CNSC Accessibility Progress Report 2024
General
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.
Here at the CNSC, we recognize and value the diversity of our workforce. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, barrier-free and non-discriminatory work environment to ensure that all staff can effectively and efficiently contribute their skills and experience to deliver on our mandate. This includes ensuring that staff have an equal opportunity to participate in all work-related activities.
We also believe in providing accessibility and accommodation programs to ensure that employees are fully able to participate in their CNSC employment experience and that their well-being and dignity are respected. To that end, and in response to the Accessible Canada Act, we created the CNSC Accessibility Plan 2022–25 (Accessibility Plan).
The CNSC Accessibility Progress Report 2024 gives an update on the objectives set out in the Accessibility Plan, which is centred on achieving outcomes that ensure that:
- persons with disabilities are employed across the organization
- persons with disabilities are engaged, provided with timely support and career progression opportunities, and empowered to reach their full potential
- persons with disabilities, including employees and stakeholders, have equitable access to the built environment, programs and services, information and communication technologies, and accessible and plain-language content
- employees at all levels are aware of the goals of the Accessible Canada Act, which are to achieve the full and equal participation of all persons in society, especially persons with disabilities, and to proactively identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility
- policies, programs and services are accessible and promote equity, diversity and inclusion within the CNSC
Consultations with and feedback from persons with disabilities are vital, as their input will continue to inform the Accessibility Plan’s implementation and future iterations. We encourage all employees and members of the public to continue to provide feedback.
How to submit feedback
We will acknowledge feedback using the same method by which it was shared. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of anonymous feedback, we will process the feedback appropriately.
Members of the public and CNSC employees can provide their input on the Accessibility Plan, feedback process and progress reports to the Human Resources Advisor from the People Strategies and Workplace Experience Division in the following ways:
Human Resources Advisor
c/o CNSC Accessibility Plan Feedback
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
280 Slater St
PO Box 1046 Stn B
Ottawa ON K1P 5S9
Fax
Human Resources Advisor
c/o CNSC Accessibility Plan Feedback
1-613-995-5086
Please note that we are unable to acknowledge or respond to your feedback by fax because of security and privacy concerns.
Anonymous feedback
If you prefer to submit your feedback anonymously, complete the online form. However, please remember that we are unable to acknowledge or reply to anonymous feedback.
Send an email (accessibilityplan-planaccessibilité@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca) to the Human Resources Advisor.
Telephone
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (Eastern)
- 1-613-995-5894 or 1-800-668-5284 (in Canada only)
- Teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-926-9105
What we do with your feedback
We will document and review all feedback, questions and suggestions formally submitted from staff and the public about our Accessibility Plan and/or progress reports. The feedback received will be shared with the CNSC business process owners responsible for implementing our Accessibility Plan across the key areas outlined in the Accessible Canada Act. All feedback will be considered for integration into CNSC priorities and commitments.
Request an alternate format
You may request a copy of progress reports, the Accessibility Plan or the description of the feedback process in an alternate format. Contact the Human Resources Advisor by email, mail, telephone or fax to request any of the following alternate formats:
- large print (larger and clearer font)
- braille (a system of raised dots that people who are blind or who have low vision can read with their fingers)
- audio (a recording of someone reading the text out loud)
- electronic formats that are compatible with adaptive technology
Executive summary
In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, we are delivering the CNSC’s second progress report on the CNSC Accessibility Plan 2022–25. This progress report gives an update on our planned actions for each of the key priority areas:
- Employment: improve recruitment, widen recruitment pools, and reduce barriers in hiring processes
- The built environment: provide an accessible built environment to support employees and the public through barrier-free access to CNSC-managed facilities
- Information and communication technologies (ICT): ensure that CNSC employees and the people the organization serves can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with its information and digital tools and services
- Communication (other than ICT): provide content, in print and on digital platforms, that is accessible and inclusive for all CNSC employees and the public
- Procurement of goods, services and facilities: ensure that accessibility is considered when making purchases that will be used by employees and members of the public
- Design and delivery of programs and services: ensure that CNSC employees are equipped to design and deliver external programs and services that are accessible to all
- Transportation: this priority area under the Accessible Canada Act is not applicable to the CNSC; the CNSC follows the guidelines provided by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), which oversees government buildings
We continue to focus on the foundations. We will continue to pivot and adjust where needed based on consultations, new regulations, and feedback received from persons with disabilities to provide an inclusive, barrier-free workplace.
Two years later: Status
In December 2022, the CNSC Accessibility Plan 2022–25 was published. We have made important progress in implementing the actions laid out in the Accessibility Plan, but there is still work to be done. The Accessibility Plan originally contained 40 action items to complete over the 3-year period from 2022 to 2025. In 2023, we added 6 actions, for a total of 46 items. In 2024, we added 2 more action items, for a new total of 48. Of that number, 15 have been completed and 30 are in progress or are ongoing. Based on their timelines, the remaining 3 action items will be completed in 2025.
As an organization, we are moving in the right direction and will continue to work towards building an inclusive and barrier-free workplace. In addition, we continue to monitor feedback and collaborate with the Accessibility Plan Working Group.
Feedback
CNSC employees and the public can provide feedback on the Accessibility Plan, progress reports, and any barriers they may experience at the department. Feedback can be in the form of a complaint, a compliment or a suggestion, and can be sent anonymously. We acknowledge and reply to all feedback received unless it is submitted anonymously. Internal processes are in place to ensure that we monitor and report on the feedback.
Feedback is managed by a human resources advisor within the CNSC’s People Strategies and Workplace Experience Division.
Feedback received to date
The CNSC has not received any direct feedback on the Accessibility Plan or the first progress report since their respective publications in 2022 and 2023. However, we did receive feedback on related issues from 2 employees (1 reported anonymously) in May 2024. The first piece of feedback received was about a barrier relating to a CNSC ICT platform. The feedback was acknowledged, and the barrier was addressed and removed within a few days. The second item of feedback was about the importance of remote work for employees who are at high risk for illness. Since this feedback was reported anonymously, an acknowledgement was not sent. However, the feedback was shared with the appropriate business process owner for consideration.
Consultations
The CNSC is committed to consulting people with disabilities in preparing and publishing its Accessibility Plan and progress reports. In September 2024, an email from the Accessibility Network Champion was sent to all CNSC staff to invite them to complete a survey via an online link or using an accessible Word document. To ensure that we considered multiple perspectives, all employees received the email to participate in the survey, with the clear indication that we were seeking input from employees with relevant lived experience (i.e., with disabilities, accommodations or other accessibility needs). The goal of the survey was to determine whether employees felt that any improvements in accessibility had been made and what barriers they had experienced or witnessed in each of the priority areas. The results of the survey will help us pinpoint what key areas need to be prioritized to address and remove barriers in the coming years and will help in developing the 2025–28 Accessibility Plan.
A total of 124 employees completed the survey. Initially, 226 employees started the survey, but 102 dropped out at various stages. All responses have been included in the results until the point of drop-off. In the demographics section of the survey, we asked respondents whether they identified as a person with a disability. Of the 124 respondents, 116 answered the question (8 skipped it), with 17 of them (15%) saying that they identified as a person with a disability.
The survey questions were organized into 4 sections. Below is a summary of employees’ responses.
Consultation results
Section 1: I have noticed improvements to accessibility at the CNSC over the past year.
| Answer | Total |
|---|---|
| Agree | 61% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 35% |
| Disagree | 4% |
Section 2: What barriers in each priority area do you notice on CNSC’s policies, programs, practices and services?
The feedback on each of the priority areas was separated into themes. Some of the feedback consisted of general opinions or comments that were not applicable to the CNSC. All feedback was shared with the priority area leads; however, broad or unclear comments could not be fully addressed. Below is a summary of the themes identified as barriers for each priority area.
Employment
- Official languages
- People with disabilities face challenges in obtaining second-language levels or in obtaining accessible second-language training
- Hiring practices
- More accessible hiring practices should be created, such as providing different applications to support people who are neurodivergent
- Accommodations
- Difficult to get accommodations, lack of knowledge on how to access accommodations and supports
- Employees feel uncomfortable self-identifying to get accommodations
- The process for funding assessments and equipment and for acquiring and procuring accommodation products or software is too long
Built environment
- Inaccessible design of facilities
- Design of kitchen and washroom countertops and sinks, and height of microwaves
- Issues with narrow badge scanners and locations
- Entrances
- Heavy doors, narrow security portals, and inactive or missing automatic door openers
- Inaccessible spaces
- Limited walking space in meeting rooms
- Sound and visual distractions in the workspace
- Issues with lighting
- Air filtration needed to improve air quality for people who are immunocompromised
Information and communication technologies
- Web page interfaces
- Inaccessible intranet page (for example, BORIS) and applications
- Equipment
- Office workstations have missing or unusable equipment
- Meeting rooms lack accessible outlets
- Poor sound quality of televisions in meeting rooms
- Software acquisition
- Lengthy process to acquire and install software
- Digital transitions
- Lack of accessibility messaging during the digital transition to SharePoint and Microsoft 365 to improve knowledge on accessible documents and sites
- Lack of training or information on how to use new digital technologies
Communication (other than ICT)
- Printed information
- Lack of available printing options for employees working remotely
- Language
- Not following the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s communication standards on such issues as reading levels, with vague and confusing language in policies, guidance and procedures
- Lack of documents available in French
- Inaccessible documents
- Lack of knowledge on how to make accessible documents
- Documents only available in PDF format and older documents scanned as images
Procurement of goods, services and facilities
- Inaccessible and complicated procurement process
- Process is unclear, long and complex, and resources and documents are hard to find
- Some suppliers only speak English and cannot deliver materials in both official languages
Design and delivery of programs and services
- Accessible online services
- Online services should be user-tested and should consider accessibility from the outset
- Engagement and consultation
- Lack of resources and funding can prevent engagement activities from reaching certain groups
- Independent Environmental Monitoring Program fieldwork can be difficult to attend in person
- Language
- Some training courses are not available in French
- Plain-language summaries are not available for all programs and services within the department
Transportation
- Accessing building front entrance
- No accessible parking at front of 280 Slater building for quick drop-offs and pick-ups
Attitudinal
At the end of section 2 of the survey, we also asked employees if they had experienced or witnessed attitudinal barriers. While “attitudinal” is not a priority area in the CNSC Accessibility Plan, it is an important element to consider, as culture is an integral part of creating a barrier-free and accessible environment.
- Training
- Many reported that employees and managers seem not to understand or be aware of invisible disabilities and ableist assumptions about employees with disabilities
- Training should be provided to employees and managers on invisible and visible disabilities, ableism, and accessibility in order to promote a culture change
- Many reported that employees and managers seem not to understand or be aware of invisible disabilities and ableist assumptions about employees with disabilities
Section 3: Do you feel that the CNSC is applying a diverse and intersectional lens to accessibility?
We received a wide range of responses – positive, neutral and negative. The feedback shared included:
- “Yes -- I am proud of the work undertaken by the CNSC to remove barriers and it is one of the factors I took into consideration in accepting this job.”
- “I feel that the CNSC is applying a very inclusive attitude to most, if not all, of its undertakings.”
- “I think the CNSC is making an effort to be seen to be addressing this issue; however, the effectiveness is hard to assess.”
However, some employees felt that intersectionality is not being fully considered within the department. For example, an employee reported:
- “No. While we speak about GBA Plus, I don't think there's a solid understanding of what intersectionality is and what it means. We're not even good at considering all the different types of accessibility requirements, let alone then looking at that through an intersectional lens.”
The responses to this question indicate that we need to do more work to further consider and implement intersectionality in our future accessibility plans, progress reports and consultations.
Section 4: Do you feel that the CNSC is ensuring that steps taken to remove current barriers do not contribute to new barriers in the future?
We received various responses to this question, with the majority saying, “I do not know”. Given the varied responses, it is likely that the question was not clear enough and that employees may not have had the knowledge to answer confidently.
Conclusion
Overall, the survey results show that we have made progress in raising awareness on accessibility. However, there is still work to be done, as employees are still facing barriers in the workplace. These results allowed us to measure the progress made to date and will help to prioritize key areas for addressing and removing barriers for the next fiscal year. The barriers identified will help the Accessibility Working Group begin planning action items to include in the 2025–2028 Accessibility Plan.
CNSC priority areas
The following subsections outline our objectives and provide an update on actions for each of the priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act. It is important to note that the business process owners are responsible for their respective priority areas in terms of resources and delivery on commitments.
Employment
Objective
Ensure that employees living with a temporary or permanent disability have equal access and opportunity to fully participate in the work of the CNSC and can successfully contribute by working to their best potential. This includes ensuring that the CNSC respects and delivers on priorities, programs, practices and services to identify, remove and prevent new barriers to accessibility. In cases where the CNSC does not have the knowledge to manage a unique accommodation request, external guidance will be sought from a subject-matter expert.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness raising | |||
| Self-identification campaign | The Human Resources Directorate is conceptualizing an effective campaign to educate staff on the importance of self-identification and to encourage them to do so. | Human Resources Directorate (HRD) | Ongoing |
| Establish an advisory council on inclusion | Call-out was made to CNSC staff and members were identified through an open application process. New members will undergo training before beginning official activities in fall 2022. | HRD | Completed in 2022 |
| Work with the Advisory Council on Inclusion (ACI)* | The ACI has been established and will contribute to a future where the CNSC has embedded behaviours that create safe spaces for equity, inclusion and belonging, thereby transforming the employment culture. | HRD | The ACI met on a quarterly basis throughout the 2023–24 fiscal year. The ACI is now being reconfigured to support our equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) governance structure (which is in development). |
| Accessibility program management | Establish clear accessibility program management – the governance and resources to carry out the monitoring and reporting. | HRD | Ongoing Preparation of documents outlining accessibility program management began in fall 2024 and will be completed by the end of the fiscal year (March 2025). |
| Establish an employee-led network on accessibility | Provide members with a forum to discuss issues in relation to ableism and accessibility, and to ensure the full participation of employees with disabilities at the CNSC. | HRD | Completed |
| Continue to offer the Working Mind training to managers | Sessions are offered annually on a regular basis. | HRD | Ongoing |
| Open Learning sessions on neurodiversity and accessibility | Open Learning session on neurodiversity was held in June 2021. HRD to continue conversation with the Accessibility Network on how to offer additional, targeted content on a scheduled basis to CNSC staff. | HRD, in partnership with the Accessibility Network | Completed In early 2024, 3 accessibility-related Open Learning sessions for all staff were held. The topics of the sessions were: 1) anti-ableist behaviours and terminologies, 2) neurodiversity, in collaboration with the Infinity Network, and 3) adaptive technologies, with the Accessibility, Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT). |
| Publish 3 articles related to accessibility for employee audiences |
|
HRD | Completed In 2024, communications to employees on various accessibility topics and learning sessions continued. |
| Inclusive Workplace Policy (soon to be renamed the Workplace Accommodation Directive) | Review and update as required as per the CNSC’s policy review cycle. | HRD, in consultation with internal stakeholders and all employee networks |
2023–24 Policy revision began in March 2024; work is in progress. |
| Establish employment equity hiring goals | Establish 3-year hiring goals for each employment equity-seeking group based on the National Labour Market Availability. Note: This was done in consultation with both equity-seeking and non-equity-seeking employees. | HRD | Completed, with update planned in the 2025–26 fiscal year. |
| Identify and establish partner agreements with key recruiting partners or programs |
|
HRD | Some items have been completed, while others are ongoing initiatives. The HR Staffing team:
|
| Move to the new Employee and Family Assistance Program | Move to a new provider with an expanded set of services to meet the needs of employees in a more holistic and inclusive manner. | HRD | Completed – usage rates have increased. |
| Ease of access | |||
* Assess, identify and improve procedures to facilitate a clearer and more efficient accommodation process |
Redesign the accommodation process to implement recommendations on addressing and removing all identified barriers. | HRD | In progress and ongoing In collaboration with subject-matter experts, including people with disabilities, recommendations were made to remove and prevent barriers within the accommodation process. The implementation of the recommendations and education components are ongoing. |
| Monitor the development of the Government of Canada (GC) Accessibility Passport | The CNSC will review documentation and information available from the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and implement as appropriate. | HRD | Ongoing HRD continues to attend community of practice meetings on the implementation of the GC Accessibility Passport. The official documentation has been reviewed. Stakeholder communities will be identified who can help pinpoint actions to simplify and ensure ease of access to accommodation. |
| Integrate the GC Accessibility Passport into HR processes | Integrate the Accessibility Passport into the following areas:
|
HRD | 2025–26 In alignment with the revised accommodation process, the Word document version of the GC Accessibility Passport will be implemented across the department in fiscal year 2025–2026. |
| Accessible digital interfaces and documents | Promote and teach how to leverage accessibility tools in the MS365 and MS Teams environment. | Information Management Technology Directorate, HRD |
Completed; continues to be an ongoing activity |
* = new action item
The built environment
Objective
Provide an accessible built environment that offers employees and the public barrier-free access to CNSC-managed facilities.
The CNSC will work proactively with persons with disabilities to improve accessibility features within the built environment. Work models, such as hybrid working arrangements where time is split between the office and telework locations, will be taken into consideration to assess impacts on persons with disabilities and their workspaces.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation and portfolio planning | |||
| Review the built environment in consultation with persons with disabilities to identify how it could be more accessible and inclusive | Conduct post-occupancy surveys with persons with disabilities within 12 months of being accommodated in a new GCworkplace location. | Finance and Administration Directorate (FAD) | 2023–25 Based on expected completion dates for newly reconfigured office floors, post-occupancy surveys are expected to be delayed until fall 2024. This will ensure more informed feedback when occupancy rates may be higher. |
| Assess options to conduct accessibility assessments of CNSC-occupied buildings | Engage an accessibility consultant; based on the findings, develop an action plan to assess the feasibility of improving accessibility in the built environment, cost implications, and a method for prioritizing actions. | FAD | 2024–25 Request for consultant contract services planned for fall 2024. The proposed action plan is for assessments to be completed by March 2025. |
| Contribute to Government of Canada initiatives aimed at the development of office standards and new workspaces that promote barrier-free environments | Convert over 70% of the CNSC office space portfolio to GCworkplace design standards by 2025. | FAD | Ongoing Most of the work to convert the National Capital Region office space portfolio has been completed. Full completion is expected by September 2025. |
| Policy frameworks | |||
| Update the CNSC facilities management framework | Revise the CNSC facilities management framework relative to the built environment to support accessibility and inclusivity. | FAD | October 2025 |
| Ensure compliance with office accommodation standards | Monitor building features to ensure compliance with PSPC guidelines and building code requirements for all CNSC buildings. | FAD | Ongoing Floors 2 to 12 at 280 Slater in Ottawa have been updated to new standards. |
| Implement GC Accessibility Passport program recommendations | Implement recommendations related to office accommodation and the built environment received through the adoption of the Government of Canada Accessibility Passport program. | FAD | Ongoing |
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
Objective
Ensure that CNSC employees and the public can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with its information, services, computers and/or other electronic devices.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Management and Technology Directorate (IMTD) accessibility project team | Established an IMTD ICT accessibility project team. | IMTD | Completed |
| ICT maturity level | Assessing ICT maturity level. | IMTD | Completed |
| ICT accessibility plan | Create an ICT accessibility compliance program plan organized around 6 activities:
|
IMTD | Ongoing Work is ongoing throughout the 2024–25 fiscal year to address the implementation of action items for all these activities. However, there is commitment to significantly move forward on activities 4 and 6 during the fiscal year. |
| Incorporate accessibility into the planning and acquisition of new digital systems and solutions |
|
IMTD | Ongoing
|
| Assess current internal and commercial off-the-shelf software and services for accessibility to identify gaps and enable accessibility features in existing systems, programs, and technology. |
|
IMTD | In progress A memorandum is being prepared for the IMTD management team listing the internal applications that will be phased out and that do not require an accessibility assessment, including applications that are expected to be discontinued within the next 2 to 3 years, for the CIO’s approval. |
| Develop a mastering of the fundamental principles of digital accessibility within the Information Technology (IT) team |
|
IMTD | Ongoing To support workforce capability, web pages were designed on the CNSC’s intranet site and on SharePoint. The web pages offer a compilation of resources, references and training materials on accessibility. Project team members were scheduled to attend the Government of Canada training events organized by SSC for January 2024. |
| Develop a process to receive and deal with feedback from stakeholders regarding ICT accessibility. |
|
HRD IMTD |
Completed The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Hub centrally receives and acknowledges feedback and assigns actions as required. |
| ICT accessibility plan implementation | Implement the ICT accessibility plan to meet the Level 3 requirements of the TBS Maturity Model. | IMTD | March 2025 |
Communication, other than information and communication technologies
Objective
Ensure that content, in print and on digital platforms, provides accessible and inclusive information to all CNSC employees and the public.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web content audit | Review content to ensure it meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). | Strategic Communications Directorate (SCD) | Ongoing A content inventory has been developed for the migrated CNSC website. An accessibility audit will be completed following a ROT (redundant, outdated and trivial content) exercise to reduce the amount of analysis for top-visited content. Note: The Integrated Planning and Resource Management Committee decreased the project funding in October 2023. Since then, a statement of work has been developed for additional web publishers to assist with the accessibility review and related content updates to meet W3C guidelines. |
| Ensure that web content is easy to find, easy to understand and easy to use for everyone, including people who have physical or cognitive disabilities | Use plain language and write content for a digitally enabled government that is available anytime, anywhere, through any service window. Follow the Canada.ca Content Style Guide. | SCD | Ongoing A web writer, 2 web content advisors and a web publisher have been hired. An additional web publisher is in the process of being resourced under the web modernization project to help meet this deliverable. Optimizing key content to meet plain-language needs will be addressed using a prioritized approach. A pilot project for one section is now underway. All applicable plain-language guidelines are being followed. |
| Update the website information architecture to improve navigation and simplify page layout | Implement the latest Canada.ca template and follow Government of Canada standards on accessibility and usability. | SCD | Ongoing IMTD finalized work on its web migration project to implement the latest Canada.ca look and feel to the wrapper of the website (header and footer, and changes to navigation). The information architecture will be implemented once the new web publishers are contracted and provided with access to the appropriate technical environment. Content optimization (latest Canada.ca templates) is being reviewed, and appropriate templates are being selected by the Web Modernization Project team and will be applied to top-visited content in a section-by-section approach once the team is granted access to the technical environment. |
| Update all web graphics with accessible formats of graphics | Web modernization project; migration of existing content, formatting of new graphics. | SCD, IMTD | Ongoing The Web Modernization Project team and the Digital Communications team are working together to develop a web style guide, and will apply new and accessible graphics to the top 3 tiers of the website during the section-by-section publishing work. Because of project authority caps, only web graphics on top-visited content will be addressed by the web modernization project. |
| Reduce the use of PDFs on the CNSC’s website | Convert PDFs to accessible web content (HTML) and/or provide alternate format(s) for PDFs currently posted on the website. | SCD | Ongoing The initial content inventory of the current site was completed, and over 15,000 PDFs (in English and French) were identified. This number is based on research from March 2010 to June 2023. A second inventory was completed on the migrated version of the site. A ROT exercise was performed and will reduce the volume of PDFs that need to be converted to accessible formats. Conversion will begin once web publishers are contracted under the web modernization project, are given access to the technical environment, and are provided with the tools and software needed to convert PDFs to an accessible format. The volume of PDFs to be converted may exceed the amount of funding available as a result of project authority caps, so this work will be prioritized according to top-visited content. Ongoing ROT work is taking place to address ROT content process development and web retention requirements. |
| Consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations on barriers related to the website | Continue efforts to make lasting improvements to the accessibility of the CNSC website and respond to the needs of people with disabilities. | SCD | Ongoing The web modernization team developed and implemented a user experience plan. A site survey was launched in spring 2024 during the exploration phase of the web modernization project, along with related user research. This survey helped the team identify individuals, including persons with disabilities, who are interested in participating in future web-related user experience activities. Several self-identified individuals participated in user research during the exploration phase to help shape the new website information architecture. This will have a positive impact on improving the accessibility of the CNSC website. |
Procurement of goods, services and facilities
Objective
Accessibility is considered when making purchases that will be used by employees and citizens.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build awareness | Raise awareness and promote training for procurement officers and business owners to ensure that accessibility is considered at the early stages of the procurement process. For the business owners, raising awareness, understanding and a proactive approach will have a profound impact on reducing barriers and preventing new barriers. The CNSC has revised the following courses that are delivered to:
|
Finance and Administration Directorate (FAD) | Completed The training video is available to all staff on the CNSC’s Contract Management System intranet page. The topic is now covered in the Contracting 101 training program. |
| Work procedures | Update the CNSC's Contract Management Services (CMS) work procedures and internet site to include clear information on accessibility considerations in procurement and to provide guidance to business owners on how to complete the accessibility attestation included in the contract request form. Updating the CMS website will provide easy access to clear information, ensuring that business owners meet accessibility requirements. | FAD | Completed in 2023 The mandatory questions were incorporated into the Contract Request Form in 2019–20, including a link to the training video to give business owners easy access to the information. |
| Corporate credit card guidance | Update the CNSC's Contract Management Services intranet site to include clear information on accessibility considerations in procurement as well as provide guidance on purchasing assistive items when using credit cards. Clear information and further instructions on purchasing assistive items will empower our clients to make informed, accessibility-conscious decisions. | FAD | Completed The website has been updated to provide guidance to clients on accessibility considerations in procurement, and training has been updated to include guidance on purchasing assistive items when using credit cards. |
Design and delivery of programs and services
Objective
Ensure that CNSC employees are equipped to design and deliver external programs and services that are accessible to all.
Actions
The actions table has been revised to account for developments in 2024.
| Priority/Action | Description | Lead | 2024 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop and deliver accessible programs and services | |||
| Checklists within templates, accessible format | Modify checklists within templates to indicate the need for content/documents to be accessible (i.e., incorporating principles of accessible design) before they are posted to the external website. Examples:
|
Various CNSC directorates | Ongoing Navigator document templates have been updated to ensure that they are built with accessibility in mind. The Navigator documents include a digital accessibility checklist. The checklist contains 15 tips and is 38 pages long. Throughout Q3 of this fiscal year, various groups will be consulted on the Navigator documents. |
| Documents and presentations on external website are accessible | Only accept content for posting to the external website if it meets accessibility standards. | Lead: Various CNSC content owners/requestors Supporting: SCD communications advisors, SCD web team, IMTD web team |
Ongoing Presentations are no longer published on the CNSC external website. Documents posted externally are reviewed to make sure they meet accessibility standards. |
| * Educate and coach clients on accessibility and plain language | Reviewing content and educating clients on plain language and accessibility standards | SCD | Ongoing A presentation on web writing was created and has been presented to multiple teams internally. This presentation provides information on making web content accessible, tips on plain-language writing, and tools that can assist content writers. Other resources, such as writing style guides and digital accessibility tools, are referenced and shared for use. As content is being reviewed on the website, discussions are being had about the use of plain language and how/why it will be applied to existing and future content. |
| Online application processes are accessible | Ensuring that content on the external website that relates to applications for funding, to intervene, or for licensees are accessible. | Commission Registrar, Strategic Planning Directorate (SPD) | 2024–25 SPD: Started in 2023 Source documents related to the CNSC’s Participant Funding Program and Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund are being identified so that they can be reviewed and edited with an accessibility lens. Identified documents will be updated and uploaded to the CNSC website once approved. |
| Public events / videos posted are accessible | Ensuring that public events (Commission proceedings and outreach) are accessible (sign language interpretation, accurate closed captioning in events posted, etc.). | Lead for Commission proceedings: Commission Registrar Lead for outreach: Regulatory Policy Directorate (RPD) Supporting: SCD |
Ongoing Work is underway with PSPC to update what is necessary to ensure that public hearings are accessible. Sign-language interpretation is also being reviewed with PSPC. |
| Systematically assess CNSC external programs and services | |||
| Obtain feedback from external groups |
|
RPD, SPD | Ongoing SPD: Started in 2023 A presentation at the CNSC–Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGO) Forum was previously offered to the ENGO representatives. A presentation may occur at a future meeting if there is interest. Indigenous Nations and communities that engage with CNSC staff were invited to attend the Meet the Nuclear Regulator webinar on the CNSC’s Accessibility Plan. Following the session, further discussion was held with representatives from one Indigenous community that expressed interest. However, no additional comments were received. The CNSC’s funding program user surveys are being edited to include questions about whether applicants experienced any barriers with the programs. However, implementation of these changes has been paused, pending the release of new guidance on self-identification questions from the Treasury Board Secretariat. This process may result in data that can contribute to the optional Accessibility Measurement Framework criterion of “evaluating the number of public-facing services and programs within an organization that have been reported to be accessible”. |
| Leverage Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) tools and processes | Incorporate accessibility considerations into existing review cycles when updating regulatory instruments. | RPD | Ongoing The GBA Plus template that is used for Regulatory Framework projects was reviewed, and it was determined that the document sufficiently incorporates accessibility considerations. |
| Conduct external workshops with the public | Seeking inputs/feedback from licensees and funding program groups on the Accessibility Plan as it relates to the delivery of programs and services. | SPD, RPD, Commission Registrar | Ongoing A Meet the Nuclear Regulator session took place in early 2024 to obtain feedback on the CNSC Accessibility Plan 2022–25 and identify additional barriers. |
| Public hearings | |||
| Integrate accessibility considerations into CNSC public hearing processes at exterior locations | Work with CNSC Commission Registry staff to ensure that accessibility requirements are integrated for public proceedings, whether in a CNSC or GC building or in an external public setting. | Commission Registrar | Completed A checklist of items to consider when planning and booking places for public hearings was created. The checklist will be updated depending on the results of the external workshops with the public. |
* = new item added
Transportation
During consultations with CNSC staff, one barrier was identified regarding accessible parking in front of 280 Slater Street in Ottawa. The barrier cannot be resolved at this time but will be reconsidered in next year’s Accessibility Plan. In addition, the CNSC does not have jurisdiction to mandate that private or public transportation providers offer more accessible transportation options, but if this becomes a barrier, the employee’s manager will assist the employee in finding accessible transportation options.
Conclusion
The Accessible Canada Act seeks to create a Canada without barriers by January 2040. We at the CNSC have a key role to play in helping to achieve this goal. We have committed to creating a diverse, safe, respectful, healthy and inclusive workplace. This means that we have made a commitment to identifying, removing and preventing barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities; dismantling a culture of ableism; and ensuring that employees with disabilities are included in decision-making processes on issues that directly affect them.
We are keeping an accessibility lens on our hybrid work model and are taking specific actions to address accessibility in our priority areas. We will continue to adapt this action plan to meet the needs of employees and the public living with disabilities.
List of acronyms
- AAACT
- Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology
- ACI
- Advisory Council on Inclusion
- ACR
- Accessibility Compliance Report
- CIO
- Chief Information Officer
- CMS
- Contract Management Services
- CNSC
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- EARN
- Employment Accessibility Resource Network
- EDI
- equity, diversity and inclusion
- ENGO
- Environmental Non-Governmental Organization
- FAD
- Finance and Administration Directorate
- GBA Plus
- Gender-based Analysis Plus
- GC
- Government of Canada
- HRD
- Human Resources Directorate
- ICT
- Information and communication technologies
- IMTD
- Information Management Technology Directorate
- RPD
- Regulatory Policy Directorate
- PSPC
- Public Services and Procurement Canada
- ROT
- redundant, outdated and trivial
- SCD
- Strategic Communications Directorate
- SPD
- Strategic Planning Directorate
- TBS
- Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
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