Annual Public Meeting: Building momentum for a barrier-free Canada

The standards we develop apply only to federally regulated organizations. However, any organization in the public or private sector can choose to adopt them. When they are final, our standards will be available for free on our website.

We are currently working on a standard on accessible information and communications technology. It is expected to be published soon. We hope that many private sector companies will choose to adopt it.

We do not have jurisdiction over the accessibility of remote controls. You can read more about our mandate on our website.

We are responsible for several activities. For example, we support research that promotes accessibility. We also work to develop accessibility standards in key areas. The standards we develop apply to federally regulated organizations in Canada.

Our role is to create accessibility standards for federally regulated organizations. When a standard is created, we will recommend that it become a regulation. This recommendation is made to the Minister responsible for Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. (A standard can be enforced only if it becomes a regulation.)

We do not have an enforcement role. This means we do not regulate accessibility standards or digital accessibility. Our role is to create world-class standards that organizations will want to implement. This includes organizations across Canada and around the world.

We are currently working on an accessibility standard on information and communication technology products and services. It will cover several areas of digital accessibility.

All Government of Canada departments and agencies are required to ensure their online communications and services are accessible. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has guidelines that explain how the government is making communications accessible.

Accessibility Standards Canada aims to meet the highest standards of accessibility. We follow the Government of Canada’s Standard on Web Accessibility. This standard follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. This is a set of internationally recognized recommendations for improving web accessibility.

However, we want to be a leader in web accessibility. That is why we aim to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA, or better. This sets a higher standard than is required. You can read more about this in our accessibility statement.

We already use this approach. Everything published on our website is provided in HTML first. This includes documents, reports, and guidelines. Alternate versions, such as PDFs and Word files, are provided as required.

No one should have to ask for accessible content on our website. Instead, they should expect this from the start.

We fund research projects through our grants and contributions program. These are projects that seek to find, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. This includes obstacles that affect people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or Deaf-Blind.

Accessible communications is a priority area. We have been funding projects that address barriers in this area since our first call for research proposals in the 2019 to 2020 fiscal year. Most recently, we added a specific reference to accessible communications through sign language. This includes American Sign Language, Langue des signes québécoise, and Indigenous sign languages.

To date, we have funded multiple projects that focus specifically on the Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-Blind communities. Research projects are listed below.

Projects funded in 2020 to 2021

• Canadian Association of the Deaf: Research project to inform accessibility standards for Deaf and Deaf-Blind Canadians. This research is broad in scope. It includes the following areas:
  • employment
  • built environment
  • information and communication technologies
  • communication other than information and communication technologies
  • procurement of goods, services, and facilities
  • design and delivery of programs and services
  • transportation
• Réseau québécois pour l’inclusion des personnes sourdes et malentendantes: Project exploring accessible video communications practices.
• Ryerson University: Project on user perspectives on the speed, accuracy, and delay trade-offs for the live captioning of fast-paced media.

Projects funded in 2022 to 2023

• Carleton University: Research to inform accessibility standards on improving the comfort and listening experience (acoustics) in the built environment.
• Deafblind Community Services: Project to address communication barriers for people who are Deaf-Blind. This study focuses on the design of service provision models.

We have also funded other projects that have included the Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-Blind communities in their scope of work.

We encourage all of our funded researchers to take an inclusive approach. We ask that their projects address as many types of disabilities as possible.

We created guidelines for federal organizations on accessible communication during COVID-19 and other emergencies. These are available on our website in several formats (HTML, PDF, and sign language).

Visit our Accessibility Resources page for more guidelines.

We are pleased to share that we have created a technical committee to develop a standard on plain language. The committee includes experts in the field of plain language. This includes experts with disabilities and people with lived experience.

This standard will address plain language for documents and other types of communications. It will apply to documents produced by federally regulated organizations.

The draft standard will be ready for public review in spring 2023. It will be posted on our website. (Public review is a period where anyone can give feedback on the requirements of the standard.)

Following public review, the technical committee will make the necessary changes based on public feedback. The final standard will likely be published in late winter 2023.

Some content is written by our staff. Some content is revised by an external supplier. This depends on the nature of the document.

When writing documents for the public, we use the Government of Canada’s Content Style Guide and Standard on Web Accessibility. This standard follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

The use of plain language in the federal government is required under the Directive on the Management of Communications.

CAN-ASC-2.3: Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility is a separate standard. The 60-day review period on this standard was completed on January 7, 2023. It does not replace ASC-CSA B651. 

CAN-ASC-2.3: Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility addresses washrooms. It includes standards on the size, placement, and quantity of different washroom elements. The technical committee updated the standard to address the issues you raise. The 60-day public review period on this standard was completed on January 7, 2023.

Removing barriers in the built environment is a priority of the Accessible Canada Act. However, addressing barriers in existing buildings is a complex issue. We are researching this topic and will review options for a possible future standard in this area.
We are currently working on 4 standards that apply to the built environment. The first 3 focus on:

• wayfinding and signage
• outdoor spaces
• emergency egress (exit)

The fourth standard is CAN-ASC-2.3: Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility. The 60-day review period on this standard was completed on January 7, 2023.

The standards that we develop apply to federally regulated organizations. However, we want to make sure accessibility is the same across Canada. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories to understand their standard development priorities. This includes building codes.

Accessibility Standards Canada is developing a joint standard on accessible housing with CSA Group and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (B652: Accessible Homes). It will be published in 2023. It will be free to everyone. After it is final, we will look at options for requesting a change to the National Building Code. (The National Research Council is responsible for changes to the National Building Code.)

We have also partnered with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to determine the costs of accessible elements in housing.

Removing barriers in the built environment is a priority of the Accessible Canada Act. We are currently working on 4 standards that apply to the built environment. The first 3 focus on:

• wayfinding and signage
• outdoor spaces
• emergency egress (exit)

The fourth standard is CAN-ASC-2.3: Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility. The 60-day review period on this standard was completed on January 7, 2023.

The standards that we develop apply to federally regulated organizations. However, we want to make sure accessibility is the same across Canada. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories to understand their standard development priorities. This includes building codes.

The National Research Council is responsible for changes to the National Building Code. We have a strong relationship with them. Where appropriate, we may ask the Council for changes to the Code.

Removing barriers in the built environment is a priority of the Accessible Canada Act. However, addressing barriers in existing buildings is a complex issue. We are researching this topic and will review options for a possible future standard in this area.

We are currently working on 4 standards that apply to the built environment. The first 3 focus on:
•    wayfinding and signage
•    outdoor spaces
•    emergency egress (exit)

The fourth standard is CAN-ASC-2.3: Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility. The 60-day review period on this standard was completed on January 7, 2023.

The standards that we develop apply to federally regulated organizations. However, we want to make sure accessibility is the same across Canada. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories to understand their standard development priorities.

We have already signed agreements with British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan to share standards for possible adoption into provincial building codes.

We agree that improvements are needed in the area of emergency egress (exit). Improvements to emergency measures and assuring the safety of people with disabilities are also needed.

This is why we created technical committees on emergency egress and emergency measures. These committees include experts in the field of emergency evacuation, fire, and life safety. They also include experts with disabilities and people with lived experience.

The technical committee on emergency egress is developing a standard on providing emergency evacuation from buildings that is accessible to people with disabilities. This includes technical requirements for sharing information. For example:

• •    ensuring occupants are aware of the accommodations that are available in the event of an emergency
• •    having clear emergency egress solutions in place

The draft standard will be available on our website in spring 2023. People will be able to review the standard and provide feedback.

We are actively engaging with all provincial and territorial governments. We want to collaborate and coordinate our efforts toward a Canada without barriers.

Our plan is to work with all provinces and territories to sign agreements that will make it easier for us to share best practices and align our accessibility standards. This will ensure we do not duplicate our efforts. It will also drive us to develop timely standards that the provinces and territories need and may consider adopting.

We have already signed 5 agreements with British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan . More are planned.

No. That role is not within our mandate. We are responsible for:

• supporting research that promotes accessibility, and
• developing accessibility standards in priority areas.

Our standards apply to federally regulated organizations in Canada. Read more about our mandate on our website.

The Accessible Canada Act applies only to federally regulated organizations; it does not require provinces and territories to change their legislation.

The provinces and territories are at different stages of legislating accessibility. Some have already completed the process. Some are working on it right now, and others may consider it in the future.

However, regardless of where they are in the process, all are involved in important and meaningful work related to accessibility and the removal of barriers.

Ensuring accessibility is a shared responsibility

We want accessibility standards to be harmonized across Canada. We want to create a high and consistent level of accessibility across the country. And we want to put an end to jurisdictions working individually. Instead, we want to work together to achieve our collective goals and benefit everyone.

Doing this means sharing knowledge and best practices with all levels of government.
Our plan is to work with all provinces and territories to sign agreements that will make it easier for us to share best practices and align our accessibility standards. This will ensure we do not duplicate our efforts. It will also drive us to develop timely standards that the provinces and territories need and may consider adopting.

We have already signed 5 agreements with British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan . More are planned.

Our mandate does not focus on whether the provinces and territories have legislation. It focuses on their commitment to accessibility.

The provinces and territories are at different stages of legislating accessibility. Some have already completed the process. Some are working on it right now, and others may consider it in the future. But regardless of where they are in the process, all are involved in important and meaningful work related to accessibility and the removal of barriers.

The Accessible Canada Act applies only to federally regulated organizations. However, we want accessibility standards to be harmonized across Canada. We want to create a high and consistent level of accessibility across the country. We want to put an end to jurisdictions working individually. Instead, we want to work together to achieve our collective goals and benefit all people in Canada.

Doing this means sharing knowledge and best practices with all levels of government. 
That’s why we meet with provinces and territories regularly. We discuss ways to collaborate and coordinate our efforts. We also encourage them to adopt our standards.

It’s also why we hosted the first-ever Pan-Canadian Forum on Accessibility Standards last October. Deputy Head representatives from every province and territory were invited to participate. It was an opportunity for us to share information and discuss priorities. It was a chance to work toward our collective goals and to learn from one another.

The best starting point is awareness. Many public and private sector organizations and businesses are unaware of the scale of the challenge related to accessibility. There are over 6 million Canadians living with a disability. That number is expected to grow as our population ages.

Making more people aware of the seriousness of the challenge is the first step. It starts with educating them about the barriers that people with disabilities face and the impacts of these barriers. This leads to talking about how to create barrier-free environments.

Organizations and businesses needed to understand their options. When they do, they can see that even small actions can help eliminate barriers. Then they can start to create change.
This might be through structural changes, such as inclusive hiring practices. Or it could be physical changes, such as adjusting the built environment to ensure accessibility.

It is also important to build awareness of the fact that people with disabilities are a massive untapped population within the economy. Accessibility barriers limit their participation. 
Diverse disability communities can help municipalities and local businesses make better decisions. These communities are in the best position to explain what could be done to remove barriers and prevent future ones. When organizations and businesses understand the benefits of accessibility, it is easy to encourage investment in more barrier-free environments.

Accessibility Standards Canada works to create awareness and share information, which is part of our mandate. We are also mandated to create and revise accessibility standards. This is concrete action that is done through our technical committees.

We currently have 8 committees. Each is responsible for developing an accessibility standard. These standards are free to the public. The findings of the research we fund are also free. We encourage any public and private organization, including local businesses, to use this information.

The perfect recipe, then, is to have:

• greater awareness of the consequences of accessibility barriers and the benefits of removing them, combined with
• a clear standard on how to do so effectively.

With those two ingredients, we are confident we will begin to see results. More organizations and businesses investing in building more barrier-free environments will mean a more inclusive and sustainable Canada. It can only lead to positive impacts on the lives of all people in Canada.

Yes. We are currently working on a standard aimed at identifying, removing, and preventing the barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities.

This standard will apply to federally regulated organizations in Canada. Other sectors will be free to adopt them.

For more information, review our work program and details on the technical committee on employment.

Our main responsibility is to develop and revise standards for accessibility. To do this, we rely on the experience and expertise of our technical committee members.

Our biggest challenge is ensuring our work is informed by the input of people with a range of disabilities, including people with limited mobility. That is why we integrate the perspectives of diverse disability communities in our consultations, in our staffing, in the research we fund, and in the membership of our technical committees.

The development of our standards is driven by the disability community’s philosophy of “Nothing without us.” For that reason, people with disabilities and other members of diverse disability communities and allies are involved at all stages of standard development.

A committee of experts leads the development of each of our standards. These committees include people with lived experience.

We fund research projects aimed at identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility. The findings of this research inform the development of model accessibility standards. This fills gaps in our knowledge. This includes gaps related to accessibility for people with any type of disability, whether visible or hidden. This will help us find ways to remove or prevent barriers.

All funded organizations must include the following partners in their research project:

• people with disabilities
• members of the disability community
• other experts or organizations in the disability field and in other fields

Funded organizations must regard people with disabilities as experts in their lived experiences and their fields. This helps ensure that: 

• projects are supported by sound evidence and that relevant data is used
• people with disabilities have a loud and clear voice that informs these research projects
• people with disabilities are involved in identifying gaps that directly affect them and in proposing solutions.

We also encourage applicants to consider a wide range of disabilities in their proposed research. This helps ensure that all disabilities, including hidden disabilities, are considered when addressing a gap and proposing solutions.

In our 2021 to 2022 call for proposals, we funded a research project that focused on hidden mobility disabilities. The project is led by Hidden Mobility Disabilities Alliance Ltd. The topic of the research is Ensuring Accessibility for Persons with Hidden Mobility Disabilities. The project will look at ways to address accessibility barriers related to hidden mobility disabilities. It will include members of Canada’s hidden disability community in the research activities. The findings of the research will be publicly available when complete.

Yes. We fund research projects that try to find, remove, and prevent obstacles to accessibility for people with all types of disabilities. This includes barriers related to learning disabilities.
These projects can look at how to remove obstacles specific to a disability type, or they can look at a range of disabilities. This research will help to inform future accessibility standards that apply to various types of disabilities.

For example, we funded an Ontario College of Art and Design project on the barriers faced by people with speech, language, and communication disabilities. These can be due to lifelong or acquired cognitive and/or neurological disabilities, such as:

• cerebral palsy
• autism spectrum disorder
• Down syndrome
• learning disability
• intellectual disability
• fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• traumatic brain injury
• aphasia after a stroke
• dementia
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Parkinson disease
• multiple sclerosis

The development of our standards is driven by the disability community’s philosophy of “Nothing without us.” For that reason, people with disabilities and other members of diverse disability communities are involved at every stage. This includes deciding which standards should be developed. It also includes participating as experts during research and development.

Throughout the year, there are many opportunities for people in Canada to be part of our work. Information about our programs and how to get involved is available on our website.

When applying for research funding, applicants are asked to list the disabilities and barriers addressed by their project. Applicants must also estimate the number of people with disabilities who will be involved in the project and their roles. All of this information is taken into account when we assess the proposals we receive.

Accessibility Standards Canada was created to help remove barriers to accessibility in Canada by encouraging the use of standards.

Our role is to create accessibility standards for federally regulated organizations. When a standard is created, we will recommend that it become a regulation. This recommendation is made to the Minister responsible for Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. (A standard can be enforced only if it becomes a regulation.)

We do not have an enforcement role. This means we are not responsible for regulating accessibility standards. However, our role is to create world-class standards that organizations will want to implement. This includes organizations across Canada and around the world.

Under the Accessible Canada Act, the Canadian Transportation Agency protects the right of people with disabilities to have equal access to federal transportation services. This is done through regulations, codes of practice, and guidelines.

The Canadian Transportation Agency has the tools to advance the accessibility of the national transportation system. This includes enforcement and compliance mechanisms. It also makes regulations on the transportation industry’s planning and reporting requirements.

We collaborate regularly with the Canadian Transportation Agency to ensure our work aligns. We also support each other’s work. This includes sharing lessons learned and best practices.

Transportation is a priority area for our current research funding. This is a concrete way for us to help find, remove, and prevent obstacles to accessible transportation. Supporting research can help us improve accessible transportation for all people in Canada.

Our work is guided by the 7 priority areas defined under the Accessible Canada Act:

• employment
• built environment
• information and communication technologies
• communication other than information and communication technologies
• service delivery
• transportation
• procurement

The issue of airplane accessibility for people in motorized wheelchairs certainly falls within the scope of our mandate. This means we could develop a standard on this area in the future.

Every year, our Board of Directors determines priorities for standards development based on input from Canadians. To find out about the next opportunity to provide input, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and register for our newsletter.

We fund research projects that try to find, remove, and prevent obstacles to accessibility. The findings of these projects inform the development of model accessibility standards.

Funding is done through our grants and contributions program. Our main goal is to work with many different people with disabilities and organizations across Canada to move accessibility research forward.

We were created by the Act in 2019. Our mandate is to develop accessibility standards and advance accessibility research. These activities are aligned with the priority areas set out in the Act. Our main responsibilities under the Act are to:

• develop and revise accessibility standards for federally regulated organizations
• recommend accessibility standards to the Minister responsible for accessibility
• provide information, products, and services about new and revised standards
• support and conduct research on accessibility barriers
• share best practices for removing and preventing accessibility barriers.

Our standards are developed by technical committees. Our committees are currently working on 8 standards. We are also co-developing an additional 3 standards with other organizations. These 11 standards are at various stages.

Standards currently being developed

• Model Standard on the Built Environment – Accessibility
• Accessible Design for the Built Environment (in partnership with CSA Group)
• Accessible Homes (in partnership with CSA Group and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
• Outdoor Spaces
• Emergency Egress
• Emergency Measures
• Wayfinding and Signage
• Plain Language
• Employment
• Accessible Design for Automated Banking Machines and Self-Service Interactive Devices (in partnership with CSA Group)
• Accessibility Requirements for Information and Communications Technology Products and Services

To support research, we have a grants and contributions program. Since 2019, we have funded more than 40 projects in areas related to the priorities in the Act. We will continue to fund new projects in the coming years.

In addition, we have been actively engaging with the provinces and territories to see how we can support each other in advancing our respective mandates. Our objective is to encourage the harmonization of accessibility standards across jurisdictions. People with disabilities across Canada should have a seamless experience.

Our main responsibility is to develop and revise standards for accessibility in priority areas. This involves identifying and removing visible and invisible barriers to accessibility. It is vital for this work to be informed by people with a range of disabilities. That is why the development of our standards is driven by the disability community’s philosophy of “Nothing without us.”

Our biggest challenge is making sure this input is integrated into everything we do. We therefore involve people with disabilities in our consultations and in the research we fund. Many of our staff are people with disabilities. Many members of the technical committees that create our standards are people with disabilities. We rely on their experience and expertise.

At Accessibility Standards Canada, we have 4 groups that work on developing standards:

• our Board of Directors
• technical committees
• our staff, and
• communities of people with disabilities.

Many of our staff and Board and committee members are people with lived experience of disabilities. They may also have been allies of the disability community for many years. Therefore, they have a personal stake in moving our work forward and supporting the realization of a barrier-free Canada by 2040. We have a number of processes in place to ensure we meet that goal. The following explains how our accountability and progress are tracked and monitored. 

Roadmap to 2040

The Roadmap to 2040 was written to guide our work. It is reviewed every 3 years. This is so we can adjust our plans to respond to changing needs.

Accreditation

Accessibility Standards Canada is an accredited member of the Standards Council of Canada. This means that we must:

• create and adhere to protocols and procedures for our technical committees
• implement in-house quality assurance practices
• ensure all staff involved in the development of standards are properly trained.

Accredited standards development organizations are responsible for developing, publishing, and maintaining standards. The Standards Council of Canada requires this of us. These obligations add another level of accountability to our work.

Accreditation also makes it more likely that our standards will be used by others. If adopted by the provinces and territories, for example, our standards would remove more barriers and have a greater impact. They would also create a more consistent experience of accessibility across Canada.

Reporting

Because we were created by an Act of Parliament, we are classified as a departmental corporation. This means we must adhere to the federal government’s reporting cycle. For example, we must produce annual Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.

The Departmental Plan outlines our plans and priorities. It also includes different benchmarks for the results we expect to achieve during the fiscal year. These benchmarks are largely centred on standards development and research priorities.

Later in the reporting cycle, we produce our Departmental Results Report. It reports on our actual performance against our goals and expected results. This report is published after it has been approved by Parliament. We also publish an annual report that describes our work over the previous year. All of the reports we produce are available on our website. We invite you to read them to get a sense of our progress and achievements.

The Act created three organizations. Each has different accountabilities and mandates:

• Accessibility Standards Canada. We create accessibility standards and support research.
• Chief Accessibility Officer. Responsible for monitoring and reporting on outcomes related to the Act. These are outcomes generated by federally regulated departments, agencies, and industries.
• Accessibility Commissioner. Enforces the Act and its regulations. They also receive and investigate any complaints filed under the Act.

We each have our own mandate and spheres of influence. However, we collaborate as we move from intent to action. That is the key to fostering change.

We are committed to working with them, the disability community, the public service, and federally regulated entities. We all have a role to play in creating an accessible Canada.

We collaborate and consult with people with disabilities across the country. We also consult with organizations representing the interests of people with disabilities. This is essential to our success.

People with disabilities, members of diverse disability communities, and other experts are involved in and inform all stages of work. This includes our work developing standards and supporting research in priority areas. For example, we draw on their experience and expertise to provide input on which standards should be developed and when. They also serve as experts in the research we fund. 

There are many ways you can get involved in our work. This includes:

• joining a technical committee
• attending an Annual Public Meeting
• participating in our public reviews and consultations.

To learn more about how to get involved, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and sign up for our newsletter.

Copies of our latest standards can be found on our website. They are available in alternate formats, including PDF.

There are lots of ways, and they are all free!

First off, you can find information about standards in development by visiting our website: 

• To learn more about the standard development process, visit the Creating Accessibility Standards page.
• Our Roadmap to 2040 also contains information on our standards development work.
• The Reports and Publications page provides access to our:
  • Departmental Plans
  • Departmental Results Reports
  • Annual Reports.

We invite you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also register for our quarterly newsletter. All of these will keep you updated on our standards. They will also let you know when we are creating a new technical committee and how to apply to be a member.

Most importantly, draft standards are available on our website for a 60-day review period. This is your opportunity to read about upcoming standards and see what they say. It is also a chance to provide feedback, which will be considered by our technical committees moving forward. The success of our standards depends on feedback from the people in Canada they affect the most, so we urge you to participate.

When standards are final, they will be posted on our website and available at no charge.