• First Reference
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • 24th Annual Ontario Employment Law Conference 📣
  • Blog Signup 📨

First Reference Talks

Discussions on Human Resources, Employment Law, Payroll and Internal Controls

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Resources
  • Buy Policies
You are here: Home / Accessibility Standards / December 3, 2014, International Day of Persons with Disabilities

By Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor | 2 Minutes Read December 3, 2014

December 3, 2014, International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

This year, Wednesday December 3, 2014, International Day of Persons with Disabilities will focus on the role of technology as a way to break down barriers for people with disability and how devices are becoming faster, cheaper and more accessible. According to the United Nations, the key roles of technology include:

  • Disaster risk reduction and emergency responses — technology (especially social media) is changing the way we respond to crises and it is important to involve people with disability in planning and responses
  • Creating enabling working environment — technology is an important enabler and assistive supports can be the difference between can and cannot
  • Disability-inclusive sustainable development goals — for more information on the UN sustainable development goals, see the sustainable development knowledge platform.

For more information on how the day can be observed, go to the United Nations Enable website.

Thus far, in Canada, Ontario has implemented the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Regulations to make Ontario accessible in the areas of employment, customer service, information and communications, transportation and the built-environment; Manitoba has passed into law the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and is still working on the Regulations to implement accessibility standards in similar areas. Public consultations to help develop Nova Scotia’s first accessibility legislation in the spring of 2016 began November 13, 2014. British Columbia has taken the first steps toward introducing a new regime to support persons with disabilities, along the lines of recent changes in Ontario and Manitoba. Moreover, BC intends to make the province accessible by 2024. Saskatchewan is aiming to join Manitoba and Ontario with a comprehensive strategy to engage and integrate the province’s persons with disabilities in society and empower them to participate and contribute to the best of their abilities. The Newfoundland and Labrador government has decided to launch a consultation to develop a strategy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The consultation will focus on how best to remove existing barriers and prevent new ones, and how to address these issues.

While much has been achieved in Canada much remains to be done. A lot more needs to be done to make this a national standard including the removal of barriers in new communication technologies so that persons with disabilities can live in a truly inclusive and accessible Canada.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Follow me
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 20 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor at First Reference. She manages the PolicyPro Human Resources and Internal Controls editions, The Human Resources Advisor editions, PaySource and the HRinfodesk news service as well as the blogs. Marie-Yosie (a.k.a. Yosie) is a recognized and respected author, with an extensive background in human resources, employment and labour across the country.
Follow me
Latest posts by Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor (see all)
  • Call for a ban on NDAs in certain cases - March 1, 2023
  • First Reference annual holiday donation, season’s greetings, and holiday break - December 23, 2022
  • Top 10+ First Reference Talks blog posts for 2022 - December 23, 2022

Article by Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor / Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Human Rights / accessibility, Accessibility standards, AODA, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, role of technology as a way to break down barriers, United Nations Enable

Share with a friend or colleague

Get the Latest Posts in your Inbox for Free!

Electronic monitoring

About Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 20 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor at First Reference. She manages the PolicyPro Human Resources and Internal Controls editions, The Human Resources Advisor editions, PaySource and the HRinfodesk news service as well as the blogs. Marie-Yosie (a.k.a. Yosie) is a recognized and respected author, with an extensive background in human resources, employment and labour across the country.

Footer

About us

Established in 1995, First Reference is the leading publisher of up to date, practical and authoritative HR compliance and policy databases that are essential to ensure organizations meet their due diligence and duty of care requirements.

First Reference Talks

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Resources
  • Buy Policies

Main Menu

  • About First Reference
  • Resources
  • Contact us
  • 1 800 750 8175

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

We welcome your comments on our blog articles. However, we do not respond to specific legal questions in this space.
We do not provide any form of legal advice or legal opinion. Please consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction or try one of our products.


Copyright © 2009 - 2023 · First Reference Inc. · All Rights Reserved
Legal and Copyright Notices · Publisher's Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy