Easy read summary of this progress report

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is committed to being more accessible. We have developed a plan to improve accessibility in 6 different areas. These areas are: 

  • The built environment
  • Employment
  • Information and communications technology
  • Communication, other than information and communications technology
  • Procurement of goods, services, and facilities
  • Design and development of programs and services
  • Transportation

The full Accessibility Plan is available on SCC’s website, available here: 
https://scc-ccn.ca/about-us/public-accountability/2023-2025-accessibility-plan

 

This progress report outlines the activities undertaken against SCC’s accessibility plan in 2024. To recap, the goals we are working towards include:

  • Install an automatic door opener at our main office door.
  • Lower first-aid kits, and defibrillators to a more accessible height. 
  • Install light switch covers that are easier to see.
  • Apply stripes to glass doors to make them easier to see. 
  • Remove barriers in the hiring process.
  • Review our equitable employer message to better reflect the language used by people with disabilities.
  • Review and make changes to our Accessibility, Accommodation and Disability Policy to improve it and make things easier for our employees with disabilities.  
  • Review our job postings and descriptions to make sure people with disabilities will want to apply to work with us. 
  • Train our staff on how to conduct accessible meetings. 
  • Make sure all the videos we post have captions and transcripts. 
  • Respond to requests for documents in alternative formats.
  • Train our Communications team on how to create accessible social media posts.
  • Make sure our social media content is written in plain language. 
  • Make sure all the pictures and images we post on SCC’s website and social media accounts have alt-text descriptions.
  • Train our staff on how to write in plain language.
  • Add plain language guidelines to our Communications policy.
  • Make sure our new website is as accessible as possible.
  • Make sure we think about accessibility whenever we buy new products or services.
  • Review our IT systems to identify barriers to accessibility for employees with disabilities and enable accessibility features as they become available.
  • Train our staff on how to improve the accessibility of our in-person and virtual events. 
  • Develop a plan for training all our employees on disability and accessibility awareness.
     

Table of Contents

1.    General
       1.1 Contact information and feedback process
       1.2 Alternative formats of this Progress Report
2.    Areas described under Section 5 of the ACA
       2.1 Organization wide initiatives
       2.2 The built environment
       2.3 Employment
       2.4 Communication, other than ICT
       2.5 Information and Communications Technology
       2.6 The procurement of goods, services and facilities
       2.7 The design and delivery of programs and services
       2.8 Transportation
3.   Consultations
4.    Feedback

 

1.General 

 

1.1 Contact information and feedback process
 

SCC welcomes feedback, including feedback submitted anonymously, from our employees, member institutions, and members of the public about accessibility at SCC and about this plan. We are committed to reviewing the feedback we receive and taking steps to address barriers that are identified through this feedback. 
 

You can submit feedback about accessibility at SCC or this plan by contacting:

 

Communications Advisor
info@scc-ccn.ca
1-613-238-3222 
55, rue Metcalfe Street, Suite 600, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L5

 

We will also accept feedback through our social media page at the following link: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standards-council-of-canada

 

Information about how to submit feedback to SCC is also available on our public website at the following link: https://www.scc.ca/en/contact-us

 

If you contact us to give us feedback and it is not anonymous, we will be sure to let you know we’ve received your feedback within 48 business hours. All the feedback we receive will be saved for seven years. This feedback will be used to help us measure the progress we’re making in becoming more accessible. The feedback will also make us aware of barriers to accessibility that we can address in our next plan.

 

1.2 Alternative formats of this progress report
 

You can request alternative formats of this Progress Report, and a description of our feedback process by contacting:

 

Communications Advisor
info@scc-ccn.ca
1-613-238-3222 
55, rue Metcalfe Street, Suite 600, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L5

 

SCC will provide the following alternative formats within 15 days of the initial request:

  • Print 
  • Large print (increased font size) 

SCC will provide the following alternative formats within 45 days of the initial request:

  • Braille (a system of raised dots that people who are blind or with low vision can read with their fingers) 
  • Audio (a recording of someone reading the text out loud)

2. Areas described under Section 5 of the ACA

 

2.1 Organization-wide initiatives

 
Overview of progress and timelines
 

SCC continues to recognize that accessibility starts with attitudes. To improve accessibility within the organization, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on training. A plan for rolling out disability and accessibility training to all employees is now in place, with the goal of implementing this training for both existing and new employees by the end of 2025.

 

More specifically, our goal for 2024 was: By the end of 2024, SCC will develop a plan for how to roll out disability and accessibility training to all employees. This plan will outline 

  • What training we decide to do 
  • Who will deliver the training 
  • The platform or method of training (i.e., online, in person, etc.) 
  • How often the training will be offered and who will be required to take it

Status: Completed

 

2.2 The built environment 

 
Overview of progress and timelines
 

SCC conducts most of its business in an office on the sixth floor of a building in Ottawa. While we can’t control the accessibility of the building overall, we can control the accessibility of our offices.
 

Our Accessibility Goals for 2023 and 2024 were: 
 

  1. By March of 2023, SCC will install an automatic door opener for its main office door.
    Status: Completed

     

  2. By December of 2023, SCC, will lower first-aid kits, and defibrillators to a more accessible height, based on CSA Accessible Design for the Built Environment standard. 
    Status: Completed

     

  3. By December of 2023, SCC will install light switch covers that have appropriate contrast to the walls.
    Status: Completed

     

  4. By March of 2024, SCC will apply continuous opaque strips at the level indicated by the CSA Accessible Design for the Built Environment standard on all glass doors to create better visibility for people with low vision.
    Status: Completed

 

2.3 Employment 

 
Overview of progress and timelines
 

SCC has about 150 employees. The jobs done at SCC are mainly office-based with some travel. Our employees mostly work from home with some coming into the office from time to time.

Our Accessibility Goals for 2023 and 2024 were: 
 

  1. By the end of 2023, SCC will remove previously identified barriers in the hiring process. Changes to our hiring process will include: 
  • Providing interview questions in advance
  • Breaking complex questions into multiple parts
  • Increasing testing times

      Status: Completed

 

  1. By the end of 2023, SCC will review its equitable employer message to better reflect the language used by people with disabilities.
    Status: Completed.

     

  2. By the Spring of 2024, SCC will review its Accessibility, Accommodation and Disability Policy to identify improvements and reduce burden on employees with disabilities. 
    Status: Completed

     

  3. By the end of 2024, SCC will do a review of its job postings to make sure that job descriptions and required skills are true to the position. We will also make sure that there is nothing in the job postings that might discourage people with disabilities from applying. 
    Status: Completed

 

SCC is on track for 2025 to achieve the remaining goal, which is to implement changes to our Accessibility, Accommodations and Disability policy based on the information learned in our review.

 

2.4 Communication, other than ICT 

 
Overview of progress and timelines
 

SCC communicates in a variety of ways with organizations around the world and recognizes the importance of providing information to people in a way that they will understand and in a format that is accessible to them.  

 

Our Accessibility Goals for 2023 and 2024 were: 

 

  1. By the end of 2023, SCC will make sure that our employees are informed on how to conduct accessible meetings as presenters and participants. Once our staff has been informed, SCC will commit to the following accessibility practices for internal (employee only) meetings:
  • Automated captions or other accessibility features as they become available
  • Meeting materials sent out ahead of time when possible
  • Attendees turn their camera on when speaking
  • Visual content described when screen-sharing

  • Other accommodations will be available upon request
    Status: Completed

     

  1. Starting in March of 2023, all new videos created by SCC and posted on our website or social media channels will have captions and a transcript of the information found in the video.
    Status: Completed

     

  2. By the end of 2024, SCC will add captions to all the videos found on its website and YouTube page.
    Status: Completed

     

  3. By the end of 2023, SCC will create and implement a process for requesting and receiving documents and materials in alternate formats.
    Status: Completed

     

  4. By the spring of 2024, all staff who create social media content will have received training on social media accessibility.
    Status: Completed

     

  5. By the end of 2024, all posts will have the following accessibility features:
  • Descriptive alt-text on all images
  • Captions on all videos

  • Posts will be written using plain language
    Status: Completed

     

  1. By the end of 2023, all new pictures and images on SCC’s website will have alt-text description.
    Status: Completed

     

  2. By the end of 2024, all staff who write information meant for the public will receive training on how to write in plain language
    Status: Completed. Since 2022, SCC has prioritized plain language training, offering it annually to ensure staff can communicate clearly and effectively. In 2024, we provided targeted training for SCC’s assessors on writing technical bulletins, focusing on plain language principles while maintaining technical accuracy. We also continue to promote our Style Guide, which offers advice on plain language and inclusive writing, helping staff maintain consistency in their communications. Additionally, in 2024, a few members of the communications team completed a masterclass on accessibility writing and best practices for inclusive communications. Moving forward, we will continue to educate staff through internal channels and identify further learning opportunities to enhance their skills in clear and accessible writing.

     

  3. By the end of 2024, SCC will add plain language guidelines to the Communications policy.
    Status: Completed.

 

SCC is on track to complete the two remaining objectives for 2025: ensuring that all pictures and images on the SCC website have text descriptions and providing transcripts for all videos on the website and YouTube page.

 

2.5 Information and Communications Technology

 
Overview of progress and timelines

 

SCC uses a variety of technologies such as our public website and portals for employees. Our Accessibility Goals for 2023 and 2024 were: 
 

  1. By June of 2023 SCC will consult with a web accessibility expert in the development of its new website to make sure that the new website is as accessible as possible.
    Status: Completed

     

  2. By the end of 2023, SCC will have replaced its website for a new one that is more accessible.
    Status: Completed

     

  3. From January 2024 onwards, accessibility will be considered by SCC in all procurement of information technology products by including specific accessibility requirements in bid invitations.
    Status: SCC has adjusted its approach to better align with current market offerings and advancements. Starting in 2025, for all relevant procurement processes, SCC will include accessibility requirements in its selection criteria or alternatively require suppliers to outline their practices and features related to accessibility.

 

2.6 The procurement of goods, services and facilities 

 
Overview of progress and timelines
 

SCC buys products and services that help us work. Our Accessibility Goals for 2024 was: 

 

By December 2024, SCC will make sure that accessibility considerations are added to procurement where most impactful by asking companies to outline how their practice or their product is accessible as a step in the bidding process.
Status: SCC has adjusted its approach to better align with current market offerings and advancements. Starting in 2025, for all relevant procurement processes, SCC will include accessibility requirements in its selection criteria or alternatively require suppliers to outline their practices and features related to accessibility.

 

2.7 The design and delivery of programs and services 

 
Overview of progress and timelines

 

SCC works with organizations to ensure that standards and accreditation are in place in the interest of the Canadian economy, the environment, and public safety. We work nationally and internationally to promote and improve standards and accreditation.

 

Our Accessibility Goal for 2024 was: 

  1. By March of 2024, SCC staff will receive information on creating accessible in-person and virtual meetings with stakeholders and conferences. 
    Status: Completed

 

SCC is on track to achieve the other goals related to the design and delivery of programs and services, as stated in the Accessibility Plan.  

 

2.8 Transportation

 
Overview of progress and timelines

 

SCC does not provide transportation; therefore, we have no goals related to this priority area.

 

3. Consultations
 

One of the most important goals we achieved over the last year was the redevelopment of our website to make it more accessible. Because of the significant upgrade to the website, we decided to focus our consultations on the new website.

 

We asked a focus group of 10 Canadians with disabilities to explore our website and provide feedback on its accessibility. We asked the group to evaluate the website design, navigation, and whether the content was easy to understand. We also asked the group to explore our career portal and consider whether they might experience any barriers when applying to work for or with SCC. The feedback we received from the group included: 

  • The structure of the new website is easy to navigate and does not present barriers for people using a screen reader or braille display.  
  • The design and look and feel is pleasant and not overwhelming. 
  • Some areas of the website have poor color contrast which makes the text harder to read.  
  • Some of the content on the website is   hard to understand, particularly when we used a lot of acronyms. The group noted that this may be easier to understand for people who have more technical knowledge and familiarity with standards.  
  • Users are not warned when links or buttons will navigate the user to a different third-party website. 
  • It takes many clicks to get to the job application portal and this navigation could be easier. 
  • The mega menu takes up a lot of space on the page and is difficult to close.  

We want to thank this group of Canadians for providing their time and lived-experience expertise to help us improve our website. We plan to incorporate the feedback above into our ongoing upgrades of the website.  

 

4. Feedback

 

SCC launched our public feedback process in December 2022. From January 1, 2024, to November 15, 2024, SCC did not receive any feedback on its accessibility plan or on anything related to accessibility at SCC. 
 

We will continue to invite and welcome any feedback related to accessibility and will do our best to action and respond to that feedback in a timely manner.