CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language
17. Annex C: Bibliography (Informative)
Information
Table of contents
Technical committee members
- Catherine Rodgers (Chairperson), Director of Communications, People First of Canada
- Melissa Kargiannakis (Vice Chairperson), Founder and CEO, Skritswap
- Carol Wilson, Health Education Consultant, Carol A Wilson BSN RN
- Catherine Buckie, Independent Plain Language Consultant, iwritewell.ca
- Hilda Smith, Workshop Designer & Clear Language Consultant
- Karen McCall, Accessible Document Design Consultant and Trainer, Karlen Communications
- Lorne Mackenzie, Co-President, Consulting Services for Accessible Transportation Inc.
- Iva Cheung, Research coordinator, Providence Health Care; Adjunct professor, Simon Fraser University
- Julie Ruel, Researcher, Institut universitaire en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l’autisme
- Stacey Kowbel, Researcher, Vecova
- Rachel Mills, Senior Policy Analyst, Inclusion Canada
- Cynthia Jolly, Communications Manager, Canadian Transportation Agency
- Robin Kilroy, Manager, PCH Innovation Lab, Department of Canadian Heritage
- Youssef Megharfi, French Translator, Treasury Board Secretariat
- David Berman, Chief Accessibility Officer, David Berman Communications
- Eyra Abraham, Founder and CEO, Lisnen
- Laura Edlund, Writing, editing and communications
Note: Research findings from Accessibility Standards Canada’s Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Grants and Contributions Program informed the background research and development of this Standard. Related research reports are listed in the Bibliography below.
This Standard refers to the following publications and their specific editions
17.1 Acts
Government of Canada. S.C. 2019, c. 10. Accessible Canada Act
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-0.6/
Government of Ontario. 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/110191#BK2
Government of Canada. The Constitution Acts 1867 to 1982. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/pch/documents/services/download-order-charter-bill/canadian-charter-rights-freedoms-eng.pdf
Government of Canada. R.S.C., 1985, c. H-6. Canadian Human Rights Act https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/
Government of Canada. R.S.C., 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.). Official Languages Act https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/o-3.01/
17.2 Standards
CAN-ASC-1.1:2024, Employment https://accessible.canada.ca/creating-accessibility-standards/can-asc-112024-rev-2025-employment
CAN-ASC-5.2.1 - Part 1, Design and Delivery of Accessible Programs and Services: Accessible Service Delivery – Accessibility for federally regulated entities as defined by the Accessible Canada Act https://accessible.canada.ca/creating-accessibility-standards/can-asc-521-design-and-delivery-accessible-programs-and-services
CAN-ASC - EN 301 549:2024, Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (EN 301 549:2021, IDT) https://accessible.canada.ca/en-301-549-accessibility-requirements-ict-products-and-services-1
17.3 Online resources
Accessibility Services Canada. Definitions https://accessibilitycanada.ca/get-help/definitions/#:~:text=Accessibility%3A%20Accessibility%20refers%20to%20the,for%20people%20who%20experience%20disabilities
Accessibility Standards Canada https://accessible.canada.ca
Australian Government Style Manual. Easy Read https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/content-types/easy-read
The Australian Style Guide https://www.australianstyleguide.com/home
Brunet, P. 2022. Écriture inclusive/non genrée. Comment la mettre en œuvre tout en restant accessible. La nouvelle revue - Éducation et société inclusives, 93(1), 245-257. (in French only) https://doi.org/10.3917/nresi.093.0245
Canadian Association of the Deaf. Interpretation https://cad-asc.ca/issues-positions/interpreting/
Canadian Association of the Deaf. Terminology https://cad-asc.ca/our-work/terminology/
Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Inclusive and Accessible Design Guidelines, 5.3 Type Anatomy https://id.humanrights.ca/graphic-standards-for-exhibits/type-anatomy/
Canadian National Institute for the Blind. 2018. Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines https://cnib.ca/sites/default/files/2018-07/CNIB%20Clear%20Print%20Guide.pdf
Statistics Canada. 2023. Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017 to 2022 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231201/dq231201b-eng.htm
Clerc, I., and Beaudet, C. l. 2022. Communication écrite État-citoyens : défis numériques, perspectives rédactologiques. Presses de l’Université Laval. (in French only) https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=30190441
Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Office. 2025. Best Practices for Working with an ASL Interpreter. Office of Language Access. New York State https://ogs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/01/best-practices-for-working-with-an-asl-interpreter.pdf
Dister, A., and Moreau, M.L. 2024. Écrire avec des .e.s : pas si simple. Écriture inclusive et surcharge cognitive. Circula (19), 3–35. (in French only) https://doi.org/10.17118/11143/21996
Editors’ Association of Canada. 2024. Professional Editorial Standards 2024. Toronto, Ontario. ISBN 978-1-987998-17-7 https://editors.ca/publications/professional-editorial-standards/
Employment and Social Development Canada. 2022. Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations: Alternate Formats. p.7 https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/accessible-canada-regulations-guidance/alternate-formats.html
European Blind Union. Making Information Accessible for All https://www.euroblind.org/publications-and-resources/making-information-accessible-all
Girard, G., Foucambert, D., and Le Mené, M. 2022. Lisibilité de l’écriture inclusive : Apport des techniques d’oculométrie. Actes du congrès annuel de l’Association canadienne de linguistique 2022. (in French only) https://cla-acl.ca/pdfs/actes-2022/Girard-Foucambert-LeMene-CLA-2022.pdf
Government of Canada. Accessibility glossary https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/publications/accessibilite-accessibility-eng.html
Government of Canada. Alternative text and long description – Best practices https://a11y.canada.ca/en/alternative-text-and-long-description-best-practices/#
Government of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research. CIHR glossary of terms used in accessibility and systemic ableism https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53446.html
Government of Canada. Consulting persons with disabilities, Annex: Understanding disabilities https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/accessible-canada-regulations-guidance/consultation/key-concepts.html
Government of Canada. Data Reference Standard on Date and Time Format https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/digital-government/digital-government-innovations/enabling-interoperability/gc-enterprise-data-reference-standards/data-reference-standard-date-time-format.html
Government of Canada. Enhancing Access to Federal Sign Language Interpretation – Call for Concepts https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/access-sign-language-interpretation-step-1/overview.html
Government of Canada. Federally regulated industry sectors https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/permits/federallyregulatedindustrysectors.html
Government of Canada. Gender-inclusive Language https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/legis-redact/legistics/p1p15.html
Government of Canada. Guide on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Terminology https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/publications/equite-diversite-inclusion-equity-diversity-inclusion-eng
Government of Canada. The Language Portal, clear communication: choose positive over negative phrasing https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/writing-tips-plus/clear-communication-choose-positive-over-negative-phrasing
Government of Canada. Quick Reference Sheet: Inclusive writing guidelines and resources https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/sites/default/files/quick_reference_sheet_-_inclusive_writing_guidelines_and_resources_new.pdf
International Electrotechnical Commission. Accessibility/Terms and definitions relating to products and characteristics https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=872-04-01
International Electrotechnical Commission. ISO/IEC Directives, clauses 7.2 to 7.5 https://www.iec.ch/standards-development/isoiec-directives-part-2#article-header-id-5553-7verbal-forms-for-expressions-of-provisionsInternational
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) https://www.iso.org/foreword-supplementary-information.html
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 999:1996 Information and Documentation - Guidelines for the content, organization and presentation of indexes https://www.iso.org/standard/5446.html
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines https://www.iso.org/standard/78907.html
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014: Guide for addressing accessibility in standards https://www.iso.org/standard/57385.html
International Plain Language Federation (IPLF) https://www.iplfederation.org/plain-language/
Le Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes (HCE) 2022. Pour une communication publique sans stéréotype de sexe. Guide pratique. (in French only) https://www.haut-conseil-egalite.gouv.fr/stereotypes-et-roles-sociaux/travaux-du-hce/article/guide-pour-une-communication-sans-stereotypes-de-sexe
Merriam Webster Dictionary. Crash Blossom: A headline that is ambiguous because of its wording or punctuation https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/crash-blossom-words-were-watching
Office québécois de la langue française. 2025. Rédaction épicène.(in French only) https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/banque-de-depannage-linguistique/la-redaction-et-la-communication/feminisation-et-redaction-epicene/redaction-epicene
Ontario Human Rights Commission. 2016. Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability https://www3.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-ableism-and-discrimination-based-disability
Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/
Recite Me. 2015. Choosing an Accessible Font https://downloads.reciteme.com/hubfs/accessible_fonts_guide.pdf
Registered Graphic Designers (RGD). AccessAbility 2: A Practical Handbook on Accessible Graphic Design https://rgd.ca/working-in-design/resources/accessability-2-a-practical-handbook-on-accessible-graphic-design
Service d’information du Gouvernement. 2021. Charte d’accessibilité de la communication de l’État. Charte d’accessibilité de la communication de l’État | (in French only) https://www.info.gouv.fr/organisation/service-d-information-du-gouvernement-sig/charte-daccessibilite-de-la-communication-de-letat
Social Security Administration SSA-ARC. 2010. Social Security Administration Guide: Alternative text for visuals. Version 1.2. 3-4. https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/files/SSA_Alternative_Text_Guide.pdf
Standards Council of Canada. 2025. How national standards are developed https://scc-ccn.ca/standards/how-standards-are-developed/how-national-standards-are-developed
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 2021. Calls to Action https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
UNAPEI. 2009. N’écrivez pas pour nous, sans nous ! Paris,
France: Unapei. (in French only) https://fr.doczz.net/doc/3587111/guide--n-%C3%A9crivez-pas-pour-nous-sans-nous-
United Nations. 2006. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/crpd/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd
W3C World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation. 2008. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
W3C World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation. 2024. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM). Contrast and Color Accessibility https://webaim.org/articles/contrast/
Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM). Visual Disabilities. Types of Color-blindness https://webaim.org/articles/visual/colorblind
World Health Organization. 2022. Disability https://www.who.int/health-topics/disability#tab=tab_1
World Health Organization. 2023. Disability Fact Sheet https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health
17.4 Publications
Allaire, C. 2012. Informer les personnes aveugles ou malvoyantes : Partage d’expériences. Saint-Denis, France : Inpes. (in French only)
Bringhurst, Robert. 2004. Elements of Typographic Style. Hartley & Marks.
Canadian Association of the Deaf. 2023. Advancing Accessibility Standards for Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing Canadians.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind. n.d.. Clearing Our Path: Evidence-based guidelines on accessibility in the built environment for people living with sight loss.
Centre for Equitable Library Access. n.d.. Accessibility standards in commercial audiobooks.
Clark, R. C., and Lyons, C. 2010. Graphics for Learning: Proven Guidelines for Planning, Designing, and Evaluating Visuals in Training Materials, 2nd Edition. Wiley.
Crenshaw, K.W. 1994. “Mapping the Margins”. In The Public Nature of Private Violence, ed. Fineman, M. and Mykitiuk, R. New York: Routledge. Google Scholar.
CSA Group. 2021. Advancing Accessibility Standards Research: Review of CSA Group Standards for Accessibility Adaptation.
Cutts, M. 2020. Oxford Guide to Plain English, 5th edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Girard, G. 2024. Effets de l’écriture inclusive sur la compréhension en lecture. Mémoire présenté comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en linguistique. Université du Québec à Montréal. (in French only)
Grenon, M. M., Ruel, J., Fougeyrollas, P., Normand, C. L., Moreau, A. C., Romero-Torres, A. et Gravel, S. 2021. Conceptualizing access to and understanding of information. Universal Access in the Information Society. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-021-00836-w
Inclusion Canada, People First of Canada, & Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 2024. Advancing Accessible Communication for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Final Research Report.
Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society. 2024. Exploring the Place of Interpretive Supports in an Information and Communications Accessibility Standard.
Institute for Work & Health. 2024. Supporting young persons with disabilities in the future of work: Top-ranked strategies based on a three-year Delphi study.
Krause, R. 2023. “Using Imagery in Visual Design”. Nielsen Norman Group. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/imagery-in-visual-design/
Krieg-Planque, A. 2021. When public communication works on its expression: Administrations in search of “clear language”. Politiques de communication, 14(1), 3-34. https://shs.cairn.info/journal-politiques-de-communication-2020-1-page-3?lang=en&tab=resume
Lemieux, V. 2014. Pour qu’on se comprenne : Guide de littératie en santé. Montréal, QC: Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal.(in French only)
Minister of Canadian Heritage. 1994. Access Series: Design Guidelines for Media Accessibility. (French: Environment Canada and Parks Service. 1993. Guide d’accessibilité physique et sensorielle : publication, exposition et audiovisuel). https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2021/pc/R64-182-5-1993-eng.pdf
Nielsen, J. 2007. “Show Numbers as Numerals When Writing for Online Readers”. Nielsen Norman Group. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/web-writing-show-numbers-as-numerals/
Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society. 2024. Advancing Accessibility Standards through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Ontario College of Art and Design University. 2023. Communication Access within the Accessible Canada Act.
PEACH Research Unit. 2023. Visualizing Accessibility Standards: A demonstration with CSA B651.
Realize. n.d.. INDEED (INvestigating the DEvelopment of Accessibility Standards in Canada and the Inclusion/Exclusion of Episodic Disabilities.
Réseau québécois pour l'inclusion des personnes sourdes et malentendantes (ReQUIS). 2023. Accessible information for Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians Perceptions of Deaf and Hard of hearing persons, interpreters and broadcasters.
Ruel, J., Allaire, C., Moreau, A.C., Kassi, B., Brumagne, A., Delample, A., Grisard, C. et Pinto da Silva, F. 2018. Communiquer pour tous. Guide pour une information accessible. Saint-Maurice : Santé publique France. (in French only) http://w4.uqo.ca/communiquerpourtous
Screws, J. 2016. Quantitative analysis of font type’s effect on reading comprehension. Clemson School of Computing, Clemson University. http://andrewd.ces.clemson.edu/courses/cpsc412/fall16/teams/reports/group7.pdf
Senécal, M.-J., Bourgeois, L., et Roberge, L. 2012. Guide pratique pour vos documents imprimés. Longueuil, QC: Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille. (in French only)
Soullier, N. 2025. Bonnes pratiques pour la formulation de questions. Saint-Maurice : Santé publique France.(in French only)
Swabey, L., Nicodemus, B., and Taylor, M. 2014. “Preparation strategies used by American Sign Language-English interpreters to render Barack Obama’s inaugural address” in Interpreters Newsletter. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270341435_Preparation_strategies_used_by_American_Sign_Language-English_interpreters_to_render_President_Barack_Obama’s_inaugural_address
Willerton, Russell. 2015. “Plain Language and Ethical Action: A Dialogic Approach to Technical Content in the 21st Century”. New York: Routledge.
National Standard of Canada
CAN-ASC-3.1:2025
Plain Language


Published in October 2025 by Accessibility Standards Canada
A departmental corporation of the federal government
320, Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Suite 246, Gatineau, QC, J8Y 3Y8
To access standards and related publications, visit accessible.canada.ca or call 1-833-854-7628.
Cette Norme nationale du Canada est disponible en versions française et anglaise.
ICS code(s): 11.180.01, 01.140.10
ISBN 978-0-660-79061-9
Catalogue number AS4-45/2025E-PDF