2023 Annual Progress Report – Accessibility Plan for the Department of Justice of Canada

General

Feedback Process

We have contact forms for employee and client feedback on:

At Justice Canada, the person who receives your feedback on barriers and the accessibility plan is the Accessibility Coordinator. Feedback will be acknowledged through the same means by which it was received, unless it was received anonymously.

Alternate Formats

Available alternate formats:

You can also contact the Accessibility Coordinator to request a copy of the Plan or the feedback process description in an alternate format.

Alternate formats also include:

Contact Us

Telephone

613-957-4222*

TDD/TTY

613-992-4556
*For Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, access can be achieved via their own interpreter or via Canada VRS, which provides an interpreter: https://srvcanadavrs.ca/en/

Fax

613-954-0811

Mailing Address

Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H8

E-mail

AccessibilityPlan-Plandaccessibilite@justice.gc.ca

The Story So Far

From 2019 to 2021, Justice Canada conducted research and consultations on accessibility, focusing on engagement with persons with disabilities, and identified leaders within the Department for the different areas under the Accessible Canada Act.

In 2022, the Department drafted its first Accessibility Plan using a co-development approach, in partnership with the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. At each stage of the Plan’s development, consultation with the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities took place.

In 2023, the Department started implementing its Accessibility Plan. The purpose of this report is to document implementation progress.

Introduction

The Department of Justice is committed to accountability in the implementation of its Accessibility Plan. Consultation results make it clear that seeing results matters a great deal to persons with disabilities.

Well ahead of drafting this Annual Report, the department piloted progress measurement and reporting internally and presented the results to the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. To measure progress, Justice relies on both objective and subjective metrics tied to the actions and supporting actions in the Accessibility Plan. Piloting progress measurement and reporting internally allowed all parties in the accessibility network across Justice – including persons with disabilities, employees, advisory committee members, planning specialists, employment equity specialists, Pillar Leads, and Chairs and Champions – to participate in the process of making the Department more accessible.

This report presents the progress made in each of the areas of focus under the Accessible Canada Act:

Following the details on progress under each area of focus, the report contains information about the consultations performed and feedback received in 2023.

Employment

The Employment Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Job seekers and employees with disabilities see Justice Canada as an employer of choice and can contribute at their full potential through access to employment opportunities and promotions.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Employment Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Employment Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to duty to accommodate, recruitment, and retention and promotion. The Department began implementing all three actions under the Employment Pillar.

Employment Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was establishing a centralized point of contact for all questions and requests related to duty to accommodate, built around the Workplace Accessibility Passport system, to reduce wait times, documentation requirements, repetition, and stigma.

The Department launched the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness (CWAHW) in the spring of 2023. The Departmental Champion for Persons with Disabilities announced the launch as part of Justice’s National AccessAbility Week celebrations. This Centre is responsible for supporting employees and managers in several areas, including:

The current priority for the Employment Pillar is the adoption of the GC Workplace Accessibility Passport, including delivering training on best practices for how to use it.

The Built Environment

The Built Environment Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Clients and employees of Justice Canada, including those with disabilities, can make best use of all Justice occupied facilities through barrier-free access.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Built Environment Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Built Environment Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to mobility and guidance, including wayfinding, signage, and interactions with personnel. The Department completed one action, progressing into the evergreen phase of reviewing the built environment in partnership with persons with disabilities to identify ways to make Justice buildings more accessible and inclusive. It continued implementing the other two actions under the Built Environment Pillar.

Built Environment Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was developing tools to enhance use of the built environment.

Under the action of developing tools to enhance the use of the built environment, the department launched seven Building Accessibility Guides this year. The launch of the Guides was communicated through the Department’s governance network with a particular focus on employment equity advisory committees and the Directors of Business Management Committee.

The National Accommodations Division completed a workspace refitting project for the Communications Branch of Justice Canada, which involved fully redesigning a floor of the East Memorial Building in the National Capital Region (NCR). The redesign was completed in accordance with the Accessibility Considerations Checklist, which targets all types of barriers identified in the Accessibility Plan, leading to significant removal and prevention of barriers. For example, the space features workstations with adjustable height desks, wide corridors, enclosed work areas, and tactile signage. In addition to this project, in response to a comment collected through our feedback mechanism, 9 automatic door openers were added throughout head office buildings in the NCR.

The current priority for the Built Environment Pillar is the publication and distribution of building accessibility guides for all Justice Canada occupied facilities.

Information and Communication Technologies

The Information and Communications Technologies Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Information and communications technology provides all users, including those with disabilities, with leading edge tools that enhance capacity and improve efficiency.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Information and Communication Technologies Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Information and Communication Technologies Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to the planning and acquisition of new digital systems and technology and adapting and updating existing programs and technology.

The Department completed one action under the Information and Communication Technologies Pillar, progressing into the evergreen phase of incorporating accessibility considerations into the planning and acquisition of new digital systems and technology and performing routine scanning to monitor for emerging advancements in accessible technology.

It began implementation of enabling accessibility features in existing programs and technology and assessing current programs and technology for accessibility features to identify gaps. In 2024, it will begin implementing the action of developing a plan to establish a Centre of Expertise to support employees in becoming aware of and understanding how to use tools and systems to ensure internal and external applications are accessible.

Information and Communication Technologies Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was enabling accessibility features in existing programs and technology and assessing current programs and technology for accessibility features to identify gaps.

This year, the department launched a testing guide to assess old and new systems. Assessment of 4 applications took place using the testing guide, and an external validation process ensured the guide would be effective ahead of broader adoption. To date, 7 systems have been assessed for accessibility and recommendations were shared with program owners for action. A standard assessment process is under development, based on the experience built through the initial phase of assessment.

Now that a validated process is in place, the current priority for the Information and Communication Technologies Pillar is improving consistency and efficiency in application testing.

Communication, other than Information and Communication Technologies (Communications)

The Communications Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Clients, partners, and employees of Justice Canada, as well as the public, can engage and communicate with the department through means that work for them, in language and formats they can easily use and understand.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Communications Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Communications Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to plain language; sign language; alternate formats, including templates and tools; and culture and visibility. The Department began implementing all four actions under the Communications Pillar.

Communications Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was integrating disability inclusion and accessibility awareness into the Department’s communications outputs such that Canadians and departmental employees, including those with disabilities, see themselves considered and reflected.

Plain language training took place in the Communications Branch early in the year. The department also launched work on a Style Guide to establish plain language standards and standards for the use of inclusive language.

Promotion of the Accessibility Plan and the feedback mechanisms took place internally and externally, with several social media posts going out across all platforms. Shortly after publication, accessible versions of the Accessibility Plan were prepared and posted in alternate formats, including Braille and audio.

The About Our Organization section of Justice’s website has been updated with more accessibility friendly features, and a recent accessibility review of Justice’s website showed a high 98% compliance rate with accessibility standards. Additional changes are taking place in service of reaching 100% compliance. As part of the Social Media team’s accessible by default approach, descriptive alt text for graphics and images and closed captions for video are required, and the Social Media team further improved its commitment to accessibility by requiring the use of exclusively accessible graphics moving forward.

The current priority for the Communications Pillar is to create an inventory of accessible formats of Justice publications, leading to a project plan for improving the available accessible publications.

The Procurement of Goods, Services and Facilities

The Procurement Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Justice Canada project and technical authorities consider accessibility requirements when relevant in their specifications for procuring goods, services, and facilities, so that the deliverables provide the necessary accessibility features.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Procurement Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, Procurement Pillar progress targeted barriers related to lack of accessibility awareness when defining procurement requirements. The Department began implementing both actions under the Procurement Pillar.

Procurement Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was considering accessibility in all procurement actions and providing consistent guidance on applying considerations during the procurement process.

This year, the department launched new reporting functionality and a compliance review process for tracking and monitoring the use of accessibility considerations in procurement. Data collection has begun, and benchmarking is in progress.

Accessible procurement training was offered to contracting officers and an accessibility working group was established within the Contracting, Materiel Management & Financial Systems Division to leverage expertise and share learning.

The current priority for the Procurement Pillar is the development, adoption, and distribution of accessible procurement reference documentation.

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar outcome, which states the ideal state for this area of focus, is as follows.

Outcome

Persons with disabilities have a better user experience when engaging with Justice Canada because the department considers their needs throughout service design, implementation, and review.

The policies, programs, practices, and services supporting the identification, removal and prevention of barriers include:

Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar Progress

In the first year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, Design and Delivery of Programs and Pillar progress targeted barriers related to lack of consultation with persons with disabilities during the service design phase and inconsistent maintenance or lack of upkeep of existing accessible services. The Department began implementing all actions under the Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar.

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2023 was continuously reassessing accessibility as part of cyclical service review.

This year, the department added questions on accessibility to the Client Feedback Survey on the delivery of legal services. Data collection has begun, and benchmarking is in progress. In addition, persons with disabilities were included in accessibility, user research and usability testing for the department’s intranet renewal project.

The current priority for the Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar is to embed accessibility into the forthcoming Service Excellence Framework and into governance.

Transportation

Transportation is the seventh pillar of accessibility under the Accessible Canada Act. We list it in this plan as required by the Act but is not included in the scope of Justice Canada’s mandate. At this time, there are no barriers identified through consultation with persons with disabilities in Justice Canada’s policies, practices, programs, and services under the Transportation section of the Accessible Canada Act.

Consultations

Bi-monthly consultation with persons with disabilities takes place on the Accessibility Plan through the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. The Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities reviewed the preliminary metrics and results in May of 2023 and reviewed the present report in September.

Feedback

We value the feedback we receive. Justice’s public facing website hosts two feedback questionnaires on accessibility: one for monitoring progress and one for reporting barriers. Feedback is also collected through the means described in the General section of the Accessibility Plan and progress reports. Throughout the year, promotion of the feedback process happens internally and externally through Justice’s social media channels and messages to staff. Promotion was key to sustained engagement, and every time promotion of the feedback mechanism took place, we received a few new submissions.

In response to comments we received related to the hybrid work directive, discussion took place at the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. The Employment Pillar Lead delivered a presentation on the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness and provided direction on the relationship between the hybrid work directive and duty to accommodate. The discussion following the presentation showed that the Pillar Lead’s direction provided clarity and peace of mind to the committee members.

Over the course of the year, we also received a few communications regarding programs and operations. In one instance, we learned of accessibility issues within a legal opinion memo template. The template was replaced with an accessible version in under a month. Another instance identified a larger gap in the accessibility of the PDF publications on laws.gc.ca. A collaborative exercise between different areas of the department is being launched to resolve the issue, but the resolution will take some time given the volume of publications.

As we continue to receive feedback, we will continue to respond and take action to address it. The feedback we receive is essential to continuous improvement.