On the eve of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we introduced CAN (the Canadian Accessibility Network); the new Pan-Canadian, multi-sectoral community that is advancing accessibility in Canada and beyond. This single-day immersive event brought together present and future CAN partners to engage in thought provoking idea-sharing forums to yield those collective moments of… Continue reading CAN Summit 2019
The Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN)’s first CAN Connect Forum: Showcasing Accessibility through the City of Ottawa! During this lunchtime session, City of Ottawa’s Lucille Berlinguette-Saumure, Program Manager for Accessibility, and Megan Richards, Accessibility Specialist, facilitated a panel discussion with key members of their team as they showcased the City’s strategic initiatives, including an overview of the… Continue reading Showcasing Accessibility through the City of Ottawa
Deidre Guy, Founder and President of Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC), and Jeff Wilson, Founder and CEO of Adaptability Canada, share their knowledge and expertise related to accessibility in procurement. Watch the recording below:
Across Canadian post-secondary institutions, there are a variety of shared strengths and challenges regarding accessibility. This CAN Connect Forum provided an opportunity for attendees to interact in an informal, open environment, sharing experiences and learning about the successes and challenges faced at post-secondary institutions. This event was not recorded.
This CAN Connect Forum provided the opportunity for attendees to interact in an informal, open environment, sharing what we’ve learned during the pandemic about employment of persons with disabilities and considering how we can identify and create more meaningful employment opportunities for persons with disabilities post pandemic. This event was not recorded.
Accessibility plans are an important step towards enacting change within an organization. But creating an accessibility plan and implementing it can be challenging, especially for organizations that are developing plans for the first time. At this CAN Connect Forum, panelists with many years of accessibility planning experience shared their expertise, best practices, and tips for… Continue reading Accessibility Planning Tips and Best Practices
The “Increasing Accessibility with Assistive Technology” session provided an engaging, collaborative discussion about how to make workplaces increasingly accessible and best suited for the transition from education into work. Facilitator & Moderator, David Banes, Distinctability’s internationally recognized ally and Assistive Technology expert, and panelists from Brain in Hand UK, the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN),… Continue reading Increasing Accessibility with Assistive Technology
The “Accessibility in the Built Environment” session was an engaging presentation that helped attendees learn how to identify barriers to meaningful access for people who have vision, hearing, and mobility disabilities. Uli Egger, Accessibility Specialist at the Rick Hansen Foundation, provided an overview of two accessibility education courses offered through the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF).… Continue reading Accessibility in the Built Environment
To mark the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN) and Statistics Canada co-hosted a panel to provide insights into the Deafblind community, share inclusive practices, and address misconceptions. Blindness is not the same for everyone. Deafness is not the same for everyone. There are a range of experiences and… Continue reading Insights into the Deafblind Community Panel
Current building and accessibility codes represent basic, minimal standards that are often not accessible for all. By incorporating the lived experience of persons with disabilities, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) is working to identify infrastructure issues that are often overlooked in design, make adjustments that can be done easily at low cost, and… Continue reading Accessibility in Engineering Design
CAN hosted a 90-minute conversation with former Deputy Minister, Yazmine Laroche, as she reflected on her life and career in the public service and the importance of removing barriers to ensure full participation of persons with disabilities in society. The dialogue offered perspectives on what has been achieved and what we can do to continue… Continue reading Reflections on Accessibility: A Conversation with Yazmine Laroche
CAN celebrated National AccessAbility Week and AccessAbility Day 2023 with a webinar event co-presented by the Canadian Accessibility Network, the City of Ottawa, and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – National Capital Region. The event featured a Canada-wide discussion on accessibility policy at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, featuring top institutions and public… Continue reading AccessAbility Day 2023: Developments in Accessibility Legislation and Policies
CAN hosted an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion that raised awareness about the unique barriers and realities faced by Indigenous persons with disabilities. The conversation fostered a deeper understanding of the perceptions of accessibility and disability within Indigenous communities and explore how we can work towards reconciliation and take action to build more inclusive societies… Continue reading Pathways to Change: Indigenous Insights on Accessibility and Disability
Accessible transportation is not merely a matter of convenience. The ability to move freely and independently is a fundamental pillar of an inclusive and barrier-free society and one that is needed to access education, employment, healthcare, and social opportunities. This CAN Connect Forum provides attendees with an overview of the ongoing initiatives and research aimed… Continue reading Accessible Transportation in Canada
To mark Global Entrepreneurship Week and celebrate the success of entrepreneurs with disabilities across Canada, the Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN), in collaboration with the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) Leaders in Canada, hosts a panel discussion that provides insights into self-employment as an accessible path for persons with disabilities. There are many reasons why individuals… Continue reading CAN Connect Forum: Entrepreneurship in Canada – Perspectives from People with Disabilities
