Human Resources Legislative Update
Accessibility Standards Canada Publishes Guidelines for COVID-19 and Other Emergencies
Date: March 18, 2021
On March 11, 2021, Accessibility Standards Canada updated its resources page to provide accessibility guidelines for COVID-19 or other emergencies. These guidelines offer practical information for persons with disabilities, including employees, and employers on a range of topics that are highlighted below.
Accessible practices for returning to the workplace addresses accessibility barriers that may exist for employees with disabilities when returning to the workplace. It sets out a number of recommended practices, including those related to scheduling, cleaning, physical distancing and workstations, for employers to implement in consultation with employees.
Best practices for accessibility when working from home highlights a number of the different barriers that working from home presents, including those related to equipment, scheduling, and accessibility of online meetings, and provides practical tips for how to address these barriers.
Accessible communication during COVID-19 and other emergencies: A guideline for persons with disabilities is a resource aimed at addressing communication barriers that may arise during an emergency. Among other things, it encourages persons with disabilities to develop a communication plan that includes a personal support team, and an alert system to stay informed.
Accessible communication during COVID-19 and other emergencies: A guideline for federal organizations provides practical information to help federally regulated organizations communicate with persons with disabilities, including employees, during emergencies. This resource sets out best practices related to communication based on technology, face-to-face communication, and printed, written and visual information to ensure persons with disabilities receive the same information as everyone else, at the same time.
Should you have any questions about these guidelines and how you can implement them in your workplace, please contact your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
