
Ben Poynton
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Officer
Office of the Vice President Human Resources & Equity: Office of the Vice Provost Students
The University of Toronto
Ben was drawn to his work by an interest in the philosophical underpinnings of human rights and how they support social justice. He promotes compliance to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)—a piece of legislation in Ontario aimed at making the places we work, live and learn as accessible as possible—and ultimately seeks to lead the University beyond compliance. Ben works to help members of the University community understand our legal obligations, how accessibility is broadly defined, and how we can create an institution that values disability and the changes in perspective it brings. He does this, in part, by facilitating workshops and training across the institution related to accessibility in all areas of the life of the University. Ben holds Master of Laws from the University of Warwick in International Development Law and Human Rights and currently sits on the provincial committee establishing new AODA standards in the postsecondary sector.
CFD Program Faculty: Stepping Stones