Help shape Canada's accessibility standards: Closed consultation

About Accessibility Standards Canada

We are a new federal organization created by the Accessible Canada Act.

Our mandate is to build accessibility standards. These standards will apply to areas under federal responsibility. This includes Government of Canada departments and agencies. It also includes sectors such as:

• banks
• broadcasting
• federal transportation network

In addition, our organization supports research about accessibility that:

• identifies barriers
• removes barriers
• prevents barriers to accessibility

We do this through the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research grants and contributions program. The research will inform accessibility standards in the future.

Visit our Mandate page to learn more about:

• our mandate
• areas under federal responsibility

Priority areas

The Accessible Canada Act identifies 7 key areas to improve accessibility:

• employment
• the built environment
• information and communication technologies
• communication (other than information and communication technologies)
• the purchasing of goods, services and facilities
• the design and delivery of programs and services
• transportation

We are creating our first standards in the following areas:

• plain language (communication)
• outdoor spaces (built environment)
• emergency egress (built environment)
• employment

So far, the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research grants and contributions program has supported research projects in the areas of:

• employment
• emergency measures
• built environment (including parks and outdoor spaces)
• information and communication technologies
• accessibility for Indigenous persons and communities
• communications (other than information and communication technologies)

More information

• Mandate
• Creating accessibility standards
• Advancing Accessibility Standards Research
• Accessible Canada Act