Ontario's Doctors: Reaching Out to All of Ontario's Patients with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™

TORONTO, April 18, 2012 /CNW/ - The OMA is pleased to announce its participation in a Disability Community Involvement Initiative sponsored by March of Dimes Canada. In collaboration with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™, the OMA will feature an interactive icon to enhance online access for Canadians with physical disabilities.

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is committed to bringing organisations together with the common goal of reaching out to the disability community in a meaningful way. With eSSENTIAL Accessibility, the OMA is helping to connect visitors with physical disabilities to the medical information they need.

By clicking on the icon located in the lower right-hand corner at www.oma.org, visitors can access the online tools they need to navigate the Web more easily. These tools are available to the more than two million Canadians who have difficulty typing, moving a mouse or reading a web page.  eSSENTIAL Accessibility empowers users with dexterity limitations that arise from a variety of conditions including stroke, paralysis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease.  It also helps individuals who have difficulty reading because of literacy deficiencies, limited English proficiency, dyslexia, or mild visual impairment. 

eSSENTIAL Accessibility helps Ontario organizations meet standards in customer service, employment and communication as mandated by the Communication Supports directive of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005. eSSENTIAL Accessibility does not ensure conformance with World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We all benefit from greater accessibility given the contributions, involvement and spending power of people with disabilities.

Quotes

"As physicians, we see many people each day who have various levels of physical dexterity and English literacy.  Our partnership with eSSENTIAL Accessibility will help the OMA to meet the needs of Ontarians with disabilities, and will help us improve our own ability to communicate.  We hope that other organisations will join in making the internet an easier place to navigate for all Ontarians."

Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President, Ontario Medical Association. 

"Almost one in five Canadians are living with disability. The OMA recognizes the importance of serving this demographic properly. By taking part in the Initiative, they are joining a growing number of forward-thinking organizations creating economic and social value by factoring people with disabilities into their planning."

Simon Dermer, Managing Director, eSSENTIAL Accessibility.

For more information, and to try out eSSENTIAL Accessibility, visit www.oma.org.

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