Staff Writer
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a piece a of federal regulation passed in 2019 which aims to enforce and improve accessibility and inclusion nationwide. The ACA aspires to make Canada barrier-free by 2040. This means removing obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in society by ensuring all federally regulated organizations follow a set of accessibility rules. These regulations provide detailed instructions on how to comply with the ACA, ensuring that everyone can enjoy equal access and opportunities in Canada. Keep reading to learn more about the ACA, who is impacted, what these regulations hope to accomplish for an accessible future, and who to contact if you’ve experienced an access issue at a federal organization.
An estimated 6.2 million Canadians above the age of 15 live with a disability, with the true number probably being higher. While 80% of Canadians without disabilities between 25-54 are employed, only 59% of Canadians with disabilities in that age range are employed. There is also a pay gap affecting people with disabilities, with those with milder disabilities earning 12% less and those with more severe disabilities earning 51% less than their non-disabled counterparts. People with severe disabilities are likelier to live in poverty.
The federal government estimates that increased labour-force participation by disabled Canadians could increase Canada’s GDP by up to 3.2%. Creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce for disabled Canadians means combatting the complex physical, administrative, technological, institutional, and social barriers which lead to underemployment. Improving accessibility will not only improve the experiences of disabled Canadians but have tangible economic benefits to the entire country.
What does it mean when the ACA says it wants to remove barriers by 2040? Anything that prevents persons with disabilities from fully participating in society is a barrier. From visible barriers like buildings without ramps to less visible ones like overly complex language in instructions, the ACA addresses a broad scope of barriers which make participating in society challenging for persons with disabilities. By identifying, removing, and preventing these barriers, the government of Canada seeks to make a more inclusive society for everyone.
The Accessible Canada Act identified 7 areas where the government will take action to eliminate barriers:
1 Employment
2 Built environment
3 Information and communication technologies
4 Other forms of communication
5 Access to goods, services, and facilities
6 Program and service design and delivery
7 Transportation
This means that the government will require public sector organizations to accommodate a wide range of abilities across these different activities. For example, plans and reports are required to be provided in large print, braille, audio, and other electronic compatible with assistive technology to help people with disabilities access these resources. Other accessibility practices include removing non-essential hiring requirements which may exclude people with disabilities and ensuring that buildings have wheelchair ramps and other means of removing physical barriers. By mitigating all these different barriers, the Act aims to meaningfully address systemic ableism.
How does the Accessible Canada Act plan to accomplish its goals? The Act contains compliance measures where businesses and organizations must demonstrate their commitment to improving accessibility. Under the ACA, organizations must create and publish accessibility plans detailing how they will identify, remove, and prevent barriers. These plans must be updated every 3 years and involve consultations with persons with disabilities. Additionally, organizations are required to provide alternate formats of these plans upon request, ensuring everyone can access the information they need. This collaborative approach helps make Canada more inclusive.
Why do we need regulations? The Accessible Canada Act sets out broad requirements, and the regulations make these requirements clear and enforceable. For instance, they set deadlines for accessibility plans: federal government organizations had to publish their first plans by December 31, 2022, while large businesses have until June 1, 2023. The regulations also detail feedback processes and progress reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability. These steps are crucial for making Canada barrier-free by 2040 and creating a society where everyone feels welcome and valued.
If you or someone you know experienced a harm because an organization captured by the ACA failed to provide a barrier-free and accessible experience, you can contact the Accessibility Commissioner who enforces the Act. Please find the complaint process and contact information for the commissioner here. An accessible Canada may not be achievable overnight, but knowing and advocating for your accessibility rights is a key step to making it happen.
In the United States, several pieces of legislation aim to protect the rights of students with disabilities and ensure appropriate accommodations in schools. Knowing your rights is important. Keep reading to learn about the various rules and standards that protect accessible, equitable education in the US and where to access support.
Welcome to our educational series about the Accessible Canada Act, a federal regulation which aims to enforce and improve accessibility and inclusion nationwide.
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