Message from the Parliamentary Librarian
The Library of Parliament understands the importance of accessibility, and we are committed to providing a barrier‑free environment for our employees, our clients and the public. We published our first accessibility plan on 1 December 2022. This is the first progress report on the implementation of that plan, and we have made great strides. We have met several objectives set out in the plan in each of the seven priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act, as well as in an eighth priority area – culture – that we elected to add to the Library’s plan.
While this is a good start, much work still remains to be done to ensure that we remove barriers to accessibility by 1 January 2040. In order to remove barriers, it is important that we know what they are. In keeping with our commitment to the “Nothing without us” principle, we undertook a number of consultations with persons with disabilities in 2023 and are planning more for next year.
In 2024, we will continue to build on the solid foundation established this year, during which success was the result of collaboration and commitment.
Dr. Heather P. Lank
Parliamentary Librarian
The Senior Project Coordinator, Accessibility, provides leadership and central oversight in the planning and managing of key projects and initiatives in support of the Library of Parliament’s corporate-wide accessibility strategy. Questions or inquiries about the Library’s accessibility plan or other accessibility initiatives can be sent to:
Senior Project Coordinator, Accessibility
Library of Parliament
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A9
Email: LopAccessibleBdP@parl.gc.ca
Phone: 613-947-7333
Toll free: 1-833-411-7845
You can also share your feedback about accessibility or any barriers you may have encountered at the Library by completing our online form.
The Library of Parliament is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible environment for employees, clients and the public. To do so, the Library works closely with parliamentary partners and partners in the Government of Canada.
The Library is committed to providing equitable services that are accessible to the most diverse group of users possible, regardless of ability. We are actively working to remove accessibility barriers and gaps for employees, clients and the public in everything we do.
The Library of Parliament is committed to being a leader in accessibility. A great deal of work has been done in the last year to achieve our goal of removing barriers to accessibility for employees, clients and the public by 1 January 2040, but we still have a lot more to do.
This first progress report describes the many initiatives the Library has undertaken to achieve this objective and to strengthen accessibility within our organization. These initiatives were carried out by various teams at the Library.
Consultations were held at all stages of implementation and report development and the Library will continue to consult with persons with disabilities to ensure that we understand, identify, eliminate and prevent accessibility barriers for all.
The Library’s accessibility plan contains a total of 27 objectives of which 10 had a planned completion date during 2023, four were planned for partial completion in 2023 and five are considered ongoing initiatives. Of the 10 objectives due in 2023, eight were completed. Work is underway to meet the remaining two objectives in 2024. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the four objectives that were to be partially completed in 2023 have been delayed and are now planned for 2024. Conversely, one objective due in 2024 was completed in 2023. Many initiatives for the five ongoing objectives were completed in 2023, and more are planned for future years. Details about each of these objectives follow.
Approximately 460 employees work at the Library in various positions in the organization’s service areas: Research and Education (formerly Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services), Information and Collection (formerly Information and Document Resource Services), Corporate Services and the Office of the Parliamentary Librarian. Library staff consists of determinate and indeterminate employees, students and parliamentary guides.
The Library’s plan includes four objectives as part of the Employment priority area, all of which were planned for partial completion in 2023. Due to ongoing recruitment challenges in filling several vacancies in Human Resources, these activities had to be postponed to 2024–2025. The challenges we are facing do not affect accommodation requests for employees, as these are given priority.
Ensure that recruitment and assessment tools, processes and resources are accessible and inclusive, with a goal of attracting, hiring and supporting employees who have a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.
Ensure that human resources specialists, supervisors, managers and employees at all levels are trained on accessibility issues, including accessibility barriers and gaps, unconscious bias and ableism, and workplace accommodation.
Accessibility Information sessions in 2023
Engage with persons who have different types of disabilities to review both the Library’s approach to onboarding new employees and the employment life cycle. Identify accessibility barriers, gaps and areas in need of improvement and develop an action plan to remove these barriers.
Review workplace accommodation policies and procedures to identify accessibility barriers and gaps in such areas as awareness, communications, tools, management skills and competencies in managing workplace accommodation.
Two barriers were identified in the Employment priority area following the publication of the accessibility plan.
Barrier 1: Workplace accommodation
Barrier 2: Preferred method of communication
The Library offers a variety of services to clients and the public, and it has offices for its employees in various locations in the Parliamentary Precinct and beyond.
The Library works in collaboration with the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to ensure that our physical spaces are accessible to everyone. The Library’s spaces are provided and maintained by PSPC.
The Library’s plan includes four objectives in the Built Environment priority area: one ongoing and three planned for completion in 2023. All objectives were achieved on time, and many activities for the ongoing objective were completed in 2023, with more to come in future years.
In collaboration with PSPC and persons with different types of disabilities, identify accessibility barriers and gaps regarding the Library’s built environment and services through surveys, consultations and site visits. Identify and review areas in need of improvement and develop an action plan to remove barriers and address gaps.
In collaboration with parliamentary partners, engage with persons with different types of disabilities to review the Library’s emergency procedures and its business continuity plan, with particular attention to the unique barriers persons with disabilities face. Identify and review areas in need of improvement and develop an action plan to remove the barriers.
The Library organized a training session for fire wardens, persons with disabilities who need a chair for evacuation and fire evacuation assistants, in collaboration with the House of Commons. The training comprised a demonstration and test of the chair in a staircase to ensure that everyone is prepared in case of an evacuation.
Build awareness among Library employees, clients and the public about the accessibility features of the Library’s built environment and services available in the Library’s workplace and public-facing spaces.
Promote a scent-free environment in the Parliamentary Precinct, in collaboration with parliamentary partners and service providers.
Most of the barriers flagged through the Library’s feedback process were related to the built environment. A total of six new barriers were flagged since the accessibility plan was published.
Barriers 1, 2 and 3: Use of scented products
Barrier 4: Lack of automatic door opener
Barrier 5: Lack or misplacement of d-shaped handles on accessible restroom stall doors
Barrier 6: Standing outside for long periods before guided tours
The Library environment is rich in information and communication technologies (ICT). The Library has an extensive web presence and is active on social media. Clients access Library products and services through digital platforms, including an intranet site, a client portal, our e-collections and more. The public can use our digital platforms to learn about Parliament, reserve tickets to visit Parliament and shop at the Parliamentary Boutique. In addition to maintaining this digital presence, Library employees use a variety of software and tools throughout their workday.
As part of the ICT priority area, the Library’s plan includes five objectives: one to be completed in 2023, three to be completed in 2025–2026, and one permanent objective. The objective to be achieved in 2023 is in progress and should be completed in early 2024. Many activities were undertaken in 2023 to achieve permanent objectives or objectives to be completed by 2025–2026.
Engage regularly with persons with different types of disabilities to test and assess the accessibility of ICT systems, hardware and software.
Modify the assessment process for procuring or developing new ICT systems, hardware and software to determine whether they meet leading accessibility standards and any changes that are required to meet those accessibility standards.
The Library is reviewing project management processes and practices to ensure accessibility requirements are considered as part of non-functional requirements. This will help make sure that accessibility requirements are captured when procuring new tools and technologies. Additionally, the user-acceptance testing phase of projects will include users with various types of disabilities.
Review the major corporate ICT systems, hardware and software currently in use at the Library to identify and address accessibility barriers and gaps.
Train employees at all levels on how to create accessible documents and how to hold accessible meetings and events, whether virtually or in person.
The toolkits prepared by the Library include a list of the training sessions offered by AAACT, the Canada School of Public Service, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and other providers on creating accessible documents and hosting accessible meetings and events.
Provide training on accessibility and the needs of persons with different types of disabilities to those responsible for creating web content, including ICT specialists, publishing and communications specialists, other employees and external consultants. Build awareness of the requirement to incorporate accessibility into the assessment, development and implementation of ICT systems, hardware and software.
Since the publication of the plan, three new barriers were identified in the ICT priority area.
Barrier 1: Employee intranet cannot be used with high contrast and large font
Barrier 2: Location of identification numbers on various pieces of ICT equipment
Barrier 3: Library-issued mobile phone
As the Parliament of Canada’s knowledge centre, the Library produces a large volume of information and resources for parliamentary clients. It also provides guided tours of Parliament and learning resources to help the public understand and engage with Parliament. The Library has developed many tools in the last year to ensure it can communicate with everyone in the most accessible way. The Library has also added accessibility statements in various publications to indicate how to request documents in a variety of alternate formats. No new barriers relating to communication have been reported since the launch of the plan.
The Library’s plan contains four objectives in the Communication priority area: two to be completed in 2023, one in 2024–2025 and one in 2025–2026. All objectives due in 2023 were completed on time. The Library was also able to fulfill the objective due in 2024–2025.
Develop tools, including checklists, that will guide employees on the use of sign language and closed captioning for meetings and events.
A detailed guide was developed for running successful and accessible in-person events, with instructions for requesting and preparing for sign language interpretation.
Develop tools, including checklists, that will provide guidance to employees about preparing written communications in alternate formats, including print, large print, Braille, audio or electronic formats before receiving an official request to do so.
A tip sheet was prepared to guide Library employees on best practices for preparing written communications in alternate formats, including large print, Braille and audio formats. A contact list was produced for support accessing these services through the Communications team or through third-party service providers.
A communications plan was developed to build awareness among Library employees of how to prepare written content in alternate formats. Guidelines and other resources have been posted on the Library’s employee intranet, and a communiqué promoting this information was distributed.
Engage with persons with different types of disabilities to develop tools, including checklists, that will provide guidance to employees about preparing digital media to ensure they are fully accessible to persons with various types of disabilities.
Staff with relevant expertise in the Communications team researched best practices for preparing accessible digital media products. A compilation of resources was prepared for Library employees.
Guidelines on how to create accessible digital content, prepared for Library employees, include contact information for resource persons in the Communications team who can provide assistance and support. Various tools prepared to assist Library authors include an overview of how to create accessible PDFs and a document that explains alternative text. A new chapter of the Library’s Style Guide was also produced specifically to guide authors of Library research publications on writing alternative text for images in Library documents.
A communications plan was developed to build awareness among Library employees of how to prepare accessible digital content in various formats. Information was shared with employees on the Library’s intranet, and a communiqué promoting this information was disseminated.
Provide workshops or training to equip employees to develop communications products that are more accessible to the Library’s diverse audiences.
The Library procures goods, services and facilities in accordance with various internal policies and public sector financial and accounting norms. No barriers relating to the procurement of goods, services and facilities were identified during the consultations, and no new barriers have been identified in this priority area since the Library published its plan in 2022.
Add information on accessibility to the mandatory training for procurement specialists and cost centre managers, highlighting the importance of including accessibility considerations at all steps of procurement processes and practices.
Examine the possibility of requiring information about accessibility be included in scope-of-work documentation as part of the procurement processes.
Examine the possibility of requiring a clause in contracts to ensure accessibility in the delivery/implementation of goods, services and technical solutions. Ensure that accessibility standards are considered during future updates or changes to services or technical solutions.
The Library provides programs and services to its employees, parliamentarians and their staff and the public. This includes giving guided tours of Parliament, designing and delivering educational programs and providing customized research and curated information, among other offerings.
Consult persons with different types of disabilities to identify ways to make our programs and services more inclusive and to prevent barriers to accessibility.
Review the design and delivery of existing Library programs and services to identify any accessibility barriers and develop tools and processes to adapt them as required to ensure accessibility is fully integrated into program design and delivery.
Ensure that accessibility is a priority during the design and delivery of all new and updated Library programs and services.
In terms of visitor services, in August 2023, the Library launched Parliament: The Immersive Experience, a new destination that brings Centre Block to life through an exhibition and a 360° multimedia show. The Library worked with consultants to make the experience accessible to as wide a range of visitors as possible. It features an inclusive design, sign language, closed captioning, audio description, Braille and large-print guides and visual descriptions. Many of these are available on‑site, while others are presented on a dedicated website that can be accessed during the visit.
Equip all employees and managers with tools and training to design and deliver accessible and inclusive programs and services.
Two new barriers were identified and resolved in 2023.
Barrier 1: Non-accessible PDF version of Senate of Canada brochure featured on the Library’s website
Barrier 2: Incomplete contact information
The Library offers services in various locations in and near the Parliamentary Precinct, and its employees interact with clients in different buildings, which requires travelling between locations at times. Some employees also travel to other areas of Canada or abroad for work-related activities in support of parliamentary committees and associations.
Review the accessible transportation options that Library employees have to perform their work duties, including work activities organized by partners, and build awareness of those options among employees.
Review the Library’s Directive on the Management of Expenditures on Travel and Conferences to ensure all employees can travel safely when travelling on Library business, regardless of ability.
Only one barrier related to the Transportation priority area has been raised since the publication of the plan.
Barrier 1: Para-transportation drop-off in the wintertime
The Library elected to establish “Culture” as a priority area in its accessibility plan, in addition to the seven priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act. We did so because we recognize that creating a culture of awareness and understanding of accessibility and disabilities is key to becoming a barrier-free organization. A great deal of work has been done on this front since the accessibility plan was launched.
Develop and provide mandatory and optional training and awareness sessions for all employees on accessibility, barriers, inclusion and unconscious bias to build an accessible, confident organization.
Since the launch of these initiatives, employees have also had the opportunity to hear from a person with cerebral palsy, a person living with fibromyalgia, people who live with mental health issues, people who have cognitive disabilities and neurodivergent people.
The Library is also working on various awareness initiatives and exploring others, like creating an accessibility space on MS Teams for Library employees; creating an accessibility open-hour chat with the Senior Project Coordinator, Accessibility; developing a series of Lived Experience articles; and developing a Dear Abby-styled column.
In keeping with the “ Nothing without us ” principle, consultations with persons with disabilities are an important part of all Library accessibility initiatives. In spring 2023, the Library developed a consultation plan that was approved by the Library Executive Committee. The plan includes a list of initiatives on which to consult with employees, parliamentarians and their staff, experts on accessibility and disabilities, and the public. These initiatives include: web pages and online survey discussions about the draft progress report; future accessibility plans and progress reports; in-person or virtual workshops on identifying, removing and preventing accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities; improving employee knowledge and awareness of the Accessible Canada Act; and addressing topics related to accessibility, barriers, ableism, inclusion and unconscious bias.
In October 2023, the Library consulted with its employees through an online survey. The survey sought to understand how Library employees felt about accessibility, their training needs and the Library’s various accessibility initiatives. A total of 165 employees completed the survey.
Consultations were also held with key partners and clients in the parliamentary community and with members of the public through various working group and advisory committee meetings and client satisfaction surveys. In fact, the Library of Parliament led the creation of the Parliamentary Precinct Accessibility Working Group for all parliamentary partners to exchange on best practices, resources, perspectives, etc.
In November 2023, a consultation was held with members of various local associations, including the Association des personnes handicapées visuelles de l’Outaouais, the Autism Alliance of Canada and the Association de l’Ouïe de l’Outaouais, on accessible documents, visualization and alternative text. Five people participated in this consultation. The Library will review the comments received in December 2023 and early 2024. The best practices identified will be added to the existing toolkits and a plan will be developed to remove any barriers flagged.
The multiple consultation activities on accessibility held with people who live with a disability throughout the year are evidence of the Library’s commitment to the “Not without us” principle. The organization hopes to increase the number of consultation activities on accessibility in the next year.
Through various channels, the Library heard that some members of the public did not feel included in the Library of Parliament Accessibility Plan 2022–2025, because their disability was not specifically mentioned in any objectives. When it developed its plan, the Library purposely did not include disability‑specific objectives. The Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017 covers 10 disability types: seeing, dexterity, flexibility, mobility, developmental, pain-related, hearing, learning, memory and mental health-related. Language about disability is always evolving and not everyone can see themselves in one of these categories. By not developing disability-specific objectives, we wanted to ensure that we were addressing barriers as broadly as possible and that we were not excluding anyone with overly narrow language.
Comments received throughout the year still show that overall, the Library is on the right path to creating an accessible environment. Although some employees may hesitate to self-identify as a person with a disability for fear of hindering their careers, we have seen an increased number of people contacting the Senior Project Coordinator, Accessibility.
Employees who completed the Accessibility and Me survey launched in October 2023
In October 2023, the Library launched an employee questionnaire to gather comments on the Library’s various accessibility initiatives. A total of 165 employees completed the Accessibility and Me survey. All survey respondents said that they were either interested in or well-informed about accessibility. In total, 36% of respondents said they would benefit from more training.
Accessibility-related training sessions in highest demand at the Library
Employees responded that the training sessions they would most like to receive are creating accessible documents and understanding invisible accessibility barriers.
Employees were asked if they had participated in any of the awareness activities offered by the Library in 2023. A total of 117 employees participated in at least one session; 87% of them did so because they were interested in the topic. Some employees mentioned that they would have liked to take part in activities, but they were unable to for various reasons. About 26% of respondents mentioned they wished some awareness activities were offered in a different format.
Participation in Accessibility Awareness sessions in 2023
The last question asked employees whether they had noticed any changes at the Library when it comes to accessibility. More than 53% of respondents said they have noticed changes, with the majority saying that they have seen an increased number of awareness and training sessions. They also noticed that the Library was removing barriers flagged in 2022 through various consultations and through the feedback process. They also noted that the accessibility team was always available to discuss barriers or to work on various accessibility-related initiatives.
With the publication of its accessibility plan on 1 December 2022, the Library launched an official feedback process. Anyone can use the feedback process to report an accessibility barrier, anonymously or not, or to comment on accessibility. The process can also be used to request a document in an alternate format or to ask a question about any of the Library’s accessibility initiatives. Feedback can be shared through the Accessibility Inquiries and Feedback form, by email, mail or phone, or in person.
In the past year, the Library’s feedback process was used 17 times. The Library received one request for an alternate format, 14 reports of barriers, one comment and one accessibility-related question. Over 85% of the feedback was provided by people who identified as living with a disability, and only 29% of the feedback was provided anonymously. About half of the people (52%) who submitted feedback requested a follow-up. Most of the requests came from Library employees (82%), followed by clients (12%) and the public (6%).
Usage of the accessibility feedback process in 2023
The Library responded to the only request for an alternate format on the same day it was received. The requester wanted a PDF version of the accessibility plan, which was already available on the website.
Out of the 14 accessibility barriers flagged, six came under the Built Environment priority area, two under Employment, three under Information and Communication Technology, one under Transportation and two under Design and Delivery of Programs and Service. Over 70% of concerns have been addressed and barriers were removed swiftly once brought to our attention, most within a few weeks. The Library plans to address the remaining the four barriers identified in the feedback process over the next few years. Details about how the Library addressed these concerns and how it removed or plans to remove the barriers identified can be found in “Priority Areas: Section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act” in this document.
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A belief system that sees persons with disabilities as being less worthy of respect and consideration, less able to contribute and participate or of less inherent value than others. Ableism may be conscious or unconscious and may be embedded in institutions, systems or the broader culture of a society. It can limit the opportunities of persons with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in the life of their communities. Source: Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Glossary of Terms. |
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The degree to which a product, service, program or environment is available to be accessed or used by all. Source: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Glossary: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada. |
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Anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation. Barriers can be physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal. Source: Bill C‑81, An Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada, 42nd Parliament, 1st Session (S.C. 2019, c. 10). |
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The attitudes, behaviour, opinions, etc. of a particular group of people within society. Source: Cambridge Dictionary. Learned and shared patterns of thought and behavior characteristic of a given population, plus the material objects produced and used by that population. Source: “Classic Definitions of Culture,” Cultural Reader, Blog, 19 March 2017. |
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Any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, whether permanent, temporary, or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society. Source: Bill C‑81, An Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada, 42nd Parliament, 1st Session (S.C. 2019, c. 10). |
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Episodic disabling conditions or diseases are lifelong, but unlike permanent or progressive disabling conditions, they result in episodes of disability. Even with the best possible medical management people may experience episodes of disability. The periods of disability can vary in severity and duration. There may be advance warning or the episode may come on unexpectedly. Examples of conditions that are episodically disabling are mental illness, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and colitis, and some forms of cancer and rare diseases. Source: Episodic Disabilities Network, About the Episodic Disabilities Network. |
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Invisible disability is a disability that is not immediately noticeable. They can include brain injuries, chronic pain, mental illness, gastro-intestinal disorders, and much more. Because they’re not obvious to spot, invisible disabilities may be overlooked and misunderstood. And unfortunately, this can lead to discrimination or exclusion of those with an invisible disability. Source: Sonia Woodward, Let’s Talk About Invisible Disabilities, Rick Hansen Foundation, 17 July 2015. |
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The foundational principle of “Nothing without us” recognizes that persons with disabilities are equal participants in all areas of life. They should be involved in all decision-making on policies, programs, practices and service delivery. Source: Government of Canada, Consulting persons with disabilities: “Nothing without us”. |
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A permanent disability is any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that restricts the ability to perform daily activities … and is expected to remain with you for your expected life. Source: Ontario, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Permanent disability. |
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Refers to the unconscious assumptions, beliefs, attitudes and stereotypes that human brains have about different groups. These learned mental short‑cuts affect how we perceive and respond to people. Source: University of Victoria, Unconscious Biases. |
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Universal accessibility is defined as the character of a product, process, service, information, or environment that, with equity and inclusiveness in mind, enables any person to perform activities independently and achieve equivalent results. Source: J. Langevin et al., Research report for Montreal’s associative environments – Universal accessibility and contributory designs (version 5.3), Groupe DÉFI Accessibilité (GDA), Université de Montréal, quoted in Collectif A.U., What is universal accessibility? |
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[Workplace accommodation] means taking steps to adjust rules, policies, practices or situations in the workplace that have a negative impact on an individual or groups who are protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission, A Template for Developing a Workplace Accommodation Policy, 1 January 2011, p. 7. |