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2008 Departmental Accessibility Plans
Corporate Communications Services |
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| Environmental Scan |
The high level issues identified for Corporate Communications are as follows:
- To analyze and help research the best possible strategy or software for making York Region's website more accessible and adhere to the W3C consortium criteria. For example, using Content Management Software with accessibility features built into it or creating a high-level strategy or policy that dictates levels of accessibility that must be achieved with the current software
- Empower persons who are blind or have low vision to use screen reading software to access information that is important to them with automatic up-to-date refreshes
- A centralized telephone contact for the website so persons who are blind or have low vision can talk to a Regional employee to obtain information that may not be accessible on the website
- To review the writing styles of the departments that post to the website and determine guidelines around literacy levels and how to incorporate such guidelines into daily web development for people with cognitive disabilities.
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| Our Customers |
| Corporate Communications is responsible for communicating Regional issues and services to external and internal clients, as well as to the general public. Corporate Communications is also responsible for the layout and disseminiation of information over the Internet and Intranet in a manner that is compatible with screen reading software used by persons who are blind or have low vision. Any documents produced by Corporate Communications will be made available in a format or font size that would be most accessible for a person with a disability. |
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| Accessibility Statement |
| Corporate Communications Services is committed to increasing staff awareness to the needs of persons with disabilities through inclusivity training offered corporately. This type of training will educate our staff on how to properly manage requests from people with disabilities in a respectful and accommodating manner. |
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Corporate Communications Services
Progess Report on Accessibility Achievements - 2007 |
Barrier Identified
(Gives a description of the barrier and indicates where the barrier was found. For example, was the barrier in a program, service, by-law, policy, practice or facility?) |
Barrier Type
(Indicates the type(s) of barrier (physical, architectural, informational, communicational, attitudinal, technological, policy/practice) |
Disability Type
(Indicates the type(s) of disability affected by the barrier (physical, sensory, cognitive or other) |
How the barrier was addressed
(Describes the action taken to identify, remove or prevent the barrier) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| A centralized phone service will be piloted to give full support to persons with disabilities while web issues are resolved. |
Technological, Informational |
Sensory |
The new phone service has been implemented and is available for persons who are blind or have low vision while web issues are being resolved. An alternative contact needs to be added in order to provide coverage. |
| The Content Management System (CMS) software will be reviewed to determine what strategy is needed to maintain an accessible website using the new CMS updated software. |
Technological |
Sensory, Cognitive |
The CMS software was reviewed to determine the value of performing an upgrade in conjunction with the Regional portal that is being suggested.
Corporate Communications, with the help from IT, evaluated the new software for performance enhancement and accessibility options. Accessibility criteria, as laid out by the W3C consortium, will be used to determine the level of accessibility that will be achieved or could be achieved with the suggested software. Recommendations will be given with respect to accessible design and navigation by Corporate Communications. |
| Some web pages that have tables, charts and photos etc. are not accessible to screen reading software. |
Technological |
Sensory, Cognitive |
Creation of guidelines and standards to address issues of accessibility on certain web pages via direct telephone are completed. These guidelines address branding and graphic standards as well as how accessibility standards will be incorporated into the Regional administrative processes (what to do when a person with a disability requests information or service from the Region). |
| Increase the level of accessibility of Regional web pages by creating an Accessible Content Management Strategy moving forward. |
Technological |
Sensory |
The new CMS software package was reviewed for accessibility components, including accessibility barriers related to reading PDF files, as well as determination of the best system to guide the users in the creation of accessible web pages. Accessible web page construction training is planned. |
| Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Four staff members completed the course in 2007. | |
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Corporate Communications Services
Barrier Identification for 2008 |
By-laws, policies and practices to be reviewed
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Methods to be used to identify the barrier
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Timing
(When will this be completed? The timing for addressing a barrier does not necessarily have to be set within 2008. The nature of the action may be phased in over a number of months or years depending on the resources and priorities of the Department) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
Research to determine if technology used to provide information directly to a user's computer is compatible with screen reading software.
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Test feed all software with screen reading software. |
First Quarter 2008 |
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Web review (Content Management System):
• Option of having an automatic font size icon/link placed on the site. How it will work with CMS?
• Contrast control of text on the York Region's website. |
Research by Corporate Communications partnering with Information Technology services. |
2008 |
| Research the possibility of making York Region's website accessible without having to create a duplicate site to address accessibility for people with visual disabilities. |
Test the Content Management System against WC3 criteria to determine if the software will handle a single layer layout while addressing accessibility concerns. |
2008 | |
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Corporate Communications Services - 2008
Barrier That Will Be Addressed for 2008 |
Barrier Identified
(1)
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Barrier Type
(2)
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Disability Type
(3) |
What will be gained by removing or preventing the barrier
(4) |
Means to prevent/remove the barrier
(5) |
Indicators of success
(6) |
Timing
(7) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Navigation of York Region's website. |
Informational, Communicational, Technological |
Cognitive, Sensory |
It will be easier for people with cognitive and sensory disabilities to find information on the Region's website. |
Implementing the Google search
function will enable all, including people with disabilities, to retrieve information quickly
without
having to navigate
the entire website. |
There will be a greater number of people accessing information via the search function reducing the number of requests for information. |
February 2008 |
| Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Will provide staff with an introduction to the information to effectively and respectfully serve persons with disabilities. |
Two members of the Corporate Communications staff will participate in the inclusivity and accessibility training course being offered corporately. |
Staff awareness is raised and staff report having a better understanding of the needs of people with disabilities. |
2008 | |
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(1) Indicate where the barrier was found
(2) Indicate the type of barrier - physical, architectural, Informational, communicational, attitudinal, technological, policy/practice
(3) Indicate the type of disability affected by the barrier - physical, sensory, cognitive, mental illness or other
(4) Indicate how accessibility will be enhanced by removing or preventing this barrier
(5) Describe what action will be taken to remove and/or prevent the barrier
(6) Indicate how customer service will be improved by removing or preventing this barrier. Also indicate any other measure(s) that will be used to determine whether or not the Department was successful in removing and/or barrier
(7) The timing for addressing a barrier does not necessarily have to be set in 2008; the nature of the action may be phased in over a number of months or years depending on the resources and priorities of the Department |
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