By IAN ROSS
There’s a raft of new legislation to better serve 1.5 million disabled Ontarians and Dorothy Macnaughton says businesses and public organizations should take heed.
The former teacher and local disability advocate wants to educate organizations, particularly those in the service industry, on understanding the needs and challenges of the disabled.
Macnaughton knows their everyday challenges intimately. She has endured steadily deteriorating eyesight since birth. With no vision in her right eye and only straight-ahead vision in her left, she walks with a white cane.
But that hasn’t stopped her from living a vital, active and productive life.
“Most people who function with any kind of disability have the attitude, I won’t let this get me down.”
Communities in Northern Ontario should take notice. With the population and workforce aging, companies and service organizations will begin dealing with more seniors, the sightless, the deaf, the developmentally-challenged and those in wheelchairs on an everyday basis over the next 20 years.
Macnaughton’s home-based business, Accessibility and Diversity Training, sprang from her volunteer efforts with the March of Dimes, Canadian National Institute for the Blind and on the city’s accessibility advisory committee.
Well-versed in Ontario’s major pieces of disability legislation, her presentation to the city’s transit division was so well-received, she was encouraged to start her own business.
Macnaughton was a part of a decade-long lobbying effort with Toronto lawyer David Lepofsky that brought into effect the Ontarians with Disabilities Act in 2001, and the more beefed-up Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in 2005.
Starting in January, public sector organizations who provide goods and services will have to meet accessibility standards in customer services transportation, information and communication, built environments and employment.
The private sector must follow suit in 2012.
Newly sworn-in Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, who uses a wheelchair due to childhood polio, vows to make the accessibility issue the ‘over-arching theme’ of his mandate.
Macnaughton’s specialty is training staff on Ontario’s disability legislation, sensitivity training and planning for accessibility.
“That’s what I love to do, train people.”
She is not an expert in ergonomic design or any kind of building audits because of the liability issues involved.
But there remain huge issues around getting public information in large print, finding sign language interpreters and gaining access into public buildings.
The new legislation means newer public buildings will have to abide by updated building code standards. Owners of older structures won’t have to undergo massive renovations “unless the owners chooses to do so,” says Macnaughton.
But those that do can count on increased customer loyalty from disabled customers.
New facilities like the Sault’s Steelback Centre had accessibility improvements built into the design, but there’s room for improvement.
In a recent photo shoot for Northern Ontario Business, Macnaughton noticed the outside steel-grey staircase at the main public entrance had no contrasting strips on each step and her walking cane easily caught on the step grates.
Aside from a presentation to librarians in Sudbury, the first-time entrepreneur finds it’s slow going to get a response from the municipalities she has contacted.
“I’m not a pushy person by nature, but I’m very comfortable and confident in what I do.”
