Each of the five AODA Standards has specific requirements for documentation and implementation. Sterling Frazer Associate consultants work with each client to ensure the requirements are met for their specific classification and are in keeping with the legislative timelines for compliance.  We provide assistance filing reports with the Ontario government.

Not sure what is required?  We will work with you to write policies that comply with provincial legislation.

Consultants from Sterling Frazer Associates are available to provide in-house training to your management, staff and volunteers so they are better able to meet the specific needs of your clientele and your legal requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA 2005).

We provide guidance and training on all five (5) of the AODA Standards.  Sessions are modified to meet the individual needs of each business and/or industry segment.  Our consultants use a variety of teaching methods that range from lectures through group discussions and may include simulation exercises that give participants a glimpse into daily activities experienced by a person with a disability.  Programs range from one hour through full-day workshops.

Experienced a customer service faux pas?  Taking corrective action with your staff through enhanced customer service training lets the public know of your commitment to customer service excellence.  

We can help you turn the experience into a media positive!

Sterling Frazer Associates provides site assessments of your facilities to determine the accessibility of your business to your customers.

Audits are performed in consideration of your customers with physical disabilities; including people who use wheelchairs, scooters, ambulatory devices (canes, crutches, walkers), or other devices such as prosthesis.  We also evaluate the facilities from the perspective of sensory disabilities and consider the needs of people who have low vision, are blind, or have communication disorders (speech or hearing).

Audits start at the entrance to your property; including outside sidewalks, driveways and parking facilities.  We then go inside to evaluate the entire building -- or if you prefer, just the areas that are open to the public.

When the audit has been completed you will receive a written report of the auditor's findings, complete with photographs of your facility and comparison with published Standards, such as AODA, Canadian Standards Association, Ontario Building Code, and the Facility Accessibility Design Standards.

The accessibility of a document can vary depending on the reader; however understanding how font styles, font size, color, page layout, and format affect the readability of a document can make the world of difference.

Sterling Frazer Associates will provide you with the necessary training to create accessible electronic documents using the Microsoft Office suite of programs; including:  Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

This service is available as a one-on-one consultation or is offered in small groups.

Here are two examples of the same Word document.  Document One uses an accessible electronic format of Word; while Document Two is a non-accessible Word document.  Can you tell the difference?  Visually, there is little difference, however the accessible document is readable by a person using an assistive reading device.  Creating accessible documents when the document is first created provides the greatest amount of flexibility when asked to provide an accessible document in another format.  For example, creating an accessible Word document allows the document to be saved as an accessible pdf which reduces the ability of a third party to modify your original, and it requires less space when sending documents by email.

Sterling Frazer Associates will provide you with practical information about meeting the accessibility requirements of the AODA Built Environment and recent changes to the Ontario Building Code.  Our consultants will assist in making the right decisions before construction to ensure compliance and that your budget is spent on areas that have an impact that benefits your customers.

Sterling Frazer Associate consultants are experts in accessible design as well as the principles and practices of Universal Design.  Our team will work with your architect, project manager, and/or contractor to ensure you have met the requirements and are investing wisely as you modify the built environment. 

Under AODA legislation, the responsibility of whether a renovation or new construction is accessible and meets the criteria under the Ontario Building Code or AODA Standard for Public Spaces falls with the property owner or leaseholders who are responsible for their own construction.  Architects, planners, contractors and engineers who are hired by the property owner or tenant are not held responsible when a space is inaccessible.

When modifying your home, be aware that architects, planners, designers, engineers and contractors are not legally responsible for ensuring a property meets provincial or national standards for accessibility.  This is the responsibility of the home owner.  Protect your investment and make sure that modifications to your home are safe and meet your requirements for accessibility.

A Sterling Frazer Associate consultant will work with you, your designer, architect, or contractor to develop a personal living environment that is conducive to independent living in the community.  This service is ideal for anyone interested in Aging In Place, or after a life changing event that requires modifications to the home.  

Our philosophy is that esthetics remain an important part of the home design while adding features and furnishings that provide independence and safety without an institutional appearance.  Home modification and enhancement have the ability to increase property value and open the market to all age and life stages if done properly.  Let us show you how.

Sterling Frazer Associates has the expertise to provide a full range of market services for businesses that target minority populations. Some examples of how we can help include:

• evaluating products/services from the customers perspective,
• evaluating product literature to ensure your message is appropriate and accessible,
• identifying emerging trends among niche markets,
• identifying channels of distribution to reach target populations.

Our staff listen to your specific needs and objectives.  Then, we work hard to develop a program that meets those needs.  Together we define a project that is custom-tailored to answer your questions and that will provide you the basis from which to make informed business decisions.