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> 2026-2028 Accessibility Plan (Easy Read Version)

2026-2028 Accessibility Plan (Easy Read Version)

This is the easy read version of the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s (CICS) Accessibility Plan. The easy read version is shorter and simpler than the plan. The full version is available here: www.scics.ca/en/accessibility.

CICS is a federal agency that provides conference planning services when different levels of government need to meet. Conferences are complicated meetings that are hard to plan. We help different governments plan and run their conferences.

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a law to make Canada more accessible. The ACA says that federal agencies like CICS need to make a plan to be accessible. Our plan explains how CICS will find and remove barriers for people with disabilities.

It also shows what actions we will take to make our workplace and services more inclusive. We made our plan by:

  • Talking to people with disabilities and accessibility specialists
  • Sending a survey to people who work at CICS
  • Sending a survey to people who use CICS’s services
  • Listening to feedback about what is working well and what still needs to improve
  • Looking at the barriers that we already know about
  • Making a list of barriers that we found
  • Making plans to remove these barriers or reduce them

We plan to make CICS more accessible by doing the following:

  • Keep asking for feedback from employees and clients about accessibility.
  • Share updates on accessibility progress every year.
  • Include accessibility and disability inclusion in diversity and inclusion sessions.
  • Reduce noise and distractions in the shared workspace by offering headsets or partitions.
  • Publish a clear, plain-language accommodation policy so employees know how to request help.
  • Offer short, easy training on new digital tools.
  • Encourage bilingual and accessible communication in meetings and documents.
  • Share clear information about accessible routes and entrances at the Ottawa office, including accessible parking and public transit options.
  • Work with our building landlord to improve parking and elevator reliability.
  • Use the new Government of Canada standards on wayfinding signage when they are released.
  • Keep improving the accessibility of our Conference Management System.
  • Create an intranet accessibility space with resources and best practices.
  • Update our website to meet national accessibility standards.
  • Train staff on how to write and share accessible information, and how to make accessible documents.
  • Update our communications policy to include accessibility, bilingualism, and plain language.
  • Share accessibility checklists with clients to help them make their documents and presentations accessible.
  • Promote live captioning in online meetings.
  • Complete and share internal accessibility guidelines for staff.
  • Help clients plan accessible conferences with features like barrier-free venues, captioning, and accessible seating.
  • Continue including accessibility criteria in all purchases.
  • Train staff involved in procurement on accessible purchasing best practices and accessibility standards from Accessible Standards Canada.
  • Create a clear process for employees to request accessible travel for work.

Contact Information & Feedback Process

CICS welcomes feedback from employees, clients, conference attendees, and the public about accessibility at CICS and this plan. Feedback can be submitted anonymously. We are committed to reviewing the feedback we receive and taking steps to address barriers that are identified through this feedback.

You can submit feedback about accessibility at CICS or about this plan by contacting:

Senior Planning and Reporting Analyst

E-mail: info@scics.ca

Telephone: 613-296-1138 (Answered between 9:00am to 3:00pm Eastern Time Monday to Friday. Leave a message if no answer.)

Mail: P.O. Box 488, Station ‘A’, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 8V5

You can use the contact information above to:

  • request CICS’s accessibility plan in an accessible format;
  • request the description of CICS’s feedback process in an accessible format; or
  • provide feedback.

An electronic version of this plan that is compatible with assistive technology can be downloaded immediately from our website at: www.scics.ca/en/accessibility.

This plan and a description of our feedback process can also be provided in alternative formats, within the following timelines:

  • Print – 15 days
  • Large print (Increased font size) – 15 days
  • Braille (a system of raised dots that people who are blind or who have low vision can read with their fingers) – 45 days
  • Audio (a recording of someone reading the text out loud) – 45 days