Author name: Amit Aggarwal

Accessibility Partners has been at the forefront of ensuring that municipal services and communications in Ontario are inclusive and accessible to all, aligning with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards. With our expertise, we have helped municipalities make significant strides towards AODA compliance, fostering greater community inclusivity. This blog covers our experiences with two (anonymous) municipal projects, shedding light on the intricacies and achievements involved in reaching AODA compliance.

In an era where inclusivity is not just valued but essential, the public sector in British Columbia is stepping up to the challenge. Recent legislation has introduced new accessibility requirements, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive society. This blog post explores these new mandates and how Accessibility Partners can play a pivotal role in aiding public sector organizations to meet these evolving standards.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring that services and products are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, is not just a legal requirement but also a moral necessity. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this is by establishing an Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). Here are some compelling reasons why your organization should consider forming an AAC:

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA), enacted in 2019, represents a significant step forward in creating a barrier-free Canada. This legislation aims to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers in areas that fall under federal jurisdiction. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the ACA and its impact on businesses and individuals.

Navigating the complex world of accessibility compliance can be a daunting task for any company. Consider accessibility laws like the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA), the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), all of which are evolving constantly. This means that staying compliant requires a proactive approach.

Imagine you’re playing a video game for the first time and the instructions are hard to understand. That’s how the internet feels people with learning disabilities. This is where digital accessibility comes in to make sure that online spaces are easy to navigate for everyone, regardless of their ability.

It’s important to understand what document remediation is and why it’s important. Document remediation refers to the process of modifying digital documents (like PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets) to ensure they are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This process involves incorporating various features such as alternative text (“alt text”) for images, proper heading structure, readable fonts, and navigable layouts.

Imagine the frustration of not being able to access travel information like schedules, tickets, changes, or policies because a website is hard to navigate, or the confusion when encountering newly procured elevators with touch screens that are still largely inaccessible to blind people because they require the user to locate objects on the screen visually.

Alt text is an essential element in making documents, images, and infographics accessible to individuals with visual impairments. It provides a textual alternative to visual content, enabling screen readers to convey the message to users who cannot see the images. However, the creation of alt text often presents challenges for organizations, leading some to seek external solutions.