Public Review Form: Draft - A Model Standard for the Built Environment - Accessibility
Accessibility Standards Canada is creating a Model Standard for the Built Environment - Accessibility. This standard aims to remove and prevent barriers in the built environment for everyone, including persons with disabilities. It contains technical requirements to be applied to the design of buildings and building sites to promote an inclusive environment. The standard is at the draft stage and can be changed through a process called Public Review.
Like all of Accessibility Standards Canada’s standards, this standard is designed to contribute to the realization of a Canada without barriers by 2040. It supports the goals of the Accessible Canada Act and Accessibility Standards Canada’s mandate and is based on the disability community’s philosophy of “Nothing without us.”
This is the first version of the standard, which was developed by a technical committee that included experts with disabilities. It was developed to support a memorandum of understanding between Accessibility Standards Canada and British Columbia’s Attorney General and the Ministry Responsible for Housing. It will be shared for reference in whole or in part in the British Columbia Building Code.
In this first version of the standard, the technical committee aimed to update existing practices in the built environment. Version one includes requirements for all of the following:
- exterior and interior paths of travel
- access to building entrances and all storeys of a building
- ramps and curb ramps
- elevators
- stairs
- doorways and doors, including power door operators
- controls
- passenger loading zones and access aisles
- washrooms and universal washrooms, including showers
- signs and wayfinding
- illumination
- assistive listening systems
- emergency notification systems
- fire protection and refuge areas.
In the second version of the standard, the technical committee aims to ensure it serves as many persons with disabilities as possible. The committee intends to do all of the following:
- update and expand existing requirements
- examine the needs of persons from more disability communities, including persons who are neurodiverse and persons with environmental sensitivities
- develop parking requirements
- add diagrams
- include information to help readers understand how the standard removes and prevents barriers in the built environment for everyone, including persons with disabilities.
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Where can I access the draft standard?
You can read or download the draft standard on Accessibility Standard Canada’s website.
What are we asking?
We are asking for suggestions on the standard. Suggestions can be:
- Editorial such as spelling, grammar, formatting and accessibility
- Technical such as dimensions or application of the standard
- General comments on the overall standard or a section such as things that are missing.
For each suggestion, you need to include five things: four are required and one is optional:
- The section number (required)
- What we should change (required)
- What we should change it to (required)
- Why you think we should change it (required)
- Any related files you want to share
Who can help?
Anyone can make suggestions on the standard and we are especially interested in input from individuals with lived experience of disability, stakeholders, government organizations and anyone who would use or benefit from this standard.
How to prepare your suggestions for the suggestion form
- Choose a way to keep track of your ideas for suggestions that happen as you read the standard (paper and pen, computer, recording, etc.).
- Access the standard and read it.
- If you find something that you think should be changed, then keep track of the section number (e.g., 7.2.6.4.1) because you will need it when you fill out the form.
- For each suggestion you want to submit, also include:
- what you think should be in the standard instead and
- why you think that.
- Decide if you will use the online form or the downloadable suggestion form to share your suggestions (this is described in the How to submit your suggestions section). You can add audio, video and other files in either form.
When can suggestions be sent in?
Our public review is open for 60 days. Suggestions can be submitted until 11:59 PM EST, on January 7, 2023.
How to submit your suggestions
You can submit your suggestions in text, audio, or video formats. Please note that each file that is included on the online suggestion form must be less than 1 GB.
Please use the online suggestion form below to submit your suggestions on the draft Model Standard for the Built Environment – Accessibility.
You can also download a fillable PDF form and submit your suggestions and any related files by email.
Note
If the PDF does not download automatically, please click or press the download button located at the top of your screen while the PDF is open. The download button should look like an arrow pointing down (see example below, circled in yellow) or a floppy disk/diskette:
Note
The online form below is designed to be finished in one sitting, it cannot be saved and completed in another sitting. We recommend submitting the form with completed suggestions at the end of each sitting and starting a new form at your next sitting.
About the form
- Up to ten suggestions can be made on each suggestion form.
- You can submit as many forms as you like.
- If you have suggestions for a lot of sections of the standard, the downloadable suggestion form may be a more convenient option.
Do you need more information or help?
If you need any assistance with this review process, please contact us by email.
Personal information collection statement
We collect your name, postal code and contact information for two reasons:
- To understand how the draft standard may need to be changed to better meet the needs of people in different parts of Canada.
- In some cases, we will use this information to contact you to learn more about your suggestion. This will only happen if you agree to let us contact you.
The authority to collect information contained on this form for the purposes described above is provided under the authority of the Accessible Canada Act. Your personal information will be managed in accordance with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act and other laws protect your personal information. You have the right to access and correct this information.
Your right to privacy and control of your information
We follow rules about the information we can collect from you and save. The personal information that can be collected is described in the “Outreach Activities PSU 938” Personal Information Bank.
You can find instructions on how to learn about personal information saved about you at: Treasury Board of Canada “Information about programs and information holdings”.
The personal information that you provide is protected under Canada’s Privacy Act. Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to access your personal information and request changes to information that is incorrect.
You have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada regarding the institutions’ handling of your personal information at: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Public Review Online Suggestion Form
Following is the online suggestion form. If you prefer to send your suggestions by email, use this fillable PDF form.
Note
If the PDF does not download automatically, please click or press the download button located at the top of your screen while the PDF is open. The download button should look like an arrow pointing down (see example below, circled in yellow) or a floppy disk/diskette: