accomplishments 
  • Continuing objectives of the Accessibility Committee in their shared responsibility for the implementation of the MYAP

The annual Accessibility Report offers a high level overview of the progress of accessibility work in each of the six standard areas outlined in the MYAP. Also included in the Accessibility Report are the HRB’s advisement for prioritization of MYAP objectives that are either:

  • Falling behind projected timelines 
  • Identified as a significant attitudinal, systemic, physical, informational, or technological barrier to access for persons with disabilities