Resources
Alternate Formats
Accessible Meetings, Jun.8-07.ppt - The City of Kingston have developed a resource for having accessible meetings.
Assistive Technologies - Additional suppliers for assistive technology, transcription, captioning and Braille translation services can be found through the online Canadian Company Capabilities Database maintained by Industry Canada.
Assistive Technologies -Aroga - Aroga is a company who can help you with assistive devices for low vision, blindness, communication aids, physical access and education products.
Braille It.ca - Braille it offers many braille and blind related services ranging from brailling business cards and documents, product sales, website testing, screen reader instruction (JAWSÒ), audio transcriptions, information and referral, audio games training, motivational speaking, and much more.
Clear Language and Design - Information about Clear Language and Design, including an online thesaurus is available through East End Literac
Choose the Right Word - the Ministry of Community and Social Services has a section under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities, is a great resource with tips that can help make your communication with or about people with disabilities more successful.
City of Kingston Signage Program.pdf - The City of Kingston has approached the design and implementation of signage programs for Municipal facilities based on the principles of Universal Design, which aim to make environments “usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design”.Symbols & pictograms also benefit people who speak languages other than English. All users, including seniors, people using mobility aids and visitors to a facility who are unfamiliar with their surroundings benefit from consistent provision and placement of informational and directional signage. This not only relieves anxiety and minimizes confusion, but makes wayfinding and orientation throughout buildings safer, intuitive and quicker.
CNIB Accessible Services - Details on the CNIB accessible test service, including audio, Braille, e-text and large print. Phone service is also available 1-800-563-2642.
How To Use TTY - Information on how to use TTY including features, etiquette, and commonly used abbreviations.
Interpreting Services - Information about interpreting services and providing access and accommodation to you and deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing voters is available through The Canadian Hearing Society’s web site.
National Library for the Blind -Is an excellent resource for alternate format materials that contain Canadian content or are authored by Canadians.
Requesting Sign Language Interpreter - Information on how to request sign language interpreting services, related fees and notice required.
Telus - Provides instructions on how to use a TTY.
TTY Communication Devices - Find out what a TTY is and who uses them.
Visunet Canada - Provides a comprehensive information service
VISUNEWS - Provides telephone and internet access to a selection of Canadian newspapers.
VISUTEXT - Provides full text access to electronic and digital media materials, including books, magazines, and other Web based resources collected and managed by the CNIB Library.
VoicePrint Canada - Information about VoicePrint, a division of The National Broadcast Reading Service.
What Are Alternate Format Materials - Find out more about alternate formats and who provides them.
Who Makes Alternate Format Materials and How Can I Get Them? - Find out who provides alternate format materials with links to the organizations who provide them.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services also have information on alternate formats.
Accessible Website Information
Accessible Website Guidelines - Information on guidelines and suggestions for making Web sites accessible appears on the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) web site.
Audio File of a Website Main Page - You are able to hear what someone would hear while using an alternate format (JAWS) on a website.
Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines - Information on the Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines is available through the CNIB web site
IBM Website Accessibility - IBM website accessibility check for compliance.
Principles of Accessible Web Design - You will find a list of some key principles of accessible design. Most accessibility principles can be implemented very easily and will not impact the overall "look and feel" of your web site.
W3C Validator - Cascading Style Sheet - World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) validator service for checking the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) of your site.
W3C Validator - HTML - This second W3C validator checks the HTML of your page to make sure it too is correctly formed. This is the content of your page itself.
WebAIM - Test your website for colour contrast.
Website Testing - Test your site using JAWS and NVDA.
Legislation and Government Information
Accessibility Directorate of Ontario - Functions and contact information.
Accessibility Standards - Ministry Website - Customer Service, Transportation, Information and Communication Standard, Built Environment and Employment.
AccessON - Learn what you can do and what you are legally required to do to make your business or organization welcoming to people of all abilities
AMCTO - Toolbox for Accessibility - Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, Treasures of Ontario share links to best practises and assessment tools, disability types and appropriate behaviour and other links.
AMCTO - AMCTO’s directory of accessibility resources.
AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) - The AODA, Accessible Customer Service Act
Canada Revenue Agency - Canada Revenue Agency provides information for tax credits if you are a person with a disability.
Government of Canada - Government of Canada website that provides funding - The Opportunities Fund supports innovative activities that will assist persons with disabilities to prepare for and obtain employment or self-employment as well as to develop the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.
Government of Ontario - Government of Ontario website provides information on persons with disabilities.
Ministry of Community and Social Services - Ontario Provincial government web site for the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.
Reporting - Accessible Customer Service - Step by Step instructions on reporting to the Government - report to be filed by the end of March 2010.
Service Canada - Service Canada’s website which provides services and information for persons with disabilities, family members, caregivers and all Canadians. Student Grants, Student Loans, Canada Pension, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program, Federal Excise Gasoline Tax Refund, Literature For the Blind, Opportunities Fund, Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
Other Sites
Abilities Centre - Web site of the abilities centre featuring information for and about people with disabilities.
Abilities on Line - Abilities on Line is an extraordinary and absolutely free Internet community. Here, young people with disabilities and illnesses connect with all kinds of possibilities.
Ability Magazine - A magazine dedicated to persons with disabilities. Also has links to Ability Job, Ability Store and Ability Awareness.
Accessible Banking - Making a bank statement accessible.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind - One of the largest producers of materials in accessible formats in the world", circulating at least one million items per year in keeping with their mandate to celebrate the fundamental right of access to knowledge by all people.
Disabled Women's Network of Ontario - Disabled Women’s Network of Ontario has information for women with disabilities and includes Health and Justice Information, Resource Catalogues and Fact Sheets
DisAbility Doorway - This website is designed to assist persons with disabilities and / or their families by providing information on resources and services that can help improve the quality of life for everyone involved.
Get Active Now - Information and resources that promote healthy, active living for people with disabilities.
Holding An Accessible Meeting - The City of Kingston's document on holding an accessible meeting ~ Responsibilities and Procedures Task Responsibility Procedure Cost Provide `Notice of Accommodation of Special Needs" (Meeting participants are responsible for informing the city clerk or the meeting convener of their special needs).
Accessible Gas Stations - There are many gas stations which are accessible. You will need to call in advance and someone will be available to assist you when you arrive.
Canadian Tire Gas Station - Canadian Tire is proud to serve every member of their community. They want to make it easy for people with a disability to come to a Canadian Tire gas bar, fill up and enjoy our friendly service. To book an appointment, call their feedback and disability full service help line at 1-866-217-1106. Go in to the self-serve bays during your scheduled time and they will assist you in filling up, cleaning your windshield and getting anything else you need from the gas bar.
Esso Gas Stations - Drivers with disabilities can get full service gas at self-serve prices at participating Esso stations that have both full and self serve pumps. You can even get full service gas at self-serve prices at participating Esso stations with self-serve pumps only*! All you have to do is call the station approximately 24 hours in advance to ensure that someone will be available to assist you. You will need to have a vehicle permit for persons with disabilities to take advantage of this service. Customer Service Centre at 1-800-567-3776.
Petro-Canada - At participating stations with full and self-serve pumps, drivers with a disabled permit will also receive full-service at self-serve prices. The full-service attendant will fuel your vehicle at the self-service island so that you pay only the self-serve price for fuel. Pay-at-pump technology accepts your credit and debit cards. If you are unable to access a Petro-Canada station with a full-serve attendant, please contact your local Petro-Canada station to discuss your needs. If you have any questions, call the Customer Service Network at 1 (800) 668-0220.
Shell Canada - At self-serve only stations, staff will make every effort to help customers displaying disabled parking permits with refuelling. Please identify yourself to one of the gas station attendants. You are also encouraged to contact your local station to discuss your individual needs as some stations have limited staff and payment access. Contact them at 1-800-661-1600 or send an e-mail to questions@shell.com.
Sunoco - Sunoco’s accessibility program provides disabled customers with the benefit of full-service gasoline at self-service prices at all our locations that have both full- and self-serve pumps. Contact Customer Service: toll-free: 1-888-858-7242.
Who Can Help? There are many organizations, which work with and on behalf of people with disabilities that may be able to provide further guidance. The organizations are:
Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario
520 Sutherland Drive,
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3V9
Toll Free: 1-877-422-1112
Tel: 416-422-5644
Fax: 416-422-5943
E-mail: info@cpaont.org
CNIB
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8
Tel: 416-486-2500
Toll Free: 1-800-563-2642
Fax: 416-480-7717
TTY: 416-480-8645
E-mail: ontario@cnib.ca
The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS)
271 Spadina
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2V3
Tel: 416-928-2500
Toll-Free: 1-877-347-3427
TTY: 416-964-0023
Toll-Free TTY: 1-877-347-3429
Fax: 416-928-2506
E-mail: info@chs.ca
Ontario March of Dimes
10 Overlea Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario M4H 1A4
Tel: 416-425-3463
Toll-free: 1-800-263-3463
E-mail: info@dimes.on.ca
Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
2301 - 180 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8
Tel: 416-977-5580
Fax: 416-977-2813
E-mail: info@ontario.cmha.ca
WebAIM- WebAIM has provided comprehensive web accessibility solutions since 1999. These years of experience have made WebAIM one of the leading providers of web accessibility expertise internationally.
