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¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ Accessibility Action Plan - 2023 to 2025

Table of contents

General

We welcome your feedback and have established a process for receiving comments on this Plan, with an option to provide feedback anonymously.

Please send your feedback to our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Advisor (Accessibility Action Plan).

You can send your feedback by email, phone, through the feedback form or by mail using the contact information listed below.

You can use the contact information listed below to ask us for a copy of our accessibility plan and our feedback process description in these alternate formats: print, large print, Braille, audio or an electronic format that is compatible with adaptive technology that is intended to assist persons with disabilities. We will provide alternate formats: print, large print, Braille, audio or an electronic format that is compatible with adaptive technology that is intended to assist persons with disabilities. We will provide the format you ask for as soon as possible. Braille and audio formats may take up to 45 days. Print, large print and electronic formats may take up to 15 days.

Contact us

Please send your feedback:

By emailHMAE-PlandAccessibiliteAMC-GACAccessibilityPlan@international.gc.ca
By online form: GAC online form

By mail:
¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ – Accessibility Feedback
c/o The advisor responsible for accessibility
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility team (HMAE)
200 Promenade du Portage
8th floor
Gatineau, Québec
J8X 4B7

By phone:
Toll-free: 1-800-267-8376

Feedback Process
Once feedback is received, it will be codified by method of communication, date received, topic, response and action taken and will be saved appropriately.

This document, as well as emails received, will be saved and stored for a period of seven (7) years. Letters will be scanned and saved. Feedback from telephone calls will be paraphrased and transcribed into the document. All feedback will be acknowledged in the way it was provided unless it is anonymous. If the caller leaves their contact information, the call will be returned to ensure that feedback has been accurately captured. Specific feedback that can be addressed quickly will be forwarded to the relevant sector for action or information.

Feedback will be incorporated into the Annual Reports on the Accessibility Action Plan and will be provided to senior management, published on the GAC internet and filed with Canada’s Accessibility Commissioner on an annual basis.

Message from the Deputy Minister

I am pleased to present ¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ’s (GAC) 2023–2025 Accessibility Action Plan. The Accessibility Action Plan outlines measures the department will undertake to remove and prevent barriers to the full contribution of individuals with disabilities and it addresses barriers to accessibility that prevent GAC from becoming an employer of choice for a large segment of the Canadian population. People with disabilities make significant contributions to GAC and by working to remove barriers and increase accessibility, GAC will become a workplace that is more representative of the people of Canada.

The Accessible Canada Act aims to make Canada barrier-free by 2040 and this is GAC’s first Accessibility Action Plan towards achieving this goal. We have and will continue to engage persons with disabilities to better understand their experiences and meet their needs when interacting with GAC. The Plan will continue to evolve as consultations with employees with disabilities and stakeholders are ongoing.

I want to especially thank all of those who generously provided their time, efforts and essential insights over the past months. We know that improving accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities is a continuous process that requires ongoing work. It is the responsibility of everyone at GAC, and it will take the support and commitment from all levels of the department to transform GAC into a genuinely accessible organization. We will hold ourselves accountable to deliver on the Plan and make our workplace culture increasingly inclusive and accessible for all, while respecting the Government of Canada’s priority to create a public service workforce that is as diverse as the public it serves. In addition to increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities, GAC is also committed to increase access to a wider and diverse pool of talent—with the richness of intersectional identities—that will contribute to program and policy delivery.

GAC is committed to the actions presented in this plan, as together we continue to work towards becoming a more representative, inclusive and accessible organization.

Message from the Persons with Disabilities Champion, Vikas Sharma

As the Champion for persons with disabilities, I am pleased to present GAC’s Accessibility Action Plan 2023–2025, which underlines our department's commitment to providing a better future for all employees. While we have taken steps to lay the foundation for progress, much work to advance accessibility in the workplace still needs to be done.

We must acknowledge the labour of many in the Disabilities community that fought for the rights that are now elements of this Action Plan, and we will continue to work with persons with disabilities and other stakeholders to develop this action plan. As Champion for persons with disabilities, I am committed to regular engagement across the department to support a culture of inclusiveness and mutual respect. Through ongoing communication and advocacy, we can continue to remove workplace barriers for People with Disabilities. I believe our commitment to accessibility and our ongoing work to promote inclusion and open communication will help us achieve an accessible, respectful, and equitable workforce and workplace. I encourage you to take a look at the action plan and think about how you can promote a diverse and inclusive approach to employment in your day-to-day work. Together, we can ensure that disability is seen as an opportunity rather than a challenge in our department.

Executive Summary

The Accessible Canada Act aims to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, we have developed the organization’s first Accessibility Action Plan, which is an essential first step in GAC’s journey to becoming a workplace that is accessible to all. The following recommendations, designed to address barriers and guide actions to eliminate them, will also support the implementation of the Clerk of the Privy Council’s Deputy Minister Commitments on Diversity and Inclusion and Call to Action to create a representative workforce and an inclusive workplace.

The GAC Accessibility Action Plan 2023–2025 provides an overview of our mandate and commitments to accessibility in the seven priority areas outlined in the Accessible Canada Act, including:

The 2023–2025 Plan outlines concrete actions we will take to improve accessibility in the next two years. By identifying barriers and developing actions, this Plan establishes the foundation for more specific measures in future Accessibility Action Plans. GAC is committed to working with its senior leaders, employees and stakeholders to foster an environment where accessibility considerations are applied to every context, in Canada and internationally.

GAC will take concrete action in the short term by evaluating current tools and services, auditing our physical work environment to ensure all spaces are as accessible as possible, and consulting with persons with disabilities at every step. Collaboration with persons with disabilities at all stages of these reviews, along with the plan's design and implementation are essential as we develop a welcoming workplace environment for all. We will continue to raise awareness of and promote training on relevant accessibility requirements and how to support persons with disabilities in our workplace and those in the public we serve.

The barriers and actions identified in this Plan are primarily based on recommendations received from our employees and senior leaders. This is a dynamic and evergreen Action Plan; activities will be monitored, reviewed and revised as required. This Plan is an essential step for GAC, and we acknowledge that much work must be done to achieve a barrier-free workplace.

GAC Vision

GAC will be a leader in accessibility within the public service. We will eliminate barriers and promote best practices in accessibility for all employees in Canada, in branches and special Bureaus as well as in missions worldwide. We are committed to making a meaningful change and are dedicated to recruiting, retaining, developing and promoting persons with disabilities within our department.

Accessibility Statement

¶¶ÒùÊÓƵ is committed to making its employment, building environment, information and communication technologies (ICT), communications other than ICT, procurement of goods, services and construction design and delivery of programs and internal services, and transportation accessible to persons with disabilities consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. This Accessibility Statement and our Accessibility Action Plan demonstrate our commitment to removing barriers to accessibility and encouraging the full inclusion of persons with disabilities at GAC. We have been guided by the principles of the Office of Public Service Accessibility “” Strategy and by the Accessible Canada Act. This Plan is our first step towards reducing and removing the barriers that people with disabilities face so that everyone can fully participate in the organisation.

Consultations

Consultations with employees with disabilities and all stakeholders shaped the development of the Accessibility Action Plan. Focus groups were held virtually, and accommodations were offered as needed to GAC employees who joined from Canada and abroad. We recognize that consultations need to be ongoing, and we are committed to nurturing trust and respect with people with disabilities to establish meaningful relationships moving forward. These continued consultations will help us improve our understanding of the lived realities of employees, help improve accessibility in our organization concerning the seven priority areas of the Accessible Canada Act and promote a culture of inclusion.

Action Plan

The actions under each pillar are organized according to the Accessible Canada Act key pillar areas with an added a chapter on culture change. This Plan addresses accessibility barriers identified through employee and stakeholder input and underscores that we have more to learn and actions to implement to become “accessible by default.” This will only occur if we make accessibility a priority organizationally as we move forward.

We are continually working to improve accessibility and inclusion at GAC and we know that the necessary changes required to meet our objectives will take time to implement in Canada and at missions abroad. As we move towards a more accessible workplace, we will continue to find ways to improve accessibility by engaging with employees and updating the plan.

Employment

Goal

GAC works towards achieving the targets set in the Employment Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) Action Plan and contributes to the  Treasury Board Secretariat goal to hire 5,000 new public servants with disabilities by 2025. We will also focus on retaining our employees who live with a disability.

Actions

The built environment

Goal

GAC will work with departmental stakeholders to understand specific needs and challenges at headquarters and mission and to ensure that Canadian values of accessibility and inclusion are upheld for employees and visitors.

Actions

Information and communication technology (ICT)

Goal

GAC will move towards an accessible-by-default approach to technology by providing all employees with the necessary tools to complete their work.

Actions

Communication, other than information and communication technologies

Goal

GAC is committed to following Treasury Board Secretariat and Accessibility Canada Act guidelines and providing information in plain language to support all audiences in various accessible formats, such as large print, audio, and online forms compatible with adaptive technologies.

Actions

The procurement of goods, services, and facilities

Goal

GAC follows accessibility practices set by the Treasury Board Secretariat and Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Actions

The design and delivery of programs and services

Goal

To provide GAC employees with information on accessible programs and services.

Actions

Transportation

Goal

To increase awareness of safe and secure transportation options for GAC employees at mission.

Actions

Workplace Culture

Goal

GAC is a department where all employees are respected, included and welcomed.

Actions

Measuring Progress

GAC is developing an implementation plan and a performance measurement framework featuring short, medium, and long-term timelines for planned actions, as well as clear measures to indicate and track progress.  Whenever possible, the Accessibility Action Plan Performance Measurement Framework will align with the performance measurement frameworks of the GAC Equity Diversity and Inclusion Plan, as well as the Anti-Racism Strategy. We will also add questions to the NWU survey to help measure progress over time. Where possible, GAC will seek to use existing data from the annual Public Service Employment Survey (PSES) as our baseline. Additional keys success factors and key performance indicators will be included in the Accessibility Action Plan Performance Measurement Framework.

Conclusion

GAC employees have demonstrated substantial and dedicated efforts to support the development of this first Accessibility Action Plan.Employees with disabilities have also been very generous in sharing their experiences.The recommendations in this Plan support departmental compliance with Accessible Canada Act requirements and position GAC to respond proactively. GAC will thoughtfully implement recommendations to build an inclusive and accessible workplace that meets the needs of its workforce.

Annexes

Annex A – Accessibility Action Plan Survey, 2023 Building the GAC Accessibility Action Plan: Nothing Without Us

June 16, 2023, marked the launch of GAC’s Accessibility Action Plan survey Building the GAC Accessibility Action Plan: Nothing Without Us (NWU), which was collaboratively developed with GAC employees with disabilities. Thesurvey generated 394 responses, including 225 from persons with disabilities (see Annex). The survey also captured demographic information on gender, racial identification and sexual orientation, providing valuable insights into the intersectional identities of GAC employees with disabilities and managers/supervisors. The survey will be repeated annually, and the results analyzed to inform our performance management indicators, workplace culture change strategies and future reporting.

Initial Survey Results

Employees with disabilities
Text version

Have you experienced any of the following barriers (physical, systemic, attitudinal, or other) in your day-to-day work? (Check all that apply)

CategoryPercentage
Physical barriers21%
Negative attitudes (attitudinal barrier)46%
Knowledge barriers – people around me are not aware or do not understand the challenges faced by people living with disabilities65%
Systemic barrier (policies or practices that negatively affect my participation at work)47%
Communications barriers29%
Technological barriers27%
I have not experienced barriers in my day-to-day work13%
Other7%
Managers (includes managers of employees with a disability and managers with a disability)
Text version

To your knowledge, have your employees experienced any of the following barriers in their day-to-day work? (Check all that apply)

CategoryPercentage
Physical barriers17%
Negative attitudes (attitudinal barrier)30%
Knowledge barriers – people around me are not aware or do not understand the challenges faced by people living with disabilities34%
Systemic barrier (policies or practices that negatively affect participation at work)19%
Communications barriers19%
The type of service delivery channel was not accessible10%
Technological barriers11%
I do not know if my employees have experienced barriers19%
My employees have not experienced barriers15%
Other26%
Text version

What has been your experience when discussing your disability with your supervisor/manager? (Check all that apply)

CategoryPercentage
My supervisor/manager expressed bias or lack of understanding25%
I have experienced harassment or reprisal11%
I am tired from having to explain myself repeatedly41%
I had a positive experience discussing with my supervisor/manager32%
My supervisor/manager has been knowledgeable and helpful20%
I feel heard and understood by my supervisor/manager24%
I have not discussed my disability with my supervisor/manager27%
Other22%
Managers (includes managers of employees with a disability and managers with a disability)
Text version

What has been your experience when discussing disability with your employees? (Check all that apply)

CategoryPercentage
I prefer not to answer10%
I do not feel prepared to help or answer questions10%
The conversation feels too personal2%
I had a positive experience discussing disability with my employee29%
My conversation(s) are helpful and positive22%
I feel like I can create solutions out of our conversations20%
I have not discussed disability with my employees18%
Other33%

List of stakeholders consulted

GAC Branches ConsultedDateParticipants
Corporate HR Planning and HRMSFeb 23Benoit Gillespie (HSOA), Valerie Gravière (HSEC)
Classification Centre of Expertise (HSOE)March 3Mary Houlden (HSOE)
Operational Staffing, Corporate HR Staffing, Official Languages and Awards RecognitionMarch 20Josée Deschambault (HSEA), Sarah Miville (HSOS)
HR Data Centre of ExpertiseMarch 29Gabrielle Renaud-Mattey (HSF)
Assignments and Executive Management, Executive ServicesApril 6Michelle Ward (HFR)
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Anti-racism, HR Data Centre of ExpertiseApril 12Naomi Bambara (HSI), Nancy Fillion (HSF)
Executive Services, Assignment and Pool ManagementApril 17Pamela Greenwell (HFR), John Davison (HFP)
Embassy of Canada to the Czech RepublicApril 18Lori Corriveau (PRGUE)
Strategic Policy and PlanningMay 4Elizabeth Tough (ARO)
Corporate Health ProgramsMay 5Sarah Turcotte (HWH)
Foreign Service Directives Client Service CentreMay 5Nancy MacKechnie (HEA)
Digital Services, Strategy & ArchitectureMay 8Michel Cormier (SIP)
E-CommunicationsMay 9Lynn Brunette (LDW)
Labour Relations DivisionMay 11Audrey Paquette-Gratton (HWL), Chantal Alarie (HWL), Melanie Laflamme (HWL), Melanie Swain (HWL)
Contracting and Material Management PolicyMay 12Cindy Bristow (SPP), Paula Todorovic (SPP), Chantal Lafleur (SPP)
Facilities Management, Tenant Support and Moving ServicesMay 15Alexaida Mendoza (SPV), Shane McLaughlin (SPV)
Architecture ServicesMay 16Marie-Louise Gidaro (AWBC)
Centre for Learning ServicesMay 18Marie-Claude Villeneuve (CFSE)
Facilities Management, Strategic Accommodation and Project LeadershipMay 19Alexaida Mendoza (SPV), Anouk Simard (SPL), Carol Gravelle (SPL), Jamal Dean (SVP), Jazceal Johnstone (SPV), Randy Smith (SPV) (Part 1/2)
Branch Information SessionsMay 19Sebastien Chiasson (DCP), Jacint Boucher (SIS), Annam Ganesam (VBA), Chantal Ruel (CFM), Michel Cormier (SIP), Barbara Hamel (MFMA), Carol Gravelle (SPL), Alexaida Mendoza (SPV), Bomi Lee (SIPB), Aspen Huggins (CFMZ), Nirmala alexander (DCL), Chantal Ruel (CFM), Emilie Anandappa-Lavoie (SIEG)
MCO Strategic Planning and OperationsMay 24Kimberly O’Reilly, AFT
FacilitiesMay 24Jamal Dean (SPV), Anouk Simard (SPL), Genevieve Gavin (SPL), Randy Smith (SPV), Robert Cousins (SPG) (Part 2/2)
Union Representatives: Human Rights (IOR), Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO), Union of National Employees (UNE-SEN)May 29C.J. Scott, Eric Boileau (UNE-SEN), Frederic Laberge, Jennifer Keeling, Pamela Isfeld (PAFSO), Xiaohong Wong
Intersectional ConsultationMay 30Saminder Grewal (SICH)
Mission Operation, Policies, and InnovationJune 1Ellen Ruth Zeisler (AFS)
Total Branch Participants58
Employees with Disabilities ConsultationsParticipants
April 111
May 185
May 193
May 236
May 238
May 245
May 246
June 11
June 24
June 51
June 52
June 66
Total Participants48
Total GAC Participants106
Key takeaways

Annex B – Definitions and Key Terminology

Accessibility

Accessibility refers to how services, technology, locations, devices, environments and products are designed to accommodate persons with disabilities. Accessibility means giving people of all abilities equal opportunities to participate in life activities. The term implies that there has been conscious planning, design and effort to ensure something is barrier-free for persons with disabilities. Accessibility also benefits the general population by making everything more usable and practical for all people.

Accommodation

Accommodation refers to taking steps to remove disadvantages for people that result from barriers.

Assistive and adaptive device/technology

A device, system or equipment designed to help a person do a task. Examples include wheelchairs, hearing aids, screen-reading software, etc.

Barrier

According to the Accessible Canada Act, a “barrier means anything including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice—that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with a physical, mental, intellectual, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.”

Disability

According to the Accessible Canada Act, a disability is “a physical, mental, intellectual, learning, communication or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s complete and equal participation in society.”

Self-identification

Self-Identification is the process by which the employer collects information and conduct and analysis of the workforces in order to determine the degree of the underrepresentation of the persons in designated groups in each occupational group in what workforce

Systemic barrier

Systemic barriers are policies, practices or procedures that result in some people receiving unequal access or being excluded.

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