Wednesday, February 04, 2026
Late last year, AMAPCEO was invited to provide feedback on the Ontario Public Service (OPS) 2026-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP). In consultation with the AMAPCEO Disability Caucus, the union conducted a review of the latest iteration of the MYAP.
AMAPCEO noted that while significant progress has been made, several gaps still remain. Some of the key themes that emerged from the union’s review were that the plan continues to be reactive, rather than proactive; that significant cultural and systemic barriers persist in recruitment, accommodation processes, and digital communication; that the current plan lacks and intersectional approach; and that accountability structures are not clearly defined.
In its submission to the OPS Employer, the union suggested a number of areas where the MYAP could be strengthened to improve accessibility for all OPS employees.
AMAPCEO’s recommendations include:
- Strengthening voice and engagement from staff, versus the current centralized approach.
- Reforming disability accommodation process to ensure it is trauma informed.
- Conducting a full audit of systemic recruitment barriers, and committing to proactively accessible interview options and recruitment procedures.
- Instituting mandatory digital accessibility and inclusive communication training.
- Instituting training for accommodation specialists and managers on mental health, bias and stigma.
- Establishing intersectionality as a core principle and requiring its integration into accommodations, policy design, and HR processes.
- Aligning the MYAP with the aligns with broader diversity, accessibility, inclusion and respectful (DAIR) strategies and the Leadership Pledge.
- Establishing a scheduled review cycle for barrier-free design guidelines, performed by in-house OPS staff.
- Improving accessibility in procurement and transfer payment processes, including through training and staffing.
AMAPCEO thanks the Disability Caucus, and especially Caucus Chair Andrew Nolan, for their valuable feedback, which informed the basis of the union’s recommendations.
AMAPCEO’s full submission can be found on our publications and submissions page.