Presenter Bio:
Dino Zuppa, Accessibility Standards Canada’s CEO, oversees the development of equity-based accessibility standards supported by pioneering research funded by Accessibility Standards Canada’s grants and contributions program. Dino’s career spans more than 25 years. He led a number of strategic initiatives at all orders of government in Canada, and at an American University. Dino holds a Ph.D. and lives in Ottawa with his wife and two kids.
Presentation: Accessibility Standards Canada – Toward a Barrier-Free Canada
Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) is a trailblazer and possibly the only organization in the world with a legislative mandate focused entirely on creating accessibility standards. Our mandate is to help achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040. Our expertise is the development and revision of accessibility standards in several priority areas, including the build environment, transportation, communication, and service delivery. Our standards will set out how the Government of Canada and federal private sector organizations can prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility.
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We have taken the principle of “nothing about us without us” and fostered a culture that values diverse perspectives and the lived experiences of people with disabilities. ASC is also committed to intersectionality. We know that people with disabilities face additional barriers depending on their intersecting identities. Of the thousands of individuals involved in working on ASC standards, research, and other initiatives, nearly 60% identify as a person with a disability and over 80% are part of an equity seeking group. ASC has initiated over 20 equity-focused standards and over 90 inclusive research projects all led by persons with disabilities.
This presentation will share information about how we conduct our work, how to get involved, and what standards, practical tools and current research are available on our website – free of charge and for anyone to use – to help create a more inclusive and accessible world for all.
