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Background Information

Human rights legislation and emerging accessibility laws in Canada protect the rights of people with disabilities to full and meaningful participation in society.

Access to the businesses and services involves more than getting into a building and using a restroom. It means having equal access to all aspects of community life and that includes being able to communicate effectively when using local businesses and services.

In Canada, there are thousands of people who have significant difficulty speaking and being understood because they have communication disabilities. Many people who have communication disabilities report that business and services personnel and the general public do not yet know how to communicate with them. As a result, they are often ignored or not listened to and their competencies are frequently underestimated. These communication barriers result in limited access, reduced opportunities, and preclude participation. This affects the types and quality of services they receive and the businesses and organizations they can use.

Until now, people with communication disabilities have not had a voice in defining the accessibility barriers they face or in addressing these barriers so they can gain equal access to their communities.

If you are a person with a communication disability or if you support someone with a communication disabilities, please tell us about how businesses and organizations can provide you with improved access to their services. You can do this by completing the survey on this website.