The new Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines went before City Council and were approved on 9 November 2021. The new guidelines were created by Human Space in collaboration with the City of Toronto with input from over a dozen agencies including CNIB, Pegasus, Nucleus Independent Living, R-Path and Silent Voice Canada, and significant involvement from over 25 internal divisions, Agencies and Boards, and external City Divisions. The new TADG replaces the previous version published in 2004.
The guidelines meet and exceed requirements already set out by the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and apply to all new construction, renovations and replacements for City facilities and public spaces, regardless of their size or scope.
The updated TADG serves as an exemplar of best practices for accessible development based on principles of respect, dignity and inclusion and include improved guidelines for accessible parking, service counters, signage and wayfinding, washrooms, and other updated requirements covered within several key categories: exterior, interior, systems and controls and maintenance.
The TADG will continue to be reviewed at critical intervals and updated to create the best possible guidelines for accessibility as the opportunities and design considerations for diversity, inclusion and equity in the built environment evolve.