Overview
All employees, volunteers and other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of the University of Ottawa are required to:
- Upon request, provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats of information and communication supports for persons with disabilities:
- in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability and
- at a cost that is no more than the regular fee charged to other persons
- Consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support
- Notify the public about the availability of accessible formats of information and communication supports
Who is subject to this standard?
- All uOttawa support staff, teaching staff, volunteers and any other persons or organizations providing goods or services to members of the University community, the general public or other parties on behalf of the University
Requirements
Some people use methods other than standard print to access information. Some communicate in ways other than the spoken word.
Alternatives to standard print are often referred to as “accessible formats”, and methods to assist communication are referred to as “communication supports”.
To be accessible to people with disabilities, organizations must be able to provide and to receive information and communications in an accessible manner.
There are many ways to do this, here are some examples:
- accessible electronic formats such as HTML and MS Word
- Braille
- accessible audio formats
- large print
- text transcripts of visual and audio information
- reading the written information aloud to the person directly
- exchanging hand-written notes (or providing a note taker or communication assistant)
- captioning or audio description
- assistive listening systems
- augmentative and alternative communication methods and strategies such as the use of letter, word or picture boards, and devices that speak out messages
- sign language interpretation and intervenor services
- repeating, clarifying, or restating information
The requirement only applies to information and communications that an organization controls directly or indirectly through contractual relationships. The requirement does not apply to information one organization may be sharing on behalf of another organization.
Where can I learn more?
Visit our Digital Marketing training courses to find out more about making information and communications accessible.
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