The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and Canadian federal law, require government-affiliated entities to comply with accessibility standards in both the brick-and-mortar and digital realms under federal jurisdiction. This landmark legislation protects the rights of people entitled to various public goods and services, including transportation and transportation communications.
Read on to learn more about the Canadian ADA equivalent, including who is covered, the responsibilities under the act, and why accessibility is essential for a barrier-free Canada.
Benefits of the Accessible Canada Act
Here are our top three favorite accessibility benefits:
Promotes Inclusivity
One of the main goals of ACA compliance in Canada is to encourage the inclusivity of all citizens. With approximately 15% of the world’s population having some form of disability, this act extends to education, employment, and transportation by providing accessible systems like captioning and sign language interpretation. It even extends to the workplace, where individuals with disabilities can be equipped with adjustable desks, captioning software, and other tools to perform their jobs well.
Economic Development
By investing heavily in accessibility and the Canadian Human Rights Act, Canadian businesses can better serve the population’s needs. For example, the Rogers Centre, home to the Toronto Blue Jays, has several accessibility features for disabled users, including accessible seating, entrances, exits, and facilities. The stadium even provides assistive hearing aids or headphones to enhance the experience for all attendees. By providing individuals with disabilities with accessibility plans, businesses prosper.
Website Engagement
The ACA oversees the websites of government entities and helps analyze accessibility data. Better-performing websites allow individuals with disabilities to perform their jobs effectively. Features like larger cursors, reading lines, color contrast ratios, and compatibility with assisted accessibility devices help individuals with disabilities better access information.
In short, inclusiveness, economic development, and increased website engagement are three of the many accessibility benefits Canadians enjoy under the ACA.
Who Is Covered by the Accessible Canada Act?
Although the ACA serves all Canadian citizens and focuses on businesses operating within the country that provide public goods and services, Canadian accessibility laws generally target federal government departments and agencies. For example, one popular entity covered under the Accessible Canada Act is transportation services providers like the Canadian Transportation Agency or legal authorities like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Under the Act, transportation providers must meet national accessibility standards for vehicles, stations, and facilities. There are many ways to optimize layouts, including tactile wayfinding indicators and prominent signage for the visually impaired. The ACA also strongly focuses on Crown corporations and federally regulated agencies, including but not limited to the Canada Revenue Agency, Health Canada, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
One important distinction is how the Accessible Canada Act differs from another popular accessibility initiative, the AODA. It differs from the AODA in scope, as the ACA is national (including federal public servants) and the AODA is Ontario-specific.
Responsibilities and Obligations of Organizations Under the Act
The ACA requires participating businesses to meet certain responsibilities and obligations. The number one provision is meeting accessibility standards when providing goods and services, including accommodations. This requires creating thorough disability plans complete with milestones, timelines, and supporting documentation listing all policies and protocols.
Another critical aspect of the ACA is an organization’s responsibility toward training and awareness. Training and awareness programs allow organizations to raise awareness and educate people with disabilities on effective communication practices, including using assistive technologies like screen readers and Braille readers.
Without proper training and awareness, organizations could face legal challenges such as lawsuits by plaintiffs, negative publicity, and extra regulatory oversight. As the Accessible Canada Act applies to the Federal Government and all its regulated entities (e.g., transportation), failing to comply could result in losing funds or bidding opportunities for governmental projects.
The Canadian Government holds government contractors and private businesses to the highest standard of accessibility compliance.
How to Ensure Compliance with the Act
To ensure compliance with the ACA, we have the following recommendations:
- Develop a Thorough Understanding: The first step is to develop a thorough working knowledge of all Accessible Canada Act requirements and why it seeks to develop national accessibility standards. Access the terms and conditions in your area (e.g., transportation facilities or web development) and follow all guidance meticulously. If you own a brick-and-mortar business, gather necessary documentation such as floor plans and online tools to start establishing an accessibility plan.
- Perform an Accessibility Audit: The next step is to conduct an accessibility audit that thoroughly reviews all your properties and procedures. If needed, consult outside parties to help interpret the rhetoric of the Accessible Canada Act. Stay updated on trends and government agency recommendations for a barrier-free Canada.
- Make an Accessibility Plan: Create an accessibility plan that identifies short-, mid-, and long-term goals. For example, if you have an inaccessible website, use a website accessibility widget like Accessibly to identify problem areas and equip your website with additional tools for the visually, cognitively, and audibly impaired. For brick-and-mortar locations, make concessions such as installing wheelchair ramps, enlarging entryways, and other modifications to ensure full and equal participation.
- Ongoing Training: Your accessibility efforts are only as good as the training you provide to employees. Ensure all employees are engaged with the latest news and offer regular workshops and other resources to remain informed. Seek feedback about your programs to continuously improve them.
By following these steps, you can ensure healthy compliance with the Accessible Canada Act, whether your property is a brick-and-mortar location or a digital one.
