{"id":76587,"date":"2021-05-27T10:30:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T14:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?p=76587"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:36:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:36:24","slug":"city-of-ottawa-joins-the-canadian-accessibility-network-led-by-carleton-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/2021\/city-of-ottawa-joins-the-canadian-accessibility-network-led-by-carleton-university\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Ottawa Joins the Canadian Accessibility Network led by Carleton University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n City of Ottawa Joins the Canadian Accessibility Network led by Carleton University\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

As part of National Accessibility Awareness Week virtual celebrations, Mayor Jim Watson today announced the City of Ottawa is joining the Canadian Accessibility Network<\/a> (CAN), which is led by Carleton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city proclaimed May 27 as annual AccessAbility Day, providing an opportunity to connect with residents, share successes and get feedback on emerging issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watson was joined by special guests Suzanne Blanchard, Carleton\u2019s vice-president (Students and Enrolment) and chair of the CAN governing council, and Tony Labillois, chair of the CAN advisory council.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWe are very pleased to welcome the City of Ottawa to the Canadian Accessibility Network,\u201d said Blanchard.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThis collaboration demonstrates the collective impact that can come from the power of linking arms and building collective capacity to achieve a barrier-free Ottawa and a barrier-free Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAN, which is led by Carleton University\u2019s READ Initiative<\/a> (Research, Education, Accessibility and Design), provides a national voice to people with disabilities. There are currently 47 CAN collaborators<\/a> from across Canada, working together to advance accessibility through research, design and innovation, education and training, policy, employment and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cJoining CAN will position the city as a leader in accessibility and benefit our residents. This partnership will broaden the knowledge and expertise of our employees on accessibility-related issues and advance our efforts of creating an inclusive city for all,\u201d said Watson.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Carleton is recognized as a leader in accessibility advocacy, research and best practices. Watson expressed how fortunate Ottawa is to have Carleton\u2019s national leadership on accessibility issues and the city looks forward to the benefits this collaboration will have for residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a member of CAN, the city will choose an area of focus and partner with organizations interested in the same work. The City of Ottawa will benefit from collaborating and exchanging knowledge with organizations like post-secondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, service providers, associations and foundations, and public and private industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city hopes to work towards a variety of goals with fellow Canadian Accessibility Network partners, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n