Communication (other than ICT)

What this priority area is about

Communication other than information and communications technologies (ICT) is how we share information in spoken, written and online formats. 

Under the Accessible Canada Act, this priority area is about ensuring all types of communication are accessible and equitable for everyone. This includes:

  • conversation
  • public announcements
  • printed materials
  • emails
  • meetings
  • press conferences
  • other ways of sharing information

Why it matters

Accessible communication ensures everyone can receive, understand, and share important information with confidence. 

Including accessibility from the start removes barriers, supports equity, and improves access to information for all. This approach allows persons with disabilities to access the same information as everyone else, fully participate in society, ask questions, and make informed decisions.

These practices can help all organizations share and engage in clear, inclusive, and barrier-free communication with everyone.

Key work in this area

Explore our databases to find expert-developed resources to help share information with inclusion in mind. These databases connect you with standards, technical guides and evidence-based research to guide your work.

 

Standards and technical guides: Practical documents to help you apply accessibility from day one

Research projects: Insights and evidence to support innovation in this area

Displaying 1 - 15 of 22
Title Status Recipient Start year Completed year
Enhancing employment contracts accessibility: Plain language recommendations for accessible workplaces Underway Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility Corp. 2025 Not applicable
Harmonizing Air Travel: Advancing Global Accessibility Standards Underway Access Now 2490196 ONTARIO INC. 2025 Not applicable
Strengthening the Climate Resilience of People with Disabilities Underway The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation 2025 Not applicable
Uncovering the “Hidden Expectations” of Work: Informal Barriers Faced by Autistic Workers Underway The University of Ontario Institute of Technology 2025 Not applicable
Unlocking Understanding: Assessing the functional accessibility of plain language in federal government communications Underway Clay Tree Society for People with Disabilities 2025 Not applicable
A roadmap for upgrading existing transit accessibility standards and their implementation Underway Council of Canadians with Disabilities 2024 Not applicable
Accessibility standards in commercial audiobooks Underway Centre for Equitable Library Access 2024 Not applicable
Accessible Communications of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities Underway Parametric Human Project 2024 Not applicable
Addressing accessibility standards in the criminal justice system Underway DisAbled Women's Network of Canada (DAWN Canada) 2024 Not applicable
All Standards With Us: Integrating Accessibility and Disability Inclusion in All Standards Underway Inclusive Design Research Centre – Ontario College of Art and Design University 2024 Not applicable
INDEED: INvestigating the DEvelopment of Accessibility Standards in Canada and the Inclusion/Exclusion of Episodic Disabilities Completed Realize 2024 2025
Mapping Representation and Barriers to Participation by People with Disabilities in the Screen-Based Media and Broadcasting Sectors Underway Disability Screen Office 2024 Not applicable
Accessibility Futurisms: Analyzing Access through a Disability Justice Modality Underway The Youth Project Society of Nova Scotia 2023 Not applicable
Accessible Canada, Accessible World: Co-creating a Global Standards Community Completed Inclusive Design Research Centre - Ontario College of Art and Design University 2023 2025
Brain Injury and Accessibility of the Electoral Process in Canada Underway Brain Injury Canada 2023 Not applicable