Introduction

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) requires federally regulated entities (organizations) to prepare and publish:

• accessibility plans
• progress reports, and
• descriptions of their feedback processes

Under the Accessible Canada Regulations (regulations), organizations must make these documents available in alternate formats upon request. The regulations say which alternate formats people can request, and how they can request them. They also say how long it should take an organization to fulfill a request.

This guidance will help organizations understand and meet these requirements. It includes details on the alternate formats an organization must provide. It recommends ways organizations could handle and respond to requests. It also includes tips to help organizations ensure their accessibility plans, progress reports, and feedback process descriptions are accessible.

In line with the principles of the ACA, this guidance reflects input from the disability community.

This guidance is not legally binding. However, it does describe actions that the ACA and its regulations require. These descriptions use the words "must" and "required." The guidance also includes tips and recommendations. These tips and recommendations use the words "recommend," "should," “may,” "suggest," and "could."

Note: This document uses some short forms to make it easier to read. In some places, the guidance talks about requests for “formats” or “alternate formats.” This short form is also not legally binding. It also does not apply to any text other than what is in this guidance and its annex.

This means requests for copies of accessibility plans, progress reports, or feedback process descriptions. It also means that these documents are to be:

• made available to the requester as soon as feasible, but within the applicable deadlines set out in the regulations
• in the formats set out in the regulations:
  • print
  • large print
  • Braille
  • audio format
  • an electronic format that is compatible with adaptive technology that is intended to assist persons with disabilities

You can also read guidance on:

• preparing and publishing accessibility plans
• consulting persons with disabilities
• feedback process descriptions
• simple, clear, and concise language
• progress reports

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