Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations: progress reports
Overview
These guidance documents will help federally regulated entities (organizations) understand the planning and reporting requirements set by the Accessible Canada Regulations (regulations). They also contain additional tips, best practices, and resources that may inspire organizations to go farther in eliminating barriers to accessibility.
This specific guidance focuses on helping organizations write their accessibility progress reports.
You can also read our guidance on:
- accessibility plans
- sample accessibility plan template
- consulting persons with disabilities
- feedback process descriptions
- simple, clear and concise language
- alternate formats
Important notice
The regulations set different deadlines by which different federally regulated organizations must publish their first accessibility plans. These deadlines depend on the organizations’ function and size. Organizations should keep these deadlines in mind as they plan their consultations.
- Government entities – including departments, agencies, Crown corporations, or government-related entities such as the Canadian Forces or Parliamentary entities – must publish their first accessibility plans by December 31, 2022
- Large federally regulated private sector entities with an average of 100 or more employees must publish their first accessibility plans by June 1, 2023
- Small federally regulated private sector entities with an average of between 10 and 99 employees must publish their first accessibility plans by June 1, 2024
Read sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Accessible Canada Regulations to learn which entities may be exempt from these requirements.
Who this guide is for
These guidance documents are intended for entities and persons mentioned in paragraph 7(1) of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), 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
- Recommended first steps
- Choosing who prepares the report
- Tracking and measuring your progress
- Consulting persons with disabilities
- Preparing your progress reports
- Introduction
- Required heading: “General”
- Required headings: areas in section 5 of the ACA
- Required heading: “Consultations”
- Required heading: “Feedback”
- Going beyond required headings
- Publishing and handling your progress reports
- Introduction
- Publishing progress reports: timelines and notifications
- Publishing progress reports: locations
- Publishing progress reports: format and contents
- Publishing progress reports: handling and retention
- Notifying regulatory and enforcement authorities
Alternate formats
Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations: progress reports [PDF - 487 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.
Details and history
Published: March 10, 2023
For assistance
If you have questions or comments about these guidance modules, please contact the Accessible Canada Directorate at accessible.canada.directorate-direction.canada.accessible@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
If you have questions or comments about the Accessible Canada Regulations, including about how they will be enforced, please contact the office of the Accessibility Commissioner. The Commissioner’s office is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm (Eastern Time). You can contact the Commissioner’s office by the following means:
- telephone
- toll free: 1-888-214-1090
- TTY: 1-888-643-3304
- Canada Video Relay Service (VRS)
- fax
- 1-613-996-9661
Related items
Page details
- Date modified: