Accessiblity Page Index
Accessiblity in Ontario [ top of page ]
The people of Ontario support the right of persons of all ages with disabilities to enjoy equal opportunity and to participate fully in the life of the province.
Ontarians with disabilities experience barriers to participating in the mainstream of Ontario society. The number of persons with disabilities is expected to increase as the population ages, since the incidence of disability increases with age.
The Government of Ontario is committed to working with every sector of society to build on what it has already achieved together with those sectors and to move towards a province in which no new barriers are created and existing ones are removed. This responsibility rests with every social and economic sector, every region, every government, every organization, institution and association, and every person in Ontario.
The right of persons with disabilities to equal treatment without discrimination in accordance with the Human Rights Code is addressed in a number of Ontario statutes and regulations.
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001. (Bill 125) [ top of page ]
The purpose of the Act is to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the province.
Section 6 of the Act states that:
"The Government of Ontario shall provide its internet sites in a format that is accessible to persons with disabilities, unless it is not technically feasible to do so."
The full text of the Act is available on the Accessibility Ontario web site.
Alternative Formats [ top of page ]
Alternative formats may be available for information on this web site. If you use assistive technology (such as a Braille reader, a screen reader, TTY, etc.) and the format of any material on this web site interferes with your ability to access the information, please use the following point of contact for assistance:
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
In Toronto, call 416-314-5518
TTY 1-800-387-5559
Hours of operation: 8:30am - 5pm
To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to access the material, the web address of the requested material, and your contact information.
Commonly used formats used by people who are blind or visually impaired may include:
- Audio format
- Braille
- Descriptive video
- E-text (electronic text where all illustrations or graphical information are explained fully in text.)
- Large print
Government Initiatives [ top of page ]
Paths to Equal Opportunity
A web site featuring resources on removing barriers for persons with disabilities and on creating inclusive, diverse workplaces.
Guide to Government of Ontario Programs and Services for People with Disabilities
Why is Web Accessibility Important? [ top of page ]
How People with Disabilities Use the Web
This World Wide Web Consortium document provides an introduction to use of the Web by people with disabilities. Topics include:
- Scenarios of people with disabilities using the Web.
- Different disabilities that can affect web accessibility.
- Assistive technologies and adaptive strategies.
Assistive Technologies for Web Access [ top of page ]
See the World Wide Web Consortium Alternative Browsing page for an overview and links to assistive technologies. This is page contains a collection of pointers to information, and where possible, to demonstration versions of alternative browsing methods.
Commonly used commercial products include:
ALVA Access Group
Offers computer accessibility software for the visually impaired.
Henter-Joyce: JAWS for Windows
Offers products to assist the blind in web accessibility, including screen readers and Braille assistive technology. A free demo is available.
Window-Eyes by GW Micro
Another popular screen-reader for Windows. A free demo is available.
Accessible PDF Reader [ top of page ]
access.adobe.com
Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 with Search and Accessibility features is available for download here, as well as other resources for visually impaired users.