Ontario Science Centre Multi-Year Accessibility Plan - 2023 Annual Status Report
As an Agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Science Centre is committed to being an inclusive and engaging cultural attraction for all. We understand the importance of ensuring accessibility for our employees and the public we serve, and are committed to ensuring services are delivered in alignment with our Who We Are statement and the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA): dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.
The Ontario Science Centre released a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for the period of 2020-2025. This plan aligned with commitments outlined in the previous multi-year accessibility plan and was developed in consultation with persons with disabilities and posted on our website. The Science Centre has maintained compliance with all legislated standards under AODA and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) on-site at our physical location and online through our virtual experiences. We continue to commit to:
- Ensuring all hosted documents and videos on our WCAG 2.0 compliant website are accessible.
- Designing marketing materials that meet AODA standards.
- Prioritizing AODA considerations when consulting with external clients on the development of new exhibits and programs.
- Fabricating new exhibitions that are fully accessible.
- Reviewing admission booking processes to ensure they meet accessibility standards.
- When necessary, posting public notice of disruption regarding facilities accessed by persons with disabilities.
- Ensuring the spacing, signage and number of AODA parking spots in the parking lots comply with current regulations.
- Maintaining ramps to allow for wheelchair access from the parking lots leading to the sidewalk and the workshop area.
- Improving access with automatic door openers installed at multiple entrances.
In addition, we have accomplished the following commitments in 2023:
Wayfinding/Signage
- All recreational and school programs, both in-person and virtual, will include sensory experience warnings plus adaptation options for participants with special needs.
- Customizing all team building activities and events to ensure a sensory-accommodative accessible experience.
- Updating of building exterior, including the installation of tactile plates in the concrete curbs for those with vision impairments and curb cuts to allow for wheelchair access. Concrete ramps were also painted yellow to highlight slope transition.
- Stainless steel handrails on both sides of the ramp between the staff lot and the sidewalk at the new entrance.
- Updating of building interior to ensure accessibility, including lowering of sinks, hand dryers and toilets.
Education & Public Programming
- Modifying science tools and practices used in our education programs to allow for greater accessibility.
- Consulting with teachers and caregivers prior to individual program delivery to ensure that accommodations are made to improve student participation.
- Designing exhibit interfaces with large physical buttons wherever possible, providing a tactile alternative to touch screens for people with vision impairments. Additionally, all table-top exhibit experiences and passageways are wheelchair accessible, and more seating has been added to exhibit areas.
- For 2023-24, we have been reviewing all programs to remove or mitigate barriers to accessibility.
Web Platform
- Ensuring all recreational and school programs are compliant with WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
Design of Public Spaces
- Two curb cuts complete with tactile plates to reduce accessibility barriers for visitors who come down the hill and enter through the new entrance.
- Pavement marking in yellow paint at various steps, ramps and road crossings.
- We also had a contractor remove deteriorated and cracked concrete in the Plaza sidewalks and paved areas that were tripping hazards and replace with new concrete.
Learning and Development
- HR delivered a dedicated session facilitated by an Early Conflict Resolutions Specialist with the newly established Conflict Resolution Team, WDHP Office and TBS.
We are also committed to do the following activities in 2024:
Wayfinding/Signage
- Providing sensory backpacks filled with equipment for self-regulation, tactile input, attention focusing tools and body awareness support items for children and visitors who may experience sensory sensitivities.
Education & Public Programming
- We continue to consult with teachers and caregivers to make accommodations.
- We are also planning an accessibility and inclusion workshop that looks at the needs of students with disabilities.
Exhibit Design and Interpretation
- We are working with Design to explore making the WFIC exhibit “Racing Irons” wheelchair accessible.”
Design of Public Spaces
- Working on to implement Gender Inclusive Washrooms
- Working on top keep elevator doors open an additional 20 seconds to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.
Accessibility Formats and Communication Supports
- Working to update our brand guidelines to eliminate the mongoose font to improve the reading of documents and communication on the website.
Format of Documents
- Working to provide communications support for signature templates on e-mails.
For a list of our accessibility policies and practices, please visit our Accessibility Page.
For general inquiries or to request an alternate format of this plan, please email Contact Centre or call 416-696-1000 (toll free 1-888-696-1110).