Skip to main content

The AODA Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces

A self-paced course providing design professionals with the knowledge and understanding needed to effectively apply the AODA Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces to their project work.

About This Course

Welcome to the Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces. This online course was originally created to provide instruction to professionals working in the built environment in Ontario, Canada on the requirements and application of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The concepts and technical details of this standard can be applied to public spaces universally.

Each module should take approximately 1-1.5 hours to compete. The modules are divided into smaller topic areas, with anticipated completion times ranging from 5-15 minutes. Each topic area incorporates challenge questions to allow participants to review their learning.

Free for IAAP Members. See FAQ below for more details as refunds will not be given if the course is purchased.

Requirements

There is no prerequisites to take this course.

Course Staff

DesignAble logo

Course Designer

The Design of Public Spaces course was developed in 2015 by DesignABLE Environments, a unique organization of consultants who assist clients in the creation of accessible environments through the application of regulations and universal design principles. The organizations goal is to develop functional, safe, and dignified environments which appropriately accommodate all members of society, including people with disabilities and older people. Operating since 1987, DesignABLE Environments has been involved as accessibility consultants on many architectural projects, ranging in size from modest residential renovations to major institutional and commercial projects.

DesignABLE completed a code review on behalf of IAAP and provided updates to the course content in August 2020 to reflect updates to the AODA Standard.

head shot staff liaison

IAAP Program Assistant

Sam Sundermann joined IAAP in June of 2020 in the role of Program Assistant and is responsible for the Educational Training Database/Speakers Bureau, the Learning Management System, and coordinating social media content. She has helped in many departments of IAAP working on new initiatives and assisting with certification. Sam has a love for travel and has worked in many industries around the world. She enjoys learning new skills and is looking forward to ongoing professional development in her role with the IAAP team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of the course?

This course is $195 USD. Purchasing or being enrolled in the course gives you access for one year. If you qualify for the Emerging and Developing Economies discount, or are an IAAP Member eligible for free enrollment please contact iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org. All requests will be processed on Tuesday and Fridays.
If you are an IAAP member you will receive an enrollment email from Edunext. Select the link in this email to access the course. If you have not already done so, you will need to make an EduNext account. Your IAAP credentails will not work on this site. If you enroll in the course prior to receiving your enrollment notification, no refund will be given. You will remain enrolled for 1 year or until your IAAP membership is no longer active.
This course is not a prep course for any IAAP Certification exam and the course fee does not cover the cost to sit for any IAAP Certification Exam.

Do IAAP Members need to pay for the course?

No, the course is free for active IAAP Members. Please contact iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org to be enrolled. If you enroll in the course prior to receiving your discount code, no refund will be given.
Each IAAP member is eligible to take the course once. The course can not be reset, but learners are welcome to review the material as many times as they like while enrolled.

How long will the course take to complete?

The course is self-paced, providing you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, on your own schedule. The course will take about 6 hours to complete start to finish. Once enrolled, you will have one year to complete the course and recieve your Certification of Completion.

Is this course eligible for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs)?

Yes, if you currently hold the CPACC or CPABE IAAP Certification this course could be used to earn up to 6 CAECs. If you complete this course prior to sitting for your exam, CAECs will not be awarded.

Will I receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course?

You must pass with an overall grade of 80% to be eligible for a Certificate of Completion. Please contact iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org upon successful completion of the course and we will issue a PDF certificate with 4 weeks of your request.

I am having an issue accessing or navigating the course, who can I contact?

Please send a detailed e-mail to iaapsupport@accessibilityassociation.org outlining the issue you have found in the course. Our team will work as quickly as possible to have it resolved. The course discussion boards are not regularly monitored, so adding issues there will not prompt a quick response.

What web browser should I use?

The Open edX platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. See our list of supported browsers for the most up-to-date information.

Enroll