Accessibility
Accessibility in the public service means:
"A Public Service where employees with disabilities can fully participate, can be included, can be valued, where differences are embraced and everybody can work to their full potential and contribute to the maximum."
Luna Bengio, principle advisor to Yazmine Laroche, Deputy Minister of Public Service Accessibility.
Learning plays an important role in helping you to understand what accessibility means and why it matters to making ESDC a more accessible and inclusive workplace and service provider.
In this page, you will find various learning activities related to accessibility, organized into the following themes:
- What accessibility means
- Why accessibility matters
- How to integrate accessibility into your work
- Tools and resources
Many of the following learning activities are informal, so do not forget to take credit for your learning by manually adding your activity to your learning history (DOCX, 91 KB) in Saba.
Did you know?
Although it is voluntary, self-identification can make a difference in the organization. The self-identification form helps ESDC to create an accurate picture of our workforce; it pinpoints where we need to eliminate barriers that limit or exclude designated groups from opportunities that should be open to all employees.
What accessibility means
What does accessibility mean in the Government of Canada context? Get started with the basics.
Accessible Canada Act
In July 2019, the Accessible Canada Act came into force, after being developed with disability communities through the most inclusive and accessible consultations in Canadian history.
Canada's first national accessibility law aims to benefit all Canadians—especially those with disabilities—through the proactive identification, removal and prevention of barriers to accessibility wherever Canadians interact with areas under federal jurisdiction.
Read the integral Accessible Canada Act and reference this accessibility glossary to help understand some of the terms
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service
Our vision is to make Canada's public service the most accessible and inclusive in the world. Our work is in setting the conditions for the public service of Canada to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to participation for persons with disabilities. Our strategy is a roadmap to prepare the public service to lead by example and become a model of accessibility for others, in Canada and abroad.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
What is Episodic Disability?
Increasing numbers of Canadians are living with episodic disabilities. Learn about what this means and how it could affect you.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Why accessibility matters
Deepen your knowledge by learning more about why accessibility matters.
CSPS Disability Inclusion in the Public Service of Canada: An Introduction
This foundational video explains the daily barriers faced by people with disabilities and what public servants can do to reduce, remove and report barriers to foster an inclusive federal public service.
In addition to the video, the CSPS has also created short testimonials by two public service employees:
Duration: 5 minutes
Methodology: Video
Course ID: N/A
Access CSPS Disability Inclusion in the Public Service of Canada: An Introduction
My Accessible GC Series
Yazmine Laroche, Deputy Minister for Public Service Accessibility, hosts a video series that focuses on public servants doing amazing work, who also happen to have a disability of some kind.
You can find new episodes monthly. To find them, type "accessibility" in the filter items box of the web page.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Video Series
Course ID: N/A
How to integrate accessibility into your work
Learn the elements you need to consider to make sure that accessibility is by design in our workplace and in the services we offer to Canadians.
Workshops and other training
Accessibility Curriculum
The Curriculum developed by the IT Accessibility Office provides an opportunity for employees to increase their knowledge of accessibility and to serve internal and external clients. It will also be an opportunity for various target audiences to proactively provide accessible services, software and programs that bring the greatest value to our colleagues who use adaptive computer technology.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Web Based
Course ID: N/A
Web Accessibility for Canada.ca
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the accessibility of its websites. This course outlines federal standards and guidelines on web accessibility and emphasizes the requirements, roles and responsibilities involved in compliance with this standard. Participants will learn how to assess and apply Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 consistently across Canada.ca web pages.
Duration: 15 hours
Methodology: Instructor led
Course ID: T716
Disability Management
The training provides employees and managers with an introduction to Disability Management. This is an interactive course with examples, case studies and quizzes.
Duration: 6 hours
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: 10001100
Making Your Services Accessible for People with Communication Disabilities
This introductory course provides an overview of the many considerations involved in making services accessible from a communications perspective. Participants will learn about the different types of barriers to communication, such as speech and language impairments not primarily caused by hearing loss, and what accommodations are available to address them.
Topics include:
- understanding communication disabilities
- identifying the barriers to communication
- exploring accommodations and supports
- using the Communication Assistance Database
- applying the communication access symbol
Duration: 42 minutes
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: W098
Access Making Your Services Accessible for People with Communication Disabilities
Workplace Accommodation for Federal Public Service Employees
This online course aims to raise awareness and understanding among public service managers of the underlying principles of workplace accommodation and their importance and benefits.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Methodology: Instructor-led / virtual classroom
Course ID: C345
Access Workplace Accommodation for Federal Public Service Employees
Accessibility Learning Series
The Canada School of Public Service's Accessibility Learning Series will help you understand how you can be more inclusive every single day by eliminating and avoid creating new barriers for people with disabilities.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: N/A
Accessibility for managers and executives
Accommodation Process
Accommodation Process is a shared responsibility requiring commitment from both managers and employees to work together to identify and implement workplace accommodation solutions so that employees can participate to their full potential.
Participants will learn to:
- identify key workplace accommodation principles;
- engage other employees and apply strategies and tools to foster an inclusive, barrier-free work environment.
Duration: 1 hour
Methodology: Instructor led
Course ID: 00015402
Duty to Accommodate: Environmental Sensitivities in the Workplace
This teleconference is facilitated by a specialist from the Centre of Expertise on the Duty to Accommodate and an Occupational Health and Safety Advisor, and it will provide managers with an opportunity to:
- Exchange their experiences;
- Discuss their responsibilities and limits to accommodate employees with environmental sensitivities;
- Discuss how to be proactive in addressing environmental sensitivities; and
- Share best practices on communicating with employees and coworkers.
Duration: 1 hour
Methodology: Instructor led teleconference
Course ID: 00048279
Access Duty to Accommodate: Environmental Sensitivities in the Workplace
Supporting a Healthy Workplace: Group Discussion on Managing Challenging Workplace Issues
A group session for managers that offers additional support and guidance by HR professionals, to manage complex workplace issues that could arise with their teams.
Duration: 2 hours
Methodology: Instructor-led / virtual classroom
Course ID: 0000081433
Access Supporting a Healthy Workplace: Group Discussion on Managing Challenging Workplace Issues
Tools and resources
Creating accessible content using Microsoft Office 2016
Learn practical tips and best practices to use MS Office 2016 to create accessible content with Outlook, Word and PowerPoint.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Methodology: Instructor-led / virtual classroom
Course ID: 0000102948
ESDC Accessibility Roadmap
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Accessibility Roadmap is the Department's plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility for employees and the Canadians we serve.
This site, managed by the ESDC Accessible Canada Directorate, is a hub to support the development and implementation of the Roadmap. It provides you with information about upcoming engagement activities and lets you know about ways to participate. It includes practical tools for employees and managers, messages and articles and is a gateway to policies, guidelines and learning related to accessibility.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
A Way with Words and Images
Words and images are a powerful tool in shaping society's attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities. However, despite the progress achieved in recent years, negative stereotypes still exist. The media can help overcome these by continuing to cover disability-related issues in an accurate, objective, and inclusive manner.
This booklet seeks to promote a fair and accurate portrayal of people with disabilities. It recommends current and appropriate terminology to help you reach this goal.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Planning Accessible Virtual Events – Job Aid
This job aid provides you with best practices to plan inclusive and accessible virtual events.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Daily Disability - Related News Stories
Stay informed about current events and news related to accessibility. Whether you want to read in-depth articles or catch a few headlines, The Office for Disability Issues provides subscribers with a daily selection of disability-related news stories; providing you opportunities to dive-deeper into the area of accessibility and further expand your learning.
To join this mailing list, send an email request to The Office for Disability Issues: nc-accessible-gd@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.
Accessible Canada Facebook & Twitter pages
The Accessibility Hub GCpedia
The Office of Public Service Accessibility was established to prepare the public service to meet or exceed the requirements of the proposed Accessible Canada Act. On this page, you can access to the Guides and Templates for accessible Word documents, PDFs, websites, social media etc.
Digital Accessibility Toolkit
In the GC Digital Accessibility Toolkit, you can access:
- Several resources for rendering documents and forms accessible
- Tips for designing accessible services, user experience and procurement
Corporate Subscriptions
Did you know that you can further your understanding of unconscious bias through the Mouvement québécois de la qualité (MQQ) (French-only) and Gartner (CEB) (mostly English-only) subscription services? To access a host of articles, discussions and events, all you need to do is:
- Create an account (DOCX, 25 KB)
- Search their catalogue with the keyword: "accessibility"
Manager's Toolkit in Diversity Management
On this page you will find more than 20 resources and reference documents about diversities management. That includes employment equity, self-identification, evaluation of candidates who self-identifies as a member of an equity group and much more!
Useful contacts
Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are used to provide services to employees and their managers to ensure that adaptive technology solutions are available to employees with disabilities in their workplace.
Accessible ICT also provides many tools and resources to ESDC employees. Visit ESDC's IT Accessibility Office page to learn more creating accessible Microsoft Office and PDF documents and tips on accessible design for a variety of users needs.
Access Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Employees with Disabilities Network (EwDN)
Employment and Social Development Canada's (ESDC) Employees with Disabilities Network (EwDN) is an employee-led forum for employees of ESDC, Service Canada and the Labour Program portfolios. Membership to the EWDN is voluntary and open to all employees who share a common goal of a diverse and inclusive workplace. This network meets regularly to discuss various topics and to share information.
The EwDN mandate is to:
- Promote employment equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion of employees with disabilities
- Provide a supportive and responsive network for employees with disabilities
- Advise managers, human resource advisors and Diversity Champions of issues and concerns for employees with disabilities
- Serve as a consultative body for departmental initiatives (to review the potential impact on employees with disabilities)
Duty to Accommodate (DTA)
The Duty to Accommodate (DTA) Program at ESDC strives to promote DTA as a stay at work initiative and provides guidance, tools, training and best practices to support managers and employees in facilitating the DTA requests and implementation of the accommodation measures.
If you have questions about these offerings or need assistance to register, contact your Learning Coordinator (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).