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 16 - 30 of 38
Title Status Recipient Start year Completed year
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
Developing Recommendations for the Standardization of Wayfinding Technologies Completed University Health Network 2022 2023
Informing Standards for Acoustics and the Built Environment Completed Carleton University 2022 2023
Towards Better Accessibility in Communications: Identifying the Barriers Faced by People with Aphasia in Financial Institutions Completed Association des personnes intéressées à l’aphasie et a l’accident vasculaire cérébral 2022 2024
Visualizing Accessibility Standards: A Demonstration with CSA B651 Completed Dalhousie University 2022 2023
Accessible information for Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians Completed Réseau québécois pour l’inclusion des personnes sourdes et malentendantes 2021 2023