AccessAbility Day 2023

On May 31 we will celebrate the City’s 20th annual AccessAbility Day, held as part of National AccessAbility Week, where we recognize the contributions and leadership of people with disabilities in our communities. It is an opportunity to highlight the work that’s being done to remove barriers and to reflect on how we can continue to work together to achieve a more accessible and inclusive society.

This year’s municipal event will be held in collaboration with the City, the Canadian Accessibility Network and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – National Capital Region. Together, we are partnering to hold a rich, Canada-wide discussion on accessibility policy, bringing together some of our country’s finest institutions, leaders in public administration and civil society advocates. By joining forces, we will bring together hundreds of established and emerging accessibility champions.

This year’s theme is developments in accessibility legislation and policies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. You are invited to join Members of the Council, senior leaders, colleagues and residents for a virtual event to mark this important day.

Speakers and presentations will include:

·  Remarks and proclamation from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

·  Guest speaker Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer

·  A panel discussion with accessibility leaders and policy makers from the federal, provincial and municipal levels

When registering, please let the Accessibility Office know if you require any additional disability-related accommodations to participate. To promote the inclusion of all participants, the following accessibility supports will be in place for the event:

·  American Sign Language (ASL)

·  Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)

·  Continuous real-time captioning in English and French

·  Simultaneous French translation

The City of Ottawa remains committed to providing equal treatment to all of those with disabilities who use and benefit from City services, programs, goods, facilities and information.

We hope you can join in the celebration!