As the clocks struck 12:00 am on January 1, 2025, the Ontario government’s deadline to make the province accessible came and went. But instead of celebrating, Ontarians with disabilities condemned the government for failing to meet its promise. 

I won’t deny that Ontario has made strides in ensuring physical accessibility, such as by improving transportation, customer service, and the design of public spaces. However, for many Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), this is barely enough. Accessibility is about increasing the participation of PWDs in every aspect of society — not just removing physical barriers, but addressing digital, systematic, and institutional barriers across workplaces, education, healthcare, politics, and more. 

Viewing accessibility solely through the lens of physical spaces is not only limited, but dismissive of the broader changes needed. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act’s (AODA) failure is not rooted in its ideas — but in its execution. The legislation was designed to develop, implement, and enforce accessibility standards to make Ontario barrier-free by 2025, yet that vision remains far from reality. 

Should we not expect that the government keeps the promises it made? 

Why the AODA matters

Before the AODA, disability rights in Canada primarily relied on litigation to combat discrimination. When the first draft of Section 15 of the Charter was introduced in 1980, it prohibited discrimination based on race, sex, and religion — but not disability. Despite criticism, the Liberal government at the time refused to add disability to the list of protected grounds. It was only through persistent advocacy from disability activists during the 1980s that disability became recognized as grounds for discrimination, and was finally added into Section 15 in 1985. 

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know this piece of history — I didn’t either. At U of T, we combat our blindspots in history by dedicating certain courses to race, gender, and Indigenous thought. Yet, disability often remains on the margins of these conversations. This forgotten history and how the AODA came to be isn’t just a footnote — it’s integral to understand.

Despite legal progress, many advocates found that litigating individual barriers one case at a time was expensive, burdensome, and inaccessible — especially for a community where poverty, unemployment, and reliance on government funding are widespread. The frustration laid the groundwork for the original AODA Alliance in 1994 — known at the time as the Ontario Disability Act committee — which pushed for stronger legislation with genuine enforcement power to break systemic barriers.

The future of accessibility policy

But this is not the end of the road. In 2019, the federal government passed the Accessible Canada Act, setting a new goal of making Canada accessible by 2040. In 2023, lawmakers passed the Disability Benefit Act to provide financial support for Canadians with disabilities. While it offers a glimpse of hope, the act is predicted to lift 25,000 working-age persons with disabilities, and 15,000 of their family members, out of poverty each year — contrary to the then-federal minister’s promise that it would lift “hundreds of thousands of working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty.” 

So, the AODA remains in effect — legislation does not simply expire overnight — and the Ontario government still has the responsibility to break down barriers. 

In fact, the AODA is in the process of introducing a brand new standard: education. Two years ago, two education committees published their recommendations for the new standard, which aims to address eight key barriers in higher education. According to the ministerial report, these barriers range from organizational practices and financial constraints to lack of awareness. 

If implemented, the education standard could not only improve the quality of education for students with disabilities, but also help ensure they are given the opportunity to succeed on their own terms — not just receive accommodations. 

Yet, despite this exciting news, one should err on the side of caution. The Ontario government has yet to meet its initial goals from 2023, and it has been slow to implement the first five AODA standards in customer service, employment, and transportation.. Given this track record, one might wonder why the education standard would be any different. 

Accessibility is a national crisis 

This is why, as a student with a disability, I am urging universities, policymakers, politicians, disability organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to treat accessibility as a crisis. While the government has the responsibility to ensure its goals are met, it is also equally your responsibility to implement the government’s recommendations. 

Accessibility should never be an afterthought — it is crucial for the participation of PWDs. Without proper accommodation, students with disabilities will struggle to succeed. 

We are at a critical juncture. In the coming months, Canadians will vote in the federal elections to determine which political party will govern for the next four years. These next four years are pivotal, as they will shape the future of accessibility in this country. 

Will accessibility be treated as the national crisis it is, or will it remain an issue relegated to the fringes of the Canadian political sphere? 

On behalf of students with disabilities, I urge you to take the former approach — for our sake. 

Catherine Dumé is a Masters student studying political theory. She is the co-founder of the University of Toronto’s Accessibility Awareness Club.