CAN-ASC-7.1: Accessible Travel Journey - Notice of intent

Standards development organization

Accessibility Standards Canada

Contact information

Email: 

Info.Accessibility.Standards-Normes.Accessibilite.Info@canada.gc.ca

Mailing address:

320, St-Joseph Boulevard
Suite 246
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3

Telephone:

1-833-854-7628

Work program

The work program lists all of Accessibility Standards Canada’s in-progress and completed standards. It is available online at https://accessible.canada.ca/creating-accessibility-standards/work-program.

Designation number

CAN-ASC-7.1 

Standard type

National Standard of Canada – Domestic 

Standard development activity

New standard

International Classification for Standards (ICS) codes

• 01.080 Graphical symbols
• 03.080 Services (for companies and consumers)
• 03.100 Company organization and management
• 03.200 Tourism
• 03.220 Transport
• 11.180 Aids for disabled or handicapped persons
• 13.180 Ergonomics
• 35.240 Applications of information technology
• 49.095 Passenger – Passenger and cabin equipment 
• 49.100 Ground service and maintenance equipment 
• 55.020 Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• 91.040 Buildings
• 91.060 Elements of buildings

Comment period start date

December 20, 2022

Comment period end date

January 17, 2023

Scope

The purpose of standard CAN-ASC-7.1 is to ensure the technical requirements for an accessible travel journey are equity-based. This requires going beyond minimum technical specifications. 

The travel journey involves multiple areas. These include transportation, the built environment, service delivery, communications, and more. CAN-ASC-7.1 will combine requirements for all of these areas into one unified standard. The following are some common travel-related areas where persons with disabilities may face barriers:

• paths of travel
• building entrances
• communications
• customer services
• access to services
• parking and loading zones
• universal washrooms
• boarding 
• support services (luggage, equipment, transfers, access to communications)
• security screenings

Project need

In recent years, there have been a number of reports of people with disabilities having unacceptable experiences during travel. This shows there is a need for this standard. CAN-ASC-7.1 will help remove and prevent barriers and provide equitable access to travel. 

Accessibility Standards Canada was created under the Accessible Canada Act. Its mandate is to prevent, identify, and remove barriers to accessibility in Canada for people with disabilities. To do this, it develops standards. These are based on the needs of people with disabilities. These needs are identified by consulting Canadians with disabilities. This includes the members of the Accessibility Standards Canada Board of Directors. Most Board members are people with disabilities. The Board has approved the development of this standard. 

Accessibility Standards Canada standards are developed following the principle of “nothing without us.” This means that people with disabilities are involved in the development process:

• Its standards are developed using research that is led by people with disabilities or with lived experience.
• People with disabilities are members of the organization’s technical committees. These committees produce equity-based requirements for standards. These take into account the needs and perspectives of people with disabilities. 
• The public review process for this standard will be accessible. This will allow even more people with disabilities to be part of the development process.

Date posted

Posted to the Standards Council of Canada Centralized Notification System on December 15, 2022.