Guidance on accessibility plans
From: Employment and Social Development Canada
Overview
These guidance modules will help federally regulated entities create accessibility plans as required by the Accessible Canada Regulations. They also contain additional tips, best practices, and resources that may inspire entities to go farther in eliminating barriers to accessibility.
Important notice
The regulations set different deadlines for the publication of different entities' first accessibility plans:
- government entities, including departments, agencies, Crown corporations, or government-related entities such as the Canadian Forces or Parliamentary entities: December 31, 2022
- large federally regulated private sector entities with an average of 100 or more employees: June 1, 2023
- small federally regulated private sector entities with an average of between 10 and 99 employees: June 1, 2024
Read sections 1 and 2 of the regulations to learn which entities may be exempt from these requirements.
Who this guide is for
These guidance documents are intended for those to whom the Accessible Canada Act applies, including:
- Government of Canada entities, including departments and agencies
- crown corporations
- every portion of the federal public administration designated under subsection 7(3) of the ACA
- the Canadian Forces
- parliamentary entities
- federally regulated private sector entities
In this guide
- Introduction
- Overview
- Nothing without us and basic principles
- Accessibility plans: key concepts
- What the ACA and its regulations require
- Accessibility plans for different regulatory authorities under the ACA
- Recommended first steps
- Recommendations on deciding who is responsible for your plan
- Recommendations on identifying barriers
- Recommendations on consulting persons with disabilities
- Preparing your accessibility plans
- Required heading: "General"
- What the regulations require that you include under the "General" heading
- Additional information we recommend you include under the "General" heading
- Required headings: Areas described under Section 5 of the ACA
- What the regulations require that you include under these area headings
- Additional information we recommend you include under these area headings
- Required heading: "Consultations"
- What the regulations require that you include under the "Consultations" heading
- Additional information we recommend you include under the "Consultations" heading
- Other recommended content
- Glossary
- Budget and resources
- Training
- Length, detail, and design
- Alternate formats and simple, clear, and concise language
- Alternate formats
- Simple, clear, and concise language
- Requirements for publishing your plans
- Keeping copies of your plans
- Required heading: "General"
- Recommendations on evaluating and documenting your accessibility plans
- Recommendations for evaluating your plan
- Recommendations for record-keeping
- Looking ahead: the reporting cycle and updating your accessibility plan
- The planning and reporting cycle
- Updating your accessibility plan
Alternate formats
Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations – Module 1: Accessibility Plans [PDF - 985 KB]
Large print, braille, MP3 (audio), e-text and DAISY formats are available on demand by ordering online or calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.
A summary of the Guidance on accessibility plans is also available.
Details and history
Published: December 22, 2021
For assistance
If you have questions or comments about these guidance documents, please contact the Accessible Canada Directorate at accessible.canada.directorate-direction.canada.accessible@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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