For many years we have been improving the accessibility of Statistics Canada (StatCan) products, programs, and services. Below are some of the actions that were completed in the last year that contributed to our goal of being completely accessible by 2040.
Culture
- Created an Accessibility Secretariat and expanded the accessibility governance structure to advance accessibility awareness and engagement.
- Launched the Accessibility Data Hub in June 2021.
- Hired an external consultant to conduct a comprehensive accessibility review to identify the barriers to participation for persons with disabilities across StatCan.
- Participated in the employee-led Engaging DisAbility Innovation Study in collaboration with Canadian Heritage and supported by the Office of Public Service Accessibility.
- Developed a draft measurement framework to evaluate and report on the work done on all areas under the Accessible Canada Act.
Workplace Accommodation
- Co-led the Workplace Accommodation Workflow Design Project with the Office of Public Service Accessibility.
- Piloted the Government of Canada Workplace Accessibility Passport.
- Mapped all accommodation processes to identify barriers and establish where accommodation timelines could be reduced (ongoing).
- Standardized the purchase authorization for ergonomic chairs and sit / stand desks.
- Published a frequently asked questions page for employees on how to submit a request for accommodation.
Employment
- Established a partnership with Office of Public Service Accessibility to develop a data hub to track the progress of hiring of 5,000 net new employees with disabilities within the public service.
- Hired an external consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive system review to identify accessibility barriers in processes and practices.
- Completed the Employment Accessibility Survey as part of the Engaging DisAbility Innovation Study to identify where and how employees experience barriers in recruitment, retention, promotion and workplace accommodation practices.
- Hired one intern through the Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities (FIPCD) and one through the Live Work Play initiative.
Built environment
- Secured consultants to conduct a physical audit of the office spaces within all buildings in the National Capital Region.
- Completed 65% of priority repairs on nine temporary offices.
- Held consultations with persons with disabilities.
- Leveraged the return-to-work application and secured accommodations for on-site workers.
Information and communication technologies
- Raised awareness on the state of information and communication technologies (often called IT) accessibility and adoption of accessibility standards for all IT products.
- Established a preliminary listing of 800 existing applications that will be assessed to determine their accessibility compliance.
- Created the IT Accessibility Advisory Board to present, review and synchronize horizontal and vertical IT accessibility project work.
Communication, other than information and communication technologies
- Launched a text to speech function on the StatCan website.
- Assessed internal communication products to meet accessibility requirements.
- Provided American Sign Language and langue des signes québécois interpretation for summary videos in support of census releases.
- Conducted accessibility checks for all client-facing communication products to ensure accessibility compliance prior to their release.
- Transformed two non-accessible communications (for instance, eliminated PDF [portable document format] and pop-up messages).
Procurement of goods, services, and facilities
- Developed content and information about accessibility for the ICN page for business owners;
- Adjusted internal procedures and working documents to include accessibility requirements.
- Adjusted the Internal Procurement Audit Program to manually compile compliance on accessibility.
- Consulted with the Financial Management System to find a way to track accessibility requirements.
Design and delivery of programs and services
- Initiated the review of current learning platforms that identified accessibility barriers.
- Developed a preliminary inventory of all services provided by StatCan as a baseline for future review.
- Initiated a pilot project to offer text-to-speech on several sites (Phase I included 12 modules).