Resources

Publications

Publications by subject

Please note that links to websites referred to in the following list were correct at the time of publication, but may have changed since.

Government policies, programs and publications

Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service: The Employment Equity and Diversity Branch of the Canada Public Service Agency (CPSA) is responsible for implementing employment equity in the Federal Public Service. Its website provides information about programs and services that contribute to the building of a representative and inclusive Federal Public Service. Publications listed include: Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service, A Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings and Conferences and Creating a Welcoming Workplace for Employees with Disabilities. See www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/ee

Treasury Board Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service: This policy outlines the principal steps necessary to attain the goal of a representative Public Service that includes persons with disabilities.See www.tbs-sct.gc.ca under "Policies" - "Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service."

Treasury Board Accessibility Standard for Real Property: This standard is part of the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property. It lists minimum requirements for the accessibility of real property managed by federal government departments, and refers to the Canadian Standards Association publication Accessible Design for the Built Environment (CAN/CSA-B651-04), which contains requirements for making buildings and other facilities accessible to persons with a range of physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. See www.tbs-sct.gc.ca under "Policies" - "Accessibility Standard for Real Property."

DisabilityInfo.gov: This U.S. government website contains links to information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and other community members. It is an interagency website connecting people with disabilities to disability-related information and programs available across the government on numerous subjects, including civil rights, community life, education, employment, housing, health, income support, technology and transportation. See www.disabilityinfo.gov

Tools to analyse policies and activities

Gender-Based Analysis: Status of Women Canada has produced a handbook and brochure entitled Gender-Based Analysis: A Guide for Policy-Making, which offers step-by-step techniques for integrating gender throughout the policy development and analysis process, and assesses the impact of proposed or existing policies or programs on women and men. Available from the Status of Women Canada website at www.swc-cfc.gc.ca  under "Publications."

Manager's Toolkit: This toolkit contains advice, tips and tools to attract, retain and promote Visible Minorities in the federal public service. It can be found at www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/ee under "Embracing Change."

Accessible Procurement Toolkit: This toolkit includes specific requirements that procurement officers or managers with purchasing authority can add to contracting documents to ensure that products or services will be accessible to the widest range of people. See www.apt.gc.ca

Building the Future - Web-Based Search Tool on Employment Equity Positive Practices: This electronic tool enables users to access information on employment equity initiatives in the Federal Public Service, including a summary of project specifics such as its principles, lessons learned, tools, recruitment strategies, policy development and training programs. New information on future employment equity positive practices will continue to be added to the databank in order to create a more comprehensive and evergreen listing. See www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/ee  under "Employment Equity."

Resource centres

Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work: This Canada-wide network of organizations and individuals offers information, education, training and Internet-based services which support the employment of people with disabilities. Some of the programs and services provided include: DAS (Disability Awareness Series) — a series of five workshop modules on recruiting and retaining qualified candidates with disabilities and creating an inclusive workforce; JAS (Job Accommodation Service) — information and support regarding accommodation; and WORKink which provides online career counselling and labour market and career information. See www.ccrw.org

Office for Disability Issues (ODI): This office offers information on disability issues, the Government of Canada Disability Agenda and related programs, services and activities of Human Resources Social Development. See "The Office for Disability Issues" at www.hrsdc.gc.ca

Pathways to Equal Opportunity: This Government of Ontario site presents extensive resources and information for business and service providers on workplace diversity and creating accessibility for people with disabilities. See www.equalopportunity.on.ca

Persons with Disabilities Online: To obtain comprehensive information on the range of Government of Canada programs for persons with disabilities and information on a variety of disability-related topics, including accessibility, education, employment, financial support, health, housing and residential support, personal support, rights, tax programs and transportation. See www.pwd-online.ca

Practical information on accommodation

Accommodation Ideas: Consultants from the U.S. Job Accommodation Network have compiled several ideas on how to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The information is organized by disability. See www.jan.wvu.edu/media/ideas.html

Assistive Devices Industry Office (ADIO): This Industry Canada program offers a window into the Federal Government for the Assistive Technology (AT) and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Sectors. Its AT-Links (Assistive Technology Links) site gives information about assistive technologies and programs and services related to technical accommodations. See www.at-links.gc.ca

E-ACT: Designed primarily to help federal government employees with disabilities and injuries find the appropriate adaptive computer technology solutions for a more productive workplace, this site gives employees access to information on adaptive solutions, discussion forums and other related websites and publications. E-ACT is also helpful for managers who wish to assist their employees in selecting adaptive equipment, and technical support staff who may be required to assist with adaptive technology installation, maintenance and training. This website is only accessible to federal government employees and can be found at http://publiservice.gc.ca/services/act-tia.

Mental Health Works: This initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario helps organizations to manage their duty to accommodate employees experiencing mental disabilities such as depression or anxiety in the workplace, offering workshops and presentations about mental health in the workplace (particularly the employer’s duty to accommodate), designing and delivering customized training and tools for employers, and providing consultation for complex accommodations and return-to-work plans. See www.mentalhealthworks.ca

Computer and website accessibility

Government of Canada Internet Guide: This Guide provides guidance on the design and maintenance of websites to ensure access for all users. See www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ig-gi

Common Look and Feel Policy: This policy represents the Government of Canada standard for ensuring that all websites can be easily accessed by the widest possible audience. See www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf-nsi

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): This initiative coordinates with organizations around the world and pursues accessibility on the web through 5 primary areas: technology, guidelines, tools education and outreach, and research and development. It also provides content accessibility guidelines. See www.w3.org/WAI

Community resources

Enablelink: This is the Canadian Abilities Foundation’s database of non-governmental disability related programs, services and information items. See www.enablelink.org

Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL): Founded in 1958 by parents of children with intellectual disabilities, the Canadian Association for Community Living is a Canada-wide association of family members and others working for the benefit of persons of all ages who have an intellectual disability. The CACL is a federation of 10 provincial and three territorial associations comprising of 420 local associations and over 40,000 members. See www.cacl.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association: As a nation-wide, voluntary organization, the Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness through advocacy, education, research and service. See www.cmha.ca

Travel

Access to Travel: This site provides information on accessible transportation and travel across Canada with the aim of making accessible travel easy and enjoyable. It includes profiles of accessible services offered by Canadian transportation Carriers, information on local transportation, travel resources, information on federal government policies related to accessible transportation and an online complaints mechanism. See www.accesstotravel.gc.ca

Human rights organizations

Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC): Provides information on the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, including advice on barrier-free employment practices. See www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca

Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC): Provides a Policy and Guidelines on Disability and the Duty to Accommodate. See www.ohrc.on.ca

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Provides information specifically designed to assist employers and employees in relation to workplace accommodations. Includes Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the Americans with Disabilities Act. See www.eeoc.gov