2. Analysis Questions
1. What are the various
resources that you see in the
video clip?
1. Who are the resources for?
Just one type of person?
More?
1. How can they be used? When
can they be used?
1. Do the devices/tools shown
look effective?
Workplace Accessibility
The video clip below will show various still shots and video clips of job accessibility locations and accessibility tools being used in
various workplace locations. There will be background noise pertaining to the accessibility tools in the video and music.
Transcription:
Various still shots of accessibility tools and locations in the workplace. A student using accessibility tools in the CSD lab at Durham
College.
3. Context:
In the CSD Office at Durham College a student is utilizing the computer lab. The computer lab
houses different type of accessibility software for various disabilities a student may have. It is free
to use. Context- The student is trying to read part of an essay on paper. She is finding the writing
on the paper too small so she uses a computer magnifier to enlarge the text. Another piece of
software she uses is JAWS Screen Reading Software, this software reads what is on the computer
screen. It would allow one who is blind to hear what is being presented. One last computer she
uses is a scanner. It scans paper documents directly to the computer that can be edited and
saved.
Location: Celestica Inc. (844 Don Mills Rd., Toronto) Time Taken: May 29, 2014. Initial Shot is a
ramp going up to the cafeteria area. Manufacturing floor, Accessible doors, Aisles wide,
Workstations height can be adjusted for accommodation. Simple task and repetitive tasks.
Video of UOIT, Charles Street Location: This video was shot outside of the University of Ontario
Institute of Technology (UOIT), downtown campus in the city of Oshawa. The campus community
there is made up of students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. This campus of UOIT
houses the Social Sciences and Humanities faculty. This building was originally a mill and was
retrofitted to campus approximately five (5) years ago. The video was taken outside this building to
highlight physical accessibility when entering this building.
Workplace Accessibility
4. Workplace Accessibility
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities explains in article 27 that persons with disabilities have the "right to the opportunity to
gain a living by work freely chosen … in a labor market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities" (Harpur
2009, 2011). Persons with disabilities across the world regularly have this right denied to them (World Health Organization and World Bank 2011, 233).
Through simply perpetuating social practices and patterns, employers can accordingly create barriers for people who diverge from the artificially
constructed "norm" (Green 2005, 635; Malin 2008, 176-178; Rhode 2007. 617). These exclusionary practices often result in barriers being created in
society that disable people with different abilities.
In 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was passed. The overall goal is an accessible Ontario by 2025.
There are 5 standards in the Act, and one of them is the Employment Standard. The Employment Standard applies to paid employment and will
help employers make their employment practices and workplaces more accessible to people with disabilities. This standard must be adopted by all
companies in Ontario by January 1, 2016. This standard builds upon existing requirements under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
AODA: Informing employees of supports
25. (1) Every employer shall inform its employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to,
policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability. http://www.e-
laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2011/elaws_src_regs_r11191_e.htm
Ontario Human Rights Commission: The duty to accommodate persons with disabilities means accommodation must be provided in a manner that
most respects the dignity of the person, if to do so does not create undue hardship.[19] Dignity includes consideration of how accommodation is
provided and the individual’s own participation in the process. - See more at: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-disability-and-duty-
accommodate/4-duty-accommodate#sthash.f6xHKhcr.dpuf
4.1.3(b) Removing barriers Persons with disabilities are currently excluded by many kinds of barriers, including physical, attitudinal and systemic
ones. Significant changes are required as part of the duty to accommodate to provide equal access to employment (including collective agreements),
transportation systems, buildings (except private residences), rental accommodation, services, restaurants, shopping centres, stores and other places
and activities. These changes are necessary to give meaning to the right to equality and freedom from discrimination guaranteed to persons with
disabilities under Part I of the Code. - See more at: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-disability-and-duty-accommodate/4-duty-
accommodate#sthash.f6xHKhcr.dpuf
“Many companies realize that people with disabilities are productive, reliable employees who bring benefits to the workplace.” as documented in
2010 Report from International Labour Office, profiling companies and their best practices as it relates to employing persons with disabilities. (Disability
in the Workplace: Company Practices, 2010)
5. Workplace Accessibility
References
Combating Prejudice in the Workplace with Contact Theory: The Lived Experiences of
Professionals with Disabilities Retrieved June 2, 2014 from http://dsq-
sds.org/article/view/4011/3544
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade, and Employment. Retrieved June 2,
2014, from
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/employment/index.aspx
International Labour Office Geneva (2010). Disability in the Workplace: Company
Practices. Retrieved May 28, 2014 from
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@ifp_skills/documents/publication/wcm
s_150658.pdf
6. Synthesis Questions
1. What measures could be
adopted to reduce or eliminate
barriers for people with
disabilities?
1. What is your understanding of
accessibility and full
participation for people living
with disabilities?
1. Advancement in workplace
tools levels the playing field.
Is this statement true?
1. Are the current efforts being
made to integrate disabled
individuals into modern society
sufficient?
Workplace Accessibility
The video clip below will show various still shots and video clips of job accessibility locations and accessibility tools being
used in various workplace locations. There will be background noise pertaining to the accessibility tools in the video.
Transcription:
