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Accessible
St. Mary's
An Accessibility Plan
for the
Municipality of the District of St. Mary's
This page is intentionally left blank.
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Community Engagement .................................................................................................................. 5
Committee Members ........................................................................................................................ 5
Rating System ..................................................................................................................................... 6
The Built Environment ...................................................................................................................... 8
Information and Communications ................................................................................................ 11
Employment ......................................................................................................................................14
Services ............................................................................................................................................. 17
Transportation ................................................................................................................................. 21
Implementing the Plan .................................................................................................................. 24
Responding to Questions or Concerns ....................................................................................... 26
Promoting Accessibility Awareness ............................................................................................. 26
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................. 27
References......................................................................................................................................... 28
Introduction
On behalf of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary's Accessibility Advisory
Committee, Council and Staff, you're invited to read the Municipality's first
Accessibility Plan-- "An Accessible St. Mary's".
In 2017, Nova Scotia adopted the Accessibility Act--Bill 59. This legislation requires
public bodies, such as Municipalities to create an accessibility plan with the help of
an advisory committee made up of individuals who represent individuals of all
abilities. Action is important as 30.4% of Nova Scotians identify as a person with a
disability, compared to 22.3% of all Canadians (Statistics Canada, 2022).
The community of St. Mary's is invited to ask questions and share suggestions at any
time. As per section 42 of the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act updates to the plan will
continue to flow through the Accessibility Advisory Committee to Council, and a full
update every three years will give the Municipality the ability to steadily address
barriers to municipal services, programs, buildings, and infrastructure. As per the
municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee policy, the Committee will meet four times
per year, or otherwise required to fulfill its duties.
The Municipality is committed to equitable access to community life and participation
in society for people of all abilities. The Municipality will actively work to eliminate
and prevent barriers to ensure environments are welcoming, inclusive, and accepting
places for all people with a focus on the areas mandated by the Provincial
Government such as the built environment, information and communications,
employment, services, and transportation.
The Municipality recognizes the value of making meaningful changes throughout St.
Mary's to work towards achieving the provincial goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by
2030. The Municipality trusts that residents and visitors will appreciate the
improvements that are being made throughout the Municipality.
Community Engagement
Community engagement was an essential component in developing the Accessibility Plan.
Residents and visitors experience services and are the primary users of municipal facilities,
therefor they have knowledge and expertise to help identify what does and does not work
for persons of all ages and abilities.
The Municipality hosted three Accessibility Community Consultations in different locations
throughout the Municipality starting at 6:00 pm. Efforts were made to inform as many
individuals as possible of the community consultations with the invitation to attend.
Unfortunately, these community consultations were not successful.
The Municipality also issued a survey to gather community feedback. The survey was
advertised in the newsletter, on the municipal website, and Facebook page. Councillors
were also given copies of the survey to distribute to residents in their communities. They
survey was successful in gathering feedback from the community. The comments in the
survey as well as a review of municipal practices by staff were used in the preparation of
the Accessibility Plan.
Committee Members
To the committee members who have helped create the Municipality's Accessibility Plan,
thank you! The Municipality is proud of this plan and look forward to seeing it put into
practice and improve accessibility for residents and visitors.
Accessibility Advisory Committee members, current and past, who helped create this plan
include:
Deputy Warden Fuller
Deborah Baker
Mallory Nickerson
Mallory Fraser, Municipal Clerk, ex-officio
Rating System
The following criteria were used to determine the priority of each action within the Plan.
Urgency
The Urgency level dictates the speed at which a task is expected to be completed.
Low
Individuals have access to community life and participation in society
without completing the task.
Medium
Individuals have moderate access to community life and participation in
society without completing the task.
High
Individuals have no access to community life and participation in society
without completing the task.
Impact
The level of impact measures achieved action items and their ability to improve
accessibility for the residents and visitors of the Municipality.
Low
A task that affects a few residents & visitors of all ages and abilities.
Medium
A task that affects many residents & visitors of all ages and abilities.
High
A task that affects most residents & visitors of all ages and abilities.
Priority Level
The priority level of each action is determined by integrating the Urgency and Impact levels
together.
Priority Matrix
Impact
Low
Few Individuals
Medium
Number of
individuals
High
Community-
Wide Impact
Urgency
High
Medium
High
High
Medium
Low
Medium
High
Low
Low
Low
Medium
The Built Environment
Our Commitment
The Municipality of the District of St. Mary's is committed to providing public buildings and
public spaces that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities, whether owned, leased
or operating the space. The Municipality will encourage citizens, community organizations
and the business community to make other public and private spaces accessible.
The Starting Point
The Municipality of the District of St. Mary's owns, leases, and operates public facilities. The
Municipal Office houses a community space. The Recplex provides a location for skating
and curling in the winter and other recreational programs during the spring, summer and
fall months. The Municipality also operates a Fitness Center located in Memorial Place at
Saint Mary's Education Centre / Academy, and utilizes the other spaces located within
Memorial Place. The Municipality has many facilities which are related to providing public
municipal services such as the Water Treatment Plant, Sewer Treatment Plant, and the
Municipal Transfer Station. The Municipality has two public open spaces, Stonewall Park
and Pioneer Park. There are also municipally owned properties that are leased and run by
outside organizations such as the Sherbrooke Library, and the Port Bickerton Lighthouse.
Other municipal infrastructure includes sidewalks, roads, and parks.
Achievements
Achievements for the built environments owned, leased, or operated by the Municipality
include:
- The Municipal Office Building is a one level building, and with an accessible entrance.
- In 2022 approximately one kilometer of accessible sidewalk was constructed on Main
Street Sherbrooke making downtown amenities more accessible to residents and
visitors.
Barriers
Many public facilities do not meet the most recent CSA building code requirements for
accessibility due to updates not being mandated unless triggered by a renovation.
Examples of this include:
- Many facilities entrances do not have accessible doors and entryways.
- Many facilities do not have washrooms that are fully accessible to people of all ages
and abilities.
- Many facilities do not have accessible seating.
- Many facilities have a lack of accessible parking.
- Municipal Public Open Spaces are not accessible to people with mobility challenges.
- Rest areas in open municipal spaces are not accessible.
- Navigating the interior of the Sherbrooke Public Library is difficult in a wheelchair.
- Accessible parking is limited at many facilities and spaces.
Policy Work
The Municipality will enact policy for its public spaces to:
- Provide access for people of all ages and abilities to public buildings, public
washrooms, and at public parks.
- Provide adequate accessible parking locations, and associated curb cuts at municipal
facilities and parking lots.
- Consider accessibility throughout all stages and aspects of design for future
Municipal facilities.
- Ensure municipally owned buildings are scent-free environments.
- Ensure the use of accessibility best practices when planning for new trail systems and
public open spaces.
- The Municipality will enact policy for community partnerships to:
o Encourage community organizations to have their existing buildings meet the
provincial accessibility standards for the built environment.
o Encourage accessibility best practices be used when planning for new trail
systems and public open spaces.
1 Please note that recommendations are in the order based on the year they are recommended to be
Recommendations1
Urgency
Impact
Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Create the parameters for an Accessibility
Impact Analysis for new buildings and
when renovating buildings and include it in
reports for staff and council.
Medium Medium Medium
2023-24
Determine what facilities the Municipality is
responsible for inspecting for accessibility
& create an inspection schedule.
High
High
High
2023-24
The Building Inspector will perform
accessibility audits of the required facilities
to identify what does not meet the
provincial accessibility standards for the
built environment.
High
High
High
2023-24
Create a Municipal Accessible Facility
Strategy for the required facilities to meet
the provincial accessibility standards for the
built environment.
High
High
High
2023-24
Support community partners, local
businesses and organizations in making
accessibility improvements by promoting
available funding opportunities.
High
High
High
2023-24
Investigate accessible parking at municipal
facilities and a strategic approach to ensure
ample accessible parking is available.
High
High
High
2024-25
Work with Eastern Counties Regional
Library to ensure that space within library
the library allows access to collections and
programs at the Sherbrooke Public Library.
High
High
High
2024-25
Complete the recommendations from the
Municipal Accessible Facility Strategy.
High
High
High
2029-30
complete.
Information and Communication
Our Commitment
Information and communications delivered by the Municipality will aim to be clear and
accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Plain clear language is essential to providing
the best service to residents, visitors, and stakeholders.
The Starting Point
The Municipality delivers information to the public in many ways including:
- In-person- at various municipal facilities or community spaces which can include
meetings and customer service delivery.
- Digitally- by email, the municipal website, social media platforms and the Voyent Alert
system (email, text, phone).
- Orally- telephone, radio, recordings
- Print- municipal newsletter, letters/mail, and newspaper advertisements.
Achievements
Achievements for municipal information and communication include:
- The Municipality has implemented a button for accessibility tools on the municipal
website. Accessibility tools included in the feature consist of a screen reader,
adjustments for font size and spacing, adjustments for screen colors, and aids for
identifying links and headings.
- Registration forms for recreation programs can be submitted using the municipal
website.
Barriers
Barriers to municipal information and communication include:
- Portable Document Format's (PDF's) on the municipal website that are scans of
documents are not accessible to individuals who use a screen reader.
- Images on municipal social media platforms and the website do not have alternative
text and are not accessible.
- Audio recordings and videos shared on the website and social media do not have
closed captions.
- Many municipal documents and communications are not in plain language and at a
level for the average reader. 48% of adult Canadians have literacy skills that fall below
a high school level, which negatively affects their ability to function at work and in
their personal lives.
- It can be difficult to find items on the municipal website when navigating.
- Many municipal documents are not available in large print.
- There are no accessibility accommodations for individuals to participate in public
meetings.
Policy Work
The Municipality will enact policy to:
- Upon request, provide information in an accessible format or with communication
supports that consider a person's individual needs and develop a campaign to
promote this service to the public.
- Hold public meetings in barrier free locations.
- Increase accessibility across the Municipality's website, social media and information
sharing platforms.
- Provide training for council and staff to be better equipped to communicate with
individuals of all ages and abilities.
- Increase accessibility within municipal documents.
2 Please note that recommendations are in the order based on the year they are recommended to be
complete.
3 The Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate is responsible for implementing and administering the Nova
Scotia Accessibility Act and developing the accessibility standards that will become law.
Recommendations2
Urgency Impact Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Reformat PDFs on the municipal website
that are scans of documents and are not
accessible to all users.
High
High
High
2023-24
Training for council and staff to be better
equipped to communicate with
individuals of all ages and abilities.
Medium
High
High
2023-24
Redevelop the municipal website to make
it more accessible and user friendly.
Low
Low
Low
2024-25
Determine what the municipality is
responsible for under the provincial
accessibility standards for information and
communications.
Medium Medium Medium
There is no
estimated date
of
enactment for
this standard3.
Accessibility audits of required
information and communications by the
municipal Accessibility Advisory
Committee to identify what does not
meet the accessibility standards for
information and communications.
Medium Medium Medium
Create a strategic approach for Municipal
information and communications to meet
the provincial accessibility standards for
the information and communications.
Medium Medium Medium
Complete the recommendations from the
Municipal Communications and
Information Strategy.
High
High
High
Employment
Our Commitment
The Municipality is committed to providing barrier free employment opportunities for
people of all ages and abilities who seek a career with the Municipality. The Municipality
will make employment practices and workplaces more accessible for new and existing
employees of all ages and abilities.
The Starting Point
The Municipality employs a range of permanent full-time, part-time, and seasonal
employees and works with many volunteers. The main worksites for employees and / or
volunteers include the Municipal Office, the Water Treatment Plant, Sewer Treatment Plant,
the St. Mary's Municipal Transfer Station, and the St. Mary's Recplex.
The Municipal Council of St. Mary's consist of a set number of councillors, of which two
serve as the Warden and Deputy Warden. Each councillor represents an electoral district
within the Municipality. The Council may also appoint public volunteers to serve on
municipal committees.
Achievements
Achievements for employment include:
- The recruitment process includes standardized questions and a scoring process to
remove bias.
- Members of Council receive iPad's for reading agendas and municipal documents.
This makes reading more accessible since users can zoom in on text and change the
font size.
Barriers
Barriers to employment include:
- The Municipality does not routinely require staff training to recognize employment
barriers and identify appropriate job accommodations for individual employees.
- Some municipal worksites are not barrier free or reasonable accommodations are not
available.
- The interview process takes into consideration appearance and personal impressions.
Policy Work
The Municipality will enact policy to:
- Routinely offer accommodations during the recruitment and hiring process.
- Offer accessibility accommodations to employees of all ages and abilities.
- Ensure accessibility and inclusion is considered when reviewing and developing
programs or processes related to employment.
4 Please note that recommendations are in the order based on the year they are recommended to be
complete.
Recommendations4
Urgency Impact Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Require all staff and recommend that
Council complete Working with Abilities
training.
High
High
High
2023-24
Establish a centralized accommodation
fund to pay for assistive technology,
devices and accommodations for
employees.
Medium
High
High
2024-25
Develop a formal process for council &
staff to request accessibility
accommodations.
Medium
High
High
2024-25
Determine what the Municipality is
responsible for under the provincial
accessibility standards for employment.
High
High
High
2025-26
Audit of municipal worksites and
practices to identify what does not meet
the provincial accessibility standards for
employment.
High
High
High
2025-26
Create a Municipal Employment
Accessibility Strategy Plan to meet the
provincial accessibility standards for
employment.
Medium
High
High
2025-26
Complete the recommendations from the
Municipal Accessibility Employment
Action Strategy.
Low
High
Medium
2029-30
Services
Our Commitment
The Municipality is committed to providing equitable services to individuals of all ages and
abilities.
The Starting Point
The Municipality of the District of St. Mary's offers many services to the public including,
but not limited to:
- In person customer service at the Municipal Office.
- Maintaining municipal parks and trails.
- Providing recreation programs.
- Providing grant support to local community organizations.
- Maintaining municipal sidewalks.
- Maintaining water and sewer services.
- Ice rentals.
- Operation of the St. Mary's Municipal Transfer Station.
- Operation of the St. Mary's Fitness Center.
- Use of the Municipal Office Community Room.
- Recreation equipment rentals.
- Dog tag registry.
- Providing resources to the business community.
- Providing funding opportunities to the business community.
- Building & Development Permits.
Achievements
Achievements for services include:
- Many forms of payment are accepted, including mail and online banking which offers
flexibility and options for those unable to visit the Municipal Office.
- Online form for recreation program registration.
- The Municipal Building Inspector has been trained through the Rick Hansen
Foundation Accessibility Certification program. This program provides participants
with the fundamental skills and knowledge required to rate a site for accessibility.
Barriers
Barriers to services include:
- Lack of accessible public transportation.
- Lack of inclusive and accessible recreation programming.
- The cost of individual transportation or inability to obtain public transportation to
programs.
- Inaccessible facilities:
o The inside accessible door at the Municipal Office needs repair.
o Entering the Sherbrooke Public Library using the ramp is difficult as someone
from the inside must open the door for the user.
o The Recplex and Sherbrooke Library does not have accessible doors or seating.
Policy Work
The Municipality will enact policy to:
- Provide accessible services to people of all ages and abilities.
- Provide equitable recreation programs offerings to people of all ages and abilities.
- Consider accessibility as part of the planning, policy development and decision-
making processes.
Recommendations5
Urgency Impact Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Provide accessibility and inclusion
customer service training for new and
existing customer service and recreation
programming staff.
High
High
High
2023-24
Undertake a review of recreation
programming to identify barriers to
participation, feasible adaptations to
eliminate barriers, and / or new inclusive
programming opportunities.
High
High
High
2023-24
Create the parameters for an Accessibility
Impact Analysis for new services and
when reviewing current services and
include it in reports for staff and council.
Low
Medium
Low
2023-24
Repair Municipal Office accessible doors.
High
High
High
2023-24
Install accessible doors at the Recplex.
High
High
High
2024-25
Work with the Eastern Counties Regional
Library to develop a barrier free path to
maneuver within the facility.
High
High
High
2024-25
Investigate opportunities for partnerships
with organizations with expertise in
adaptive sport and recreation to support
the development of adaptive recreation
programming.
Medium Medium Medium
2024-25
Initiate an adaptive equipment loan
program by growing inventory and
providing recreation staff with training for
proper equipment use.
Low
Low
Low
2024-25
5 Please note that recommendations are in the order based on the year they are recommended to be
complete.
Recommendations
Urgency
Impact
Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Provide accessible seating within the St.
Mary's Recplex.
Low
Medium
Low
2025-26
Establish an accommodation fund to
help to provide services to residents who
need accessibility accommodations.
Medium Medium Medium
2025-26
Determine what the Municipality is
responsible for under the provincial
accessibility standards for services.
Low
Medium
Low
2026-27
Audit of services to identify what does
not meet the provincial accessibility
standards for services.
Low
Medium
Low
2026-27
Create a Municipal Services Accessible
Services Action Plan to meet the
provincial accessibility standards for
services.
Low
Medium
Low
2026-27
Complete the recommendations from
the Municipal Accessible Services Action
Plan.
Low
High
Medium
2029-30
Transportation
Our Commitment
The Municipality is committed to supporting accessible transportation options for people
of all ages and abilities throughout St. Mary's.
The Starting Point
The Municipality of the District of St. Mary's does not have any type of public transportation.
The Municipality owns approximately five kilometers of j-class roads and approximately one
kilometer of sidewalk.
Achievements
Achievements for transportation include:
- The installation of approximately one kilometer of sidewalk in Sherbrooke connecting
to many valuable services such as the grocery store, pharmacy, post office and bank.
- In 2022 the Municipality participated in workshops for the community to establish a
community transit business plan.
- The Municipality has initiated the process to update its Active Transportation Plan to
create a broader and more accessible active transportation network.
Barriers
Barriers to transportation includes:
- The lack of a public transportation service.
- Residents are widespread across the Municipality making access difficult for those
who do not have access to a vehicle.
- The cost of residents hiring private transportation.
- The lack of lighting on municipal roads and trail networks.
- Active transportation networks outside of Sherbrooke are undeveloped.
Policy Work
The Municipality will enact policy to:
- Ensure and maintain a safe active transportation network across the Municipality.
- Advocate for equitable public transportation services across the Municipality.
- Provide support for public transportation services.
Recommendations
Urgency Impact Priority
Recommended
Date of
Completion
Support the formation of a community
organization to administer community
transportation throughout the
Municipality.
High
High
High
2024-25
Prioritize the implementation of the
municipal Active Transportation Plan.
Medium
Low
Low
2024-25
Consider asset management for Active
Transportation infrastructure.
Low
Low
Low
2024-25
Improve lighting on municipal roads and
trail networks.
Medium
Low
Low
2025-26
Determine what the municipality is
responsible for under the provincial
accessibility standards for transportation.
Low
Medium
Low
There is no
estimated date
of
enactment for
this standard6.
Accessibility audits of required
transportation facilities to identify what
does not meet the accessibility standards
for information and communications.
Medium Medium Medium
Create a strategic plan for municipal
actvive transportation infrastructure to
meet the provincial accessibility
standards for transportation.
High
High
High
Complete the recommendations from
the Municipal Accessible Transportation
Strategy.
High
High
High
6 The Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate is responsible for implementing and administering the Nova
Scotia Accessibility Act and developing the accessibility standards that will become law.
Implementing the Accessibility Plan
Responsibilities of Council
- Adopt and oversee the Accessibility Plan.
- Participate in training opportunities outlined by the Plan and recommended by staff.
- Allocate funding during the budget process for the accessibility recommendations
outlined in the plan.
Responsibilities of the Chief Administrative Officer
- Oversee the implementation of the plan in partnership with directors from each
department.
- Participate in training opportunities outlined by the Plan and staff.
- Appoint an Accessibility Coordinator to work closely with the Accessibility Coordinator
to ensure appropriate and collaborate approaches for municipal accessibility initiatives.
Responsibilities of the Accessibility Coordinator
- Work closely with the CAO to ensure appropriate and collaborate approaches for
municipal accessibility initiatives.
- Receiving and responding to public concerns, complaints and suggestions.
- Administrative duties for the Committee such as preparing agendas and taking
minutes and provide advice on removing barriers in new municipal policies, facilities,
and programs.
- Promote accessibility awareness and education.
Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Provide ongoing feedback and recommendations to the Chief Administrative Officer
and Council.
- Provide guidance to the Accessibility Coordinator to support the development and
ongoing review of the Accessibility Plan.
Monitoring the Accessibility Plan
The Accessibility Advisory Committee will prepare a Monitoring Report for Council each
year. This report will measure the performance of the policies and actions in this plan. The
Committee may also make recommendations to Council to improve the plan.
Evaluating the Accessibility Plan
The Accessibility Advisory Committee will conduct a review and evaluation of the
Accessibility Plan every three years. The first review will be conducted during the 2026/27
year.
Responding to Questions or Concerns
Anyone can lodge a complaint, pose a question, or express a concern about accessibility in
the Municipality of the District of St. Mary's. The complaints, questions or concerns should
be directed to the Accessibility Coordinator.
The Accessibility Coordinator will respond within two business days. If more time is required
to prepare a response, they will reach out to the individual to communicate that within the
two business days. Before responding. The Accessibility Coordinator will consult with the
staff person responsible for the area of inquiry. The response will contain the reasons for
the decision.
Anyone can appeal to the CAO if they are not satisfied with the response from the
Accessibility Coordinator. The CAO may refer any appeal to the Accessibility Advisory
Committee for additional review and recommendations before issuing a final response to
the inquiry.
The Accessibility Coordinator will keep a record of all inquiries, comments or concerns
submitted to them, and will provide summary updates to the Accessibility Advisory
Committee on a regular basis. These updates will become a part of the Committee's
continual review of the Accessibility Plan and may inform future changes.
Promoting Accessibility Awareness
To promote Accessibility Awareness the Municipality will:
- Promote National Accessibility Week.
- Share funding opportunities related to making accessibility improvements.
- Identify who the public can contact if they have questions or concerns regarding the
accessibility of municipal buildings, infrastructure, or services.
- Highlight accessibility improvements completed by the Municipality.
Glossary
Accessibility: the practice of making information, services, transportation and/or
environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible.
Accommodation: a personalized adaption of a service or environment to overcome the
barriers faces by individuals of all ages and abilities.
Active Transportation: refers to all forms of human powered transportation. Most
commonly, it refers to walking and cycling, but also rollerblading, skateboarding,
running, wheelchair use, skating, canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, and cross-country
skiing.
American Sign Language (ASL): a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic
properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed
by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans
who are deaf and hard of hearing and is used by some hearing people as well. A translators
may be required between users and non-users.
Asset Management Plan: the Municipalities plan for how to manage municipal
infrastructure to provide services to residents and other users in a way that meets their
expectations, and is financially sustainable into the future.
Barrier: anything that stops or challenges the full and effective participation in society of
an individual of any age or ability.
Communication: the process by which information is exchanged between individuals
through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART): is the live, word-for-word
transcription of speech to text so that individuals can read what is being said in group
settings and at personal appointments on a laptop or a larger screen. CART services can be
provided on-site or remotely, in both English and French, via a secure website.
CSA: is the Canadian Standards Association.
Disability: Nova Scotia's Accessibility Act defines a disability as a physical, mental,
intellectual, learning or sensory impairment, including an episodic disability, that, in
interaction with a barrier, hinders an individuals full and effective participation in society.
Equity / Equitable: an individual or group is provided with the same resources or
opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has a different circumstance and
allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
Invisible Disability: a disability that is not immediately noticeable. Invisible
disabilities can include brain injuries, chronic pain, hearing loss, mental health conditions,
gastrointestinal disorders, vision loss and much more.
PDF (Portable Document Format): a file format that provides an electronic image of text
or text and graphics that looks like a printed document and can be viewed, printed, and
electronically transmitted.
Plain Language: language that is clear and easy for the reader or listener to understand.
Visible Disability: a disability that is immediately apparent to other people. Visible
disabilities can include cerebral palsy, amputations, paralysis, Down's Syndrome, and many
more.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): covers a wide range of
recommendations for making Web content more accessible. Following these guidelines will
make content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including
accommodations for blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, limited
movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these, and some
accommodation for learning disabilities and cognitive limitations; but will not address every
user need for people with these disabilities. These guidelines address accessibility of web
content on desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.
References
Statistics Canada. (2018). Persons with and without disabilities aged 15 years and over, by
age
group
and
sex,
Canada,
provinces
and
territories.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310037401
ABC Life Literacy. (n.d.). Literacy at a glance. https://abclifeliteracy.ca/literacy-at-a-glance/