Accessible Canada Act Compliance Plan — Federal Port Authority, All Seven Priority Areas
The Accessible Canada Act does not allow organisations to choose which priority areas to address. We built a plan that covered all seven and we continue to manage it.
Project Overview
A federal port authority responsible for a marina facilities, and terminal operations engaged Accessibility Partners to develop and manage its Accessible Canada Act compliance program. As a federally regulated entity, the organisation is required to address all seven ACA priority areas: employment, the built environment, information and communication technology, communication other than ICT, the procurement of goods and services, the design and delivery of programs and services, and transportation.
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The ACA Conformance Challenge
The ACA imposes obligations that go well beyond a website audit or a building assessment. It requires a published accessibility plan, a feedback mechanism for people with disabilities, and a progress report issued annually. For an organisation operating a port and marina facilities, the scope of each priority area was substantial and the organisation needed a practical, sequenced strategy rather than a conformance checklist.
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Our ACA Compliance Planning Approach
We began with a current-state assessment across all operations, mapping existing practices, policies, and infrastructure against ACA requirements in each of the seven priority areas. From that baseline, we identified gaps, developed a phased multi-year roadmap with clear milestones, and built the accessibility plan and feedback mechanism required for initial ACA publication.
Accessibility Partners continues to provide ongoing compliance management, including advisory support, annual progress reporting, and adjustments to the roadmap as requirements evolve.
Project Snapshot
- Industry
- Federal Port Authority
- Location
- Canada
- Compliance Standard
- Accessible Canada Act
- Key Result
- 7/7 priority areas · Multi-year
ACA Conformance Results & Ongoing Management
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Multi-year ACA compliance plan developed, covering all seven priority areas
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Current-state assessment completed across all operations
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Phased implementation roadmap with clear milestones
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Accessibility plan and feedback mechanism published in line with ACA requirements
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Ongoing compliance management and annual progress reporting in place
Services Used
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ACA Advisory
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Multi-Year Accessibility Planning
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the seven priority areas under the Accessible Canada Act?
They include employment, built environment, ICT, communication, procurement, transportation, and program and service delivery.
What does an ACA accessibility plan need to include when first published?
It usually includes current barriers, planned actions, timelines, and a public feedback mechanism.
How does ongoing ACA compliance management work after the initial plan is published?
It includes ongoing advisory support, progress reporting, roadmap updates, and continued accessibility improvements.
Does the Accessible Canada Act apply to organisations that operate both transportation and non-transportation facilities?
Yes. Federally regulated organisations must address accessibility obligations across all applicable operations and services.