2024 Annual Progress Report – Accessibility Plan for the Department of Justice of Canada

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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 of Justice 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 and published the first annual Progress Report.

In 2024, the Department continued implementing its Accessibility Plan; the purpose of this report is to document implementation progress in the second year of the Plan. The Department has made great progress towards the Plan commitments. The key achievements for year 2 include the following:

Introduction

The Department 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 second Annual Report, the Department conducted progress measurement and reporting internally and presented the results to the Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. To measure progress, Justice Canada relies on both objective and subjective metrics tied to the actions and supporting actions in the Accessibility Plan. Conducting progress measurement and reporting internally allowed all parties in the accessibility network across Justice Canada – 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 2024.

Employment

The Employment Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Employment Pillar Progress

In the second 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.

Employment Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was providing employees with disabilities opportunities to enhance career satisfaction and advancement and improving the accessibility of candidate assessments.

The Department’s job application form was modified to make it more accessible for a targeted hiring process. Language was clarified, and the self-declaration questions were simplified.

The Department also launched the JUS in Time Accommodations Solutions and Ergo Coach Program, which improves the onboarding experience for new hires by expediting the accommodations process. These new services will also provide timely accommodations and ergonomic support for existing employees. Processes have been streamlined to create a more responsive and supportive workplace.

The Department established a new Sponsorship Program. The program is focused on employees who identify as members of equity-seeking groups, including persons with disabilities. With both mentorship and sponsorship components, the Sponsorship Program will support relationship-building, networking, and access to developmental opportunities for participants.

The Department also introduced new diversified language training course offerings in support of promoting a more inclusive training environment, which prioritizes employees from equity-seeking groups including people with disabilities.

The current priority for the Employment Pillar is establishing a central point of contact for all questions and requests related to accessibility and accommodations, including implementing a case management system for accommodation requests and the adoption of the Government of Canada Workplace Accessibility Passport. This new service will be reporting to the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness. A key objective of this new service is to ensure that new employees receive the tools they need to perform their duties on their first day of work.

The Built Environment

The Built Environment Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Built Environment Pillar Progress

In the second year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Built Environment Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to mobility and guidance, including resources helping users situate where they are in a physical space or environment, plan a route to follow and navigate towards their destination.

Built Environment Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was developing tools to enhance use of the built environment and contributing to the development of new office standards that create a barrier-free environment.

Under the action of developing tools to enhance the use of the built environment, the Department published three more Building Accessibility Guides this year, with a total of 10 completed so far. The guides were promoted through the Department’s governance network with a particular focus on employment equity advisory committees and the Directors of Business Management Committee.

Justice Canada reviewed its list of considerations for accessible design and updated it to incorporate new ones because of consultations with Public Services and Procurement Canada. The updated list of considerations was used to introduce new accessibility features in the ongoing workplace refitting project for the Law Commission of Canada.

The current priority for the Built Environment Pillar is the publication and distribution of the eight remaining building accessibility guides for all Justice Canada occupied facilities, which will be completed by December 2025.

Information and Communication Technologies

The Information and Communications Technologies Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Information and Communication Technologies Pillar Progress

In the second 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.

Information and Communication Technologies Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was enabling accessibility features in existing programs and technology; assessing current programs and technology for accessibility features to identify gaps; and 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.

Last year, the Department launched a testing process to assess old and new systems. This year, 10 applications were assessed using the testing process developed by Justice Canada’s Information Technology (IT) Accessibility team in consultation with the Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology program and other Departments. To date, 16 systems have been assessed for accessibility and recommendations were shared with the responsible teams for action.

A high-level strategic plan was also developed for the team, which includes expanding the centre of expertise and providing IT accessibility guidance to employees.

Several products in support of IT accessibility were created and shared with relevant employees:

The current priority for the Information and Communication Technologies Pillar is continuing to assess departmental applications for accessibility, creating tools and providing guidance to developers on making systems more accessible, and collaborating with the Canada School of Public Service to develop, promote, and deliver IT accessibility training tailored for different audiences within the Department.

Communication, other than Information and Communication Technologies (Communications)

The Communications Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Communications Pillar Progress

In the second year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, the Communications Pillar actions and supporting actions targeted barriers related to plain language, events, alternate formats, and templates and tools.

Communications Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was developing and implementing a Plain Language Strategy, promoting and socializing guidance on best practices for events, developing accessible branding, and working with the Information and Communications Technologies lead to conduct an inventory and needs analysis of templates.

Promotion of the Accessibility Plan, the first Report 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 first Report were prepared and posted in alternate formats, including Braille and audio. The Communications Branch also assessed the existing process for requesting alternative formats of Justice publications and reviewed data on past requests. An accessible, external visual identity was developed for the Department and will be rolled out in 2025.

The Department also produced two guides this year:

The current priority for the Communications Pillar is to develop a French Style Guide that includes plain language standards, update the Department’s website with reminders and guidance on how to request alternate formats of popular publications, promote the Guide on best practices for accessible events, develop accessible internal visual identity, and create an inventory of accessible formats of Justice publications, including user guidance.

The Procurement of Goods, Services and Facilities

The Procurement Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Procurement Pillar Progress

In the second year of implementing the Accessibility Plan, Procurement Pillar progress targeted barriers related to lack of accessibility awareness when defining procurement requirements.

Procurement Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was considering accessibility in all procurement actions and providing consistent guidance on applying considerations during the procurement process.

In 2023, the Department launched new reporting functionality and a compliance review process for tracking and monitoring the use of accessibility considerations in procurement. In 2024, the Department reviewed a total of 113 contracts as part of its quarterly compliance monitoring. It was determined that 93% of client contracts included a consideration of accessibility as part of their procurement of products and/or services. The current priority for the Procurement Pillar is increasing accessibility awareness in procurement across Justice, including the development, adoption, and distribution of accessible procurement reference documents.

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services

The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar outcome, which summarizes 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.

Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar Progress

In the second 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 Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar progress is on track. The focus for this Pillar in 2024 was socializing existing service accessibility guides and tools with all employees, dedicating additional support to those design services, and continuously reassessing accessibility as part of cyclical service review.

Last year, the Department added questions on accessibility to the Client Feedback Survey on the delivery of legal services. This year, the Department began reviewing trends based on the answers to accessibility-related survey questions. Three client portfolios have been surveyed so far since the accessibility questions were added. The survey results indicate a consistently strong level of client satisfaction with regards to the accessibility of legal services provided by Justice Canada.

The Department’s hybrid working community network continues to promote and share inclusive work practices, including how to create better user experiences through accessible and inclusive design.

The Department also started on a research plan to support the Artificial Intelligence Awareness & Culture Pillar of Justice Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy. This research plan will include the perspectives of persons with disabilities on artificial intelligence and automation, such as identifying knowledge gaps and impacts on day-to-day work.

The current priority for the Design and Delivery of Programs and Services Pillar is to further explore how to include persons with disabilities in validation of needs and service design testing and experiment with automated accessibility checks when designing new services or platforms.

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 March of 2024 and reviewed the present report in September.

Feedback

We value the feedback we receive. Justice Canada’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 feedback that we received related to accommodations, the Employment Pillar lead will continue offering information sessions that aim to raise awareness and provide education to managers on duty to accommodate, disability management, and mental health. An accommodations process optimization project has been initiated to expedite requests. The departmental ergonomics program has also been reviewed and optimized to better meet employee needs and the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness continues to update its digital workspace site frequently to provide current information and guidance on duty to accommodate, disability management and mental health to both managers and employees.

In response to feedback related to scented products, under the Built Environment Pillar, the Department is purchasing only unscented hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.

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.