Contents

Access 

Accessibility Standards Canada adopts new national ICT accessibility standard 

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Picture This! Identifying Non-Compliant Elements & Spaces (July 11) 

Canada Post 

Canada Post releases 2023 Sustainability Report 

Communication 

New Comprehensive SLIC Report on Canadian Sign Languages 

Independent Living 

COSP17 Side event: CILs in International Cooperation #Article 

Newsletters 

Cooperation Canada Newsletter 

Disability Arts Online Magazine | Better Off Dead? Liz Carr Documentary 

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition 

Fighting Blindness Canada 

Global Leadership Exchange 

Update from the Minister of Seniors 

Seniors for Social Action Newsletter 

Opportunities 

Access

Accessibility Standards Canada adopts new national ICT accessibility standard

We’re thrilled to inform you that we have officially adopted the European standard EN 301 549:2021 Accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). We’re also happy to release it as a National Standard of Canada under the code CAN/ASC – EN 301 549:2024. The standard is now available on our website, free of charge, in English and French.

Along with it, we also provide free of charge 3 standards from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). These are referenced in the standard CAN/ASC – EN 301 549:2024.

This is an important milestone for us. We’re proud of the work that went into the adoption and release of the ICT standard, and happy to share it with you!

About the standard

The purpose of the standard is to eliminate barriers to accessibility that people with disabilities may experience in ICT products and services. The standard:

• describes accessibility for web-based technologies, non-web technologies, and hybrid technologies;
• describes procedures to test and evaluate each accessibility requirement;
• ensures each accessibility requirement is suitable for everyone. 

The adoption of the European standard EN 301 549:2021, which is already being used internationally, brings Canada in line with global best practices.

Releasing it as a National Standard of Canada also aims to encourage collaboration among all levels of government. It will also facilitate the broader adoption, use and implementation of ICT best practices across the country. This approach contributes to an inclusive and barrier-free ICT field.

The different formats

Like most standards, this National Standard of Canada provides requirements and best practices that serve as guidelines.

We encourage everyone to read the standard and promote its use within their networks.
Given the complexity of the standard, we produced a short summary that explains the intent of each section.

We are also making the standard available in several formats:
• HTML
• Word
• PDF

If you require an alternate format, please contact us.

Thank you!

This standard represents the culmination of years of work by our technical committee and staff. Thanks to everyone who contributed, we’ve made a significant step forward for our organization and for Canada. Join us in celebrating the publication of a standard that will help build a more accessible, inclusive, and barrier-free Canada.

Stay tuned for the next publication!

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Picture This! Identifying Non-Compliant Elements & Spaces (July 11)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Picture This! Identifying Non-Compliant Elements & Spaces (accessibilityonline.org)

Canada Post

Canada Post releases 2023 Sustainability Report

Click on the following link to access the information online: Sustainability Report.

Communication

New Comprehensive SLIC Report on Canadian Sign Languages

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – May 22, 2024, the Sign Language Institute Canada (SLIC), under the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), unveiled A Report on the Legal Status and Statistics of Canadian Sign Languages. Authored by Dr. Bev Buchanan, and Gary Malkowski, Director SLIC, this groundbreaking report presents an unprecedented look into the evolution, current status, and legal standing of Canadian Sign Languages. Delving into historical influences, current federal legal status, and usage statistics, the report also examines sign language status across provinces and territories, complemented by an analysis of international language policies impacting sign languages.

In short,

Key Recommendations for Enhanced Sign Language Recognition:

1. Sign Languages Act (both Federal and Provincial Government(s): include American Sign Language (ASL), Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), Maritime Sign Language (MSL) and Indigenous Sign Languages (ISLs) across Canada .

2. Expand Official Languages Definition: Cover signed languages, Protactile language, written languages, and non-spoken forms such as Braille.

3. Align with Global Human Rights Evolution: Encourage Canada to sign the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Charter of Sign Language Rights for All, aligned with Canada’s dedication in human and linguistics rights.

4. Integrate Education and Resource with WFD Principles: Advocate for Deaf-led sign language resources in education, guided by WFD’s principles, honouring Deaf individuals’ deep connection to their language, enriching teaching and empowering sign languages

5. Advance Curriculum Development: Promote research and curriculum development in partnership with universities. For detailed information visit the WFD Guidelines for Achieving Sign Language Rights page-- https://wfdeaf.org/guidelinesaslr/ .

These recommendations aim to enhance sign languages, visual language accessibility, supporting the Deaf community and fostering a more inclusive society.

Special Highlights:

The United Nations General Assembly marks September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages celebrated globally. This day, along with the WFD’s endorsement of the Deaf flag, emphasizes the importance of recognizing sign languages. We encourage Canadian government bodies at all levels, including federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal, to celebrate this day on September 23, 2024, during the International Week of the Deaf, September 22-29, 2024. For detailed information, visit the UN International Day of Sign Languages https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13gpg0DkUoBCZbpLgnqAz4C_EHaK5ronl   and WFD Deaf Flag pages-- https://wfdeaf.org/deaf-flag/ .

Again, please feel free to share this information with Ontario Ministry of Education Provincial Schools Branch and Special Education Branch management and staff.

English

New Comprehensive Report on Canadian Sign Languages

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Today, the Sign Language Institute Canada (SLIC), under the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), unveiled A Report on the Legal Status and Statistics of Canadian Sign Languages. Authored by Dr. Bev Buchanan, and Gary Malkowski, Director SLIC, this groundbreaking report pre-sents an unprecedented look into the evolution, current status, and legal standing of Canadian Sign Languages.

Gary Malkowski, M.A., L.H.D. [he/him]
Director/Réalisateur
Sign Language Institute Canada
DEAF CULTURE CENTRE
Distillery Historic District | 15 Mill Street, Toronto ON, M5A 3R6
E: gmalkowski@slicanada.ca
W: deafculturecentre.ca | slicanada.ca 

Independent Living

COSP17 Side event: CILs in International Cooperation #Article

On behalf of the World Independent Living Network (WIN) and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), we would like to invite you to attend our official online side event to this year's COSP. The topic of the event is Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in international cooperation.

Our event will highlight existing initiatives to finance CILs in low and middle-income countries. It will aim to raise awareness among development actors of the benefits of CILs as an investment, and to push for further action to build CILs in a variety of regions and contexts.

The event will be organized as a webinar and will gather experts on the topic, along with donors that are currently funding CILs, representatives of CILs across the world, including in low and middle-income countries, and disabled users of the services. It will have live captioning in English, Spanish and Japanese, and international sign interpretation.

The webinar will be held on 11 June, at 10:00-11:15 AM (New York time).

Register to the webinar by clicking here

You may find further information about the event here

Best regards,
Rita Crespo Fernandez
Human Rights Officer - European Network on Independent Living

Newsletters

Cooperation Canada Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online: Cooperation Canada's Newsletter | Infolettre de Coopération Canada (mailchi.mp)

Disability Arts Online Magazine | Better Off Dead? Liz Carr Documentary

Click on the following link to access the information online: https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/reviews/better-off-dead-liz-carr-documentary-puts-disabled-voices-at-the-centre-of-the-assisted-dying-debate/

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Click on the following link to access the information online: Court will fast-track euthanasia case of Calgary autistic woman. (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Join the EPC Zoom event with Roger Foley on June 7. (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Calgary autistic woman is refusing food and fluid to be approved for euthanasia. (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: Some death doula's are assisting suicides. (mailchi.mp)

Fighting Blindness Canada

Click on the following link to access the information online: Learn about the latest in glaucoma research! (mailchi.mp)

Global Leadership Exchange

Click on the following link to access the information online: Read the latest Update from Global Leadership Exchange (mailchi.mp)

Update from the Minister of Seniors

Click on the following link to access the information online: Employment and Social Development Canada (campaign-archive.com)

Seniors for Social Action Newsletter

Click on the following link to access the information online : ADVOCACY BULLETIN - SECRECY AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY – WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT HIDING IN LONG-TERM CARE? (mailchi.mp)

Click on the following link to access the information online: EDITORIAL - BABY BOOMERS AND THEIR ALLIES LEAD THE CHARGE IN EXPANDING THE AGING IN PLACE MOVEMENT ACROSS ONTARIO (mailchi.mp)

Opportunities

Director to the Canada Lands Company Limited’s Board of Directors

The Government of Canada has launched an open selection process to appoint a director to the Board of Directors of Canada Lands Company Limited and we want to ensure that members of your community/professional networks, stakeholders and you are aware of this opportunity. We encourage you to share the information and the notice of opportunity with those whom you feel may be suited for this position.

Canada Lands Company Limited is a federal Crown corporation with three subsidiaries: 1) Canada Lands Company CLC Limited manages, redevelops and sells federal lands on behalf of the Government of Canada to ensure that optimal financial and community value is realized from these assets and manages the CN Tower, 2) the Old Port of Montreal Corporation Inc. owns the Old Port of Montréal and the Montréal Science Centre and 3) Parc Downsview Park Inc. owns Downsview Park (a former military base) in Toronto and sells the surrounding property for housing and commercial purposes. Through community consultation and partnering with the private sector, Canada Lands Company Limited and its employees apply real estate expertise and creative property solutions to deliver lasting value for Canadians.

For a more complete description of the experience, knowledge and abilities required in this position and to apply online, please visit the Governor in Council Appointments Website. Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this email.

Thank you!

Lundrigan, Meghan (SPAC/PSPC) (elle-la / she-her) [mailto:Meghan.Lundrigan@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

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