Growing up with a #disability and now working as an #accessibility consultant, I notice these types of barriers all the time. For me, and for the estimated 27% of #Canadians who also have
a disability that affects their day-to-day activities (a number that #StatisticsCanada expects to increase as the baby boomers age), automatic door openers are just the tip of the iceberg.

In 2019, the federal government passed the #AccessibleCanadaAct (ACA), which aims to make #Canada fully #accessible by 2040. Despite this perception that the proverbial needle of accessibility is moving forward, Canada isn’t as accessible as it thinks it is. Many bars and restaurants still lack accessible washrooms; Braille menus and signage are still uncommon; obstacles make it hard for wheelchair users to navigate public spaces.

New findings from #AccessibilityTechnology company #AccessNow corroborated this reality as part of its #research project, Mapping Our Cities for All. Considered Canada’s largest accessibility #ResearchInitiative to date, the project evaluated the state of accessibility at more than 14,000 sites in #Vancouver, #Calgary and #Ottawa. Released last November, the research found that almost 60% of public businesses were only partially accessible or not accessible. Much like my Toronto café, many of these spaces had some accessibility features, like a ramp, but also barriers, such as a bathroom only reachable by stairs.

https://broadview.org/canada-isnt-as-accessible-as-it-claims-to-be/

#PeopleWithDisabilities #DisabledCanadians #CDNpoli #BCpoli #YYJpoli #Inclusiveness #CommunityDiversity #AccessabilityForAll

#GovernmentOfCanada is developing new #accessibility regulations as part of the #AccessibleCanadaAct, with the goal of making #workplaces #BarrierFree for #PeopleWithDisabilities by 2040. In partnership with the #Canadian National Institute for the #Blind #CNIB & with funding from #AccessibilityStandards #Canada, we spoke to #employers about the barriers, needs, and enablers when it comes to hiring, supporting & retaining #PwDs.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-bher-report-dives-into-employer-perspectives-on-hiring-persons-with-disabilities-in-support-of-creating-a-barrier-free-canada-by-2040-892196896.html

#CDNpoli #DisabledCanadians #Employment

Federal employers (100+ employees) have just over a month to publish an "accessibility plan" or be in violation of the Accessible Canada Act (the “Act”).

https://mcmillan.ca/insights/update-for-federal-employers-upcoming-deadlines-under-the-accessible-canada-act/

#AccessibleCanadaAct #Accessibility #a11y