Ontario Appoints Chair of Standards Development Committee

The Provincial Government has announced that Julie Sawchuk has accepted an invitation to be the chair of the Standards Development Committee that will lead the Province’s review of the Design of Public Spaces accessibility standards for outdoor spaces.



The committee will review existing accessibility standards and consider whether new standards might be needed to improve accessibility in Ontario’s public spaces. It will include people with disabilities from across the Province as well as businesses, municipalities and other impacted stakeholders.



Julie Sawchuk is a best-selling author, professional speaker, and accessibility strategist. She holds Bachelors of Science and Education degrees, is a designated professional for Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, and has lived experience as a person who has a spinal cord injury.



The Design of Public Spaces Standards Committee is expected to begin work in early 2022 and continue into 2023.



News Release: Ontario Making Public Spaces More Accessible

Advancing Accessibility in Ontario Framework

Standards Development Committee