Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

What this priority area is about

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are the digital tools and systems people use daily. This includes:

  • websites
  • mobile apps
  • software
  • virtual meetings
  • online forms

Under the Accessible Canada Act, this priority area is about ensuring these technologies are accessible. That means creating digital content, services, and tools that everyone can use on their own, no matter their abilities or the devices they use.

Why it matters

ICT helps people to connect, learn, work, and access services independently and effectively. 

Including accessibility from the start makes digital tools work better for everyone. It means the tools can:

  • work with assistive technologies
  • include inclusive communication features
  • ensure easy navigation

This approach creates digital spaces that are inclusive, barrier-free, and simple for all to use.

Key work in this area

Explore our databases to find expert-developed resources to help you design digital tools 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 - 25 of 38
Title Status Recipient Start year Completed year
A 360 Degree Assessment of the Duty To Accommodate Framework in Workplace Accommodation Provision Underway Business + Higher Education Roundtable 2025 Not applicable
Cybersecurity Accessibility and Inclusion Assessment Framework Underway Ontario College of Art and Design University 2025 Not applicable
Strengthening the Climate Resilience of People with Disabilities Underway The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation 2025 Not applicable
A roadmap for upgrading existing transit accessibility standards and their implementation Underway Council of Canadians with Disabilities 2024 Not applicable
Accessibility of E-streaming Services Underway Neil Squire Society 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
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
Accessibility of Canadian Emergency Alerts: Study of Unmet Needs Underway Neil Squire Society 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
Creating Inclusive Employment: Empowering Youth with Disabilities Through Inclusive, Accessible Skills Development Underway March of Dimes Canada 2023 Not applicable
Developing Principles, Guidance, and Good Practices for Community-Based Emancipatory Research on Accessibility Standards Underway Council of Canadians with Disabilities 2023 Not applicable
Enabling Independence: Assessing Activities of Daily Living to Inform Safety Standards for Built Environments Underway Carleton University 2023 Not applicable
Ensuring Access and Understanding of Public Information for People with Disabilities Underway Université du Québec à Rimouski 2023 Not applicable
Go Barrier-Free: A Study of Gaps and Best Practices in Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Solutions Underway New Brunswick Community College 2023 Not applicable
Quiet waves: Firsthand Experiences of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals Reports of Barriers in Communication in the Built Environment Completed Canadian Association of the Deaf 2023 2024
Regulating the Digital Domain Underway Inclusive Design Research Centre - Ontario College of Art and Design University 2023 Not applicable
Responsible Conduct of Research Through an Accessibility and Inclusion Lens Underway Canadian National Institute for the Blind 2023 Not applicable
Virtual Communication Project Underway Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility 2023 Not applicable
A Study of Accessible and Inclusive Virtual and Blended Service Provision Models for the Federal Public Service and Federally Regulated Industries in Post-COVID-19 Canada Completed University of Ontario Institute of Technology 2022 2024
Accessible and Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Decision-Making Underway Canadian National Institute for the Blind 2022 Not applicable