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Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians release submission to Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Disabled Persons
The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) has submitted its final brief to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities studying Bill C-81, An Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada (the Accessible Canada Act). The brief can be downloaded at the following link on the AEBC website:
Recommendations in the AEBC submission include the following:
Summary of Recommendations
1. Add a Disability Lens.
2. Require provision of information in requested alternate formats.
3. Include accessibility in all digital infrastructure.
4. Provide enforcement mechanism other than complaints.
5. Consolidate enforcement in the office of the Accessibility Commissioner.
6. Provide funding to allow people with disabilities to participate in consultations.
7. Launch a guaranteed basic income program.
8. Establish a tax-free cost of disability allowance.
9. Require foreign broadcasters to be covered by the Act.
10. Replace the word “may” with stronger words such as “shall” or “must’ to ensure that the Act achieves its goals.
11. Require consultation with persons with disabilities before an exemption can be granted.
12. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples with disabilities are included as beneficiaries of the Act.
13. Add specific timelines in all areas of the Act.
14. Expand the list of priority areas in the Purpose of the Act.
15. Incorporate existing accessibility standards into the Act.
16. Recognize sign languages in Canada as official languages of the deaf community.
For further information contact the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians:
Email: info@blindcanadians.ca
Phone: 1-800-561-4774
Web: http://www.blindcanadians.ca