Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program: Call for proposals - Invitation to apply for funding

Terms used on this page

Accessibility 

Accessibility means barrier-free access. It gives every person an equal opportunity to participate in society—regardless of disability.

Accessibility standard

Standards guide the activities of organizations in a way that is consistent across sectors. It means that people can expect the same level of service or the same quality of products. Accessibility standards are intended to remove barriers. They ensure that people with disabilities can fully and equitably participate in society.

Barrier

A barrier is anything that makes it harder for someone with a disability or functional limitation to participate fully and equitably in society. Barriers come in many forms. They may be physical, architectural, technological, or attitudinal. They may relate to information or communication. They may also be a result of a policy or practice. 

Disability

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary, or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”

National disability organization

These organizations help people with disabilities participate in society. Under this program, they must have a national mandate and conduct activities in 4 or more provinces or territories. They may work in partnership with other organizations or have offices in different provinces or territories.

Partnership

Partnerships are collaborative arrangements between an organization that received funding and an individual or another organization. They can include both financial and in-kind contributions. Partners can’t be a member of the applicant’s organization. Partnerships can include collaborations with any of the following:

• other research organizations with complementary mandates
• organizations that specialize in certain aspects of research (for example, data collection, survey facilitation, development of specialized software, financial matters)

Research priorities

Annual priority research areas 

Automated chat-bots and virtual assistant technology, including virtual assistants using artificial intelligence  

A chatbot is a computer program that automates repetitive tasks within a defined scope. The chatbot can be used to help decrease repetitive office tasks or to personalize automated client interactions. It can use conversation to help people find answers to common questions, provide information, collect data or analyze user issues. 

Virtual assistant technology is a tool that can perform different tasks or services for a user. The person uses commands or questions to use the virtual assistant. The interaction can be done in writing, through a graphic interface or verbally.  This research priority refers to the accessibility of these tools. 

Service delivery for people with temporary or episodic disabilities, including mental health-related disabilities and invisible disabilities

This relates to the need for organizations to consider accessibility when planning, creating, implementing, and delivering programs and services, specifically for people with temporary or episodic disabilities, including mental health-related disabilities and invisible disabilities. An important aspect of this priority is involving people with disabilities in the design and delivery process of services. 

Temporary disabilities are understood as a disability that only affects a person for a limited period of time and can be expected to recover to some extent with treatment or time. Episodic disabilities are understood as disabilities that can change over time, sometimes unpredictably. 

Mental health is a state of well-being. It includes our emotions, feelings of connection to others, our thoughts and feelings, and being able to manage life’s highs and lows. Mental health-related disabilities can be understood as the reduced ability for a person to function effectively over a prolonged period of time due to a condition of mental impairment or a mental disorder. 

Invisible disabilities can be understood as disabilities that may not be noticeable. This means you likely can’t tell a person has a disability by looking at them or communicating with them.  

Addressing attitudinal barriers and ableism 

This research priority refers to the need for organizations to consider attitudinal barriers and ableism, and identify ways to remove them.

Attitudinal barriers are the ways people think and feel about people with different disabilities, which results in limiting the potential of people with disabilities. These barriers usually stem from misconceptions and assumptions about living with a disability. Examples include stereotypes, bias, discrimination, and prejudice.

Ableism is conscious or unconscious thoughts, beliefs, actions, and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities. It can limit the opportunities of people with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in their communities. Ableism can be individual or systemic (barriers that are integrated within policies, laws, regulations, and practices). Ableist assumptions can result in harmful stereotypes, misconceptions and generalizations of people with disabilities and their experiences.

Environmental sensitivities 

Environmental sensitivities are negative health effects that come from being exposed to environmental factors such as chemicals, scents, biological agents and radiation in the air, water, food, homes and buildings where we live and work. These factors can include contaminants such as smoke, molds, dust, perfumes, vehicle exhaust, fluorescent lighting and more. People who have allergies or a sensitivity to certain products may have a bad reaction to a much lower level of chemicals, perfumes or environmental triggers than the average person. Their reaction is a medical condition. It is a recognized disability. People with allergies or environmental sensitivities are entitled to protection. People who experience environmental sensitivities can encounter barriers to full participation when environmental factors that trigger a negative health reaction are present.  This research priority refers to the need to remove or reduce triggers in the environment that cause negative health effects.  

Priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act 

Built environment

This research priority refers to the need to make built environment accessible.

A built environment is a physical area built by people for human activity. This includes buildings and urban spaces where people live, work, play, or visit.

For example, an accessible design removes barriers to accessibility for individuals who: 

• Use mobility devices. For example, designs that include elevators, ramps, and automatic doors and that ensure adequate space. 
• Have sensory or cognitive needs. For example, designs that remove barriers by: 
  • using lighting, sounds, or textures 
  • limiting or removing scents or causes of sensory overload 
  • providing visual, auditory, or tactile cues 
• Require wayfinding assistance. For example: 
  • visual signage and cues such as symbols, large print, and contrast 
  • audible or tactile signage and cues, such as Braille and textures 

Communication, other than information and communication technologies 

This research priority refers to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to communication tools that support both giving and receiving information.

Communication is a 2-way process that happens when people give and receive information in face-to-face interactions. It also includes: 

• reading and understanding written information (such as on websites and social media) 
• completing and signing forms and documents 

It excludes the development of the tools themselves. For example, providing access to: 

• different communication methods (such as in person, on the phone, in writing, online, or via video) 
• alternative format (such as accessible websites, print, Braille, plain language texts), and processes such as an electronic signature option 
• sign language interpretation (American Sign Language, Langue des signes québécoise, Indigenous Sign Language) 

Design and delivery of programs and services 

This relates to the need for organizations to consider accessibility when planning, creating, implementing, and delivering programs and services. An important aspect of this is involving persons with disabilities in the design and delivery process. 

Employment 

This research priority refers to accessibility in the context of employment. For example: 

• having accessibility features in the workplace (such as offering flexible schedules and providing access to accessible technology) 
• eliminating barriers related to attitudes in the workplace (due to, for example, discrimination, lack of knowledge, or lack of awareness training) 
• making recruitment, retention, and promotion more accessible by, for example: 
  • including accessibility features in the hiring process 
  • correcting situations where few or no persons with disabilities have been hired or serve in management roles 
• providing accessible employment for youth with disabilities transitioning from school to work 

Employment is when someone receives money in exchange for work for an employer. 

Information and communication technologies 

This refers to any communication device that enables people to access, store, transmit, understand, or use information. These technologies include: 

• radio, television, cell phones, satellite systems 
• computer and network hardware 
• services such as video conferencing and distance learning 
• analogue technology, such as paper communication 
• any form of technology that transmits information 

This research priority refers to projects that address technology-related barriers that affect the accessibility of a technology that facilitates communication. It excludes projects aimed at developing such technologies. 

This research priority relates to the need for organizations to consider accessibility and barriers when buying goods, services, or facilities that people with disabilities will be using. 

Procurement of goods, services, and facilities 

This research priority focuses on buying goods, services, and facilities by and for the federal government, for the use of the federal government and Canadians. 

Transportation 

This refers to the action of transporting someone or something from one destination to another, or the process of being transported.

This research priority relates to the accessibility of transportation policies and programs. It also refers to providing access to, and the accessibility of, transportation modes that are federally regulated.