The Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN), under the leadership of the Accessibility Institute at Carleton University, is a national collaboration dedicated to advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities through the following areas:
The Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN) was formally launched December 2, 2019, at a Planning Summit, hosted at Carleton University.
The creation of the CAN is providing an unparalleled opportunity for academic institutions, non-profit organizations, governments, businesses, community organizations, service providers, and individuals to combine and leverage their respective assets, knowledge, and expertise to advance accessibility and bring about timely, real, and lasting change for persons with disabilities.
The Network is currently made up of over 100 Collaborators and includes organizations and individuals from across eight provinces and one territory.
Accessibility is a national priority legislated by the Accessible Canada Act. Accessibility for persons with disabilities is also a core requirement for fully inclusive societies. Barriers to accessibility affect persons with disabilities at all levels of societal participation. While much work is being done across Canada to advance accessibility, no single organization or sector can tackle the full spectrum of barriers to accessibility.
The CAN National Office is led by, and located at, the Accessibility Institute at Carleton University, located in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Carleton University, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, has an extensive history of accessibility and has a longstanding reputation as the most accessible university in Canada. From pioneering enhanced physical accessibility features, like the renowned campus tunnel system, to establishing dedicated services and programs for students with disabilities, such as the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities, the 24/7 Attendant Services Program and ACT to Employ, and the implementation of the first ever Coordinated Accessibility Strategy, Carleton’s culture of accessibility continues to grow.
As Carleton’s culture of accessibility grew, so did the desire to continue to bring together various accessibility initiatives, partners, and resources on a larger scale. The Accessibility Institute and its external collaborators recognized a need for pan-Canadian mechanisms for organizations and stakeholders to engage in action-oriented collaborations to address the multifaceted issues in accessibility and building on the momentum of the Accessible Canada Act, created the Canadian Accessibility Network.
