Assistive Technology in Canada

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Assistive Technology in Canada

• Ontario Library Association
• Toronto
• January 30, 2009

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Legislative Situation

• Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• prohibits discrimination of grounds of disability
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Employment Equity Act
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
  Act, 2005

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Why Federal Involvement?

• Market fragmentation means many disabilities will
  never be addressed or only be partially addressed
• Market gaps due to intermediation AT users may
  not be buyers (purchasing done by medical plans
  and other support programs)
• Government support needed to strengthen sectors
  ability to deliver innovative solutions for a
  wider range of disabilities
• This could accelerate the development of
  solutions, help more persons with disabilities
  integrate into society and the economy, and thus
  reduce the overall cost of disabilities to the
  economy

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The AT Industry in Canada

• Over 650 companies in every part of the country
• All are SMEs, few are publicly traded
• The wide variety of disabilities means extreme
  fragmentation of the marketplace
• Costs of development and commercialization are
  significant while the number of users for any
  particular technology may be small
• As a result, it is hard for these companies to
  recoup their investment

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Assistive Devices Industry Office

• Advocacy, sector promotion, awareness raising,
  identification of market gaps
• Accessible News
• Websites
• Development of standards to ensure new
  technologies accommodate disabilities
• Barrier Free Design
• Automated Banking Machine
• Telephone keypads
• Interactive Devices
• Participate in International activities
• TEITAC Section 508/255 renewal
• WCAG 2.0

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Contact us

• Assistive Devices Industry Office
• Industry Canada
• 3701 Carling Avenue
• Ottawa Ontario CANADA K2H 8S2 Tel
  613-990-4297, Fax [phone]
• Email adio_at_crc.ca