Individualized Accessibility Plan (IAP) Compliance Review Checklist

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Accessible Canada Act (ACA), and other accessibility laws that have recently taken effect in much of the country are designed to tear down systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities across different aspects of public life, including the workplace. For companies and their HR directors, perhaps the biggest compliance challenge is the requirement to implement a process for developing what are called Individualized Accessibility Plans (IAPs) for disabled employees. Here’s a checklist you can use to audit and document the compliance of your own IAP process and the plans it generates.

IAP Compliance Review Checklist

  1. Process & Governance

Written IAP process exists (not just informal practice)

There are clear triggers for initiating an IAP (request, RTW, observed need, etc.)

Roles are defined (HR, manager, employee, external advisor, etc.)

  1. Employee Involvement

Employee was invited to participate in the IAP process

Employee input is documented

Employee reviewed the draft plan 

  1. IAP Personal Information Management

Only information about the employee’s functional limitations was collected (no unnecessary medical details such as diagnoses or comprehensive medical history)

Job duties and workplace barriers were clearly identified

Privacy safeguards were in place

  1. Plan Content

Employee’s accessibility needs are clearly described

Specific supports/measures are identified (not just vague statements)

Emergency response and evacuation needs are addressed (if applicable)

Accessible formats/communication supports are included (if required)

  1. IAP Implementation

Responsibilities are assigned (who does what)

Timelines are established

Implementation is tracked

Implementation is documented

  1. IAP Review & Updating

Review schedule is established

Triggers for reassessment are defined (role changes, requests, etc.)

Review outcomes are documented

  1. Recordkeeping

Plan is version-controlled

Supporting documentation is retained

Audit trail demonstrates process followed