Contents
1.2. Contact Information and Feedback Process
2.0. Areas Described Under Section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
2.4. Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
2.5. Communications (Other than ICT)
2.6. Design and Delivery of Programs and Services
2.7. Procurement of Goods and Services
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a new law designed to make Canada more accessible for everyone. Starting December 2022, federal organizations must make plans on how they will become more accessible. The Canadian Museum of History’s first Accessibility Plan outlines what we will do in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
In December 2025, we will write a new plan about what we will do after that. In years when a new plan is not required, progress reports will be issued instead. This year’s Progress Report shares what we’ve learned over the past 12 months through feedback and through consultations with people with disabilities. It also shares updates on all accessibility actions we took in 2023.
Since we finished our three-year Accessibility Plan at the end of 2022, we have made great strides in making the Museums more accessible. One of the most important things we did is actually not in the Plan itself. We created the base for how our teams can implement the Accessibility Plan. To ensure that we could meet our commitments for the first year of the Plan, we:
As you will see in this report, many of the actions set for 2023 are done. These include:
Of course, there is much more to be done. Although we achieved many of the goals to which we committed ourselves in 2023, there are many more actions planned for 2024. In the year ahead, this work will be even better supported as we roll out our Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility (EDIA) Strategy, of which our Accessibility Plan is just one key component.
There have been some delays on actions that we had planned for 2023. It is important to make meaningful and lasting change, and we have discovered that some of the actions in our Accessibility Plan need to be grouped and better aligned. Allowing more time for planning across the Museums will ensure that everyone understands what improvements are needed, and what steps need to be taken. Some actions, such as training, also need to be done before staff can deliver on actions that we have committed to in our Plan.
We welcome feedback, including feedback submitted anonymously. Feedback may be provided by employees, volunteers, visitors, and anyone else who comes into contact with the Museums. We are committed to reviewing all feedback we receive and taking steps to address the barriers identified.
You can submit feedback about accessibility by contacting:
Project Manager, Accessibility
Email: accessible@historymuseum.ca
Telephone:
Local: 819-776-7000
Toll free: 1-800-555-5621
TTY for people with hearing disabilities: 819-776-7003
By mail:
Canadian Museum of History
100 Laurier Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0M8
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa ON K1A 0M8
In person:
Information Desk
Canadian Museum of History
100 Laurier Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0M8
Information Desk
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa ON K1A 0M8
On our feedback pages:
historymuseum.ca/about/contact-us
Via social media:
Canadian Museum of History
Facebook: Canadian History Museum (@CanMusHistory)
Instagram: @CanMusHistory
Twitter: @CanMusHistory
Canadian War Museum
Facebook: Canadian War Museum (@warmuseum)
Instagram: @CanWarMuseum
Twitter: @CanWarMuseum
You can also request alternative formats of our Accessibility Plan, this Progress Report, and/or a description of our feedback process by contacting:
Project Manager, Accessibility Email: accessible@historymuseum.ca
The Museums commit to providing this Progress Report in alternative formats, as quickly as possible, to those who request it. We commit to meeting the following deadlines from the time the request is made:
An electronic version of our Accessibility Plan and this Progress Report, designed to work with assistive technology, can be downloaded now from our websites:
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We are thrilled that we will soon be publishing of our brand-new, five-year Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Strategy. One of the key pillars of the Strategy involves making the Museums as inclusive and accessible as possible to Canada’s diverse populations. Fulfilling all the actions in our Accessibility Plan is one critical way we will go about accomplishing this. We also look forward to beginning consultations with an external advisory group comprised of people with disabilities, as we embark on meeting the goals in our EDIA Strategy.
This table summarizes general actions for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan.
| Action | Progress |
|---|---|
| Action: By 2022, create a position to support accessibility planning. The person in this role will ensure that the goals in this Plan are achieved. | Done. |
| Action: By March 2023, review existing basic accessibility training. | Done. |
| Action: By December 2023, revise existing basic accessibility training, and/or source new training. | Done. |
| Action: By March 2024, all employees and volunteers receive basic accessibility training. | Action in progress. We are testing an online accessibility training module with employees. |
| Action: By September 2023, develop a consultation framework. | Action in progress. A consultation framework has been drafted. Work on implementing the framework needs to align with the Museums’ new EDIA Strategy. This action has been postponed to December 2024. |
| Action: Establish an internal advisory group of employees with disabilities in 2023. | Action in progress. An employee-led EDIA working group, which includes employees with disabilities, worked with the Diversity Institute to create the Museums’ first EDIA Strategy. An internal advisory committee of employees with disabilities is also being included in the Museums’ draft consultation framework. To align this activity with other EDIA activities, it has been postponed to 2024. |
| Action: In 2023, develop terms of reference and a recruitment infrastructure to launch an external advisory group. | Action in progress. Terms of reference for the Museums’ future Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACC) have been drafted. Completing this action has been updated to 2024. |
| Action: By December 2023, implement a new Diversity and Inclusion Policy. | Action in progress. The new Policy being developed will be an equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) policy, rather than being limited to diversity and inclusion. The Museums have prioritized the development of their first EDIA Strategy, and are in the process of drafting an EDIA Policy. As a result, this action has been delayed until December 2024. |
| Action: In 2023, review how to support accessibility planning through governance structures . May include terms of reference and membership for committees, roles and responsibilities. | Done. Within the Museums’ new governance structure, the EDIA Steering Group now: · supports EDIA initiatives across different parts of the Museums; · supports completion of the EDIA Strategy and Accessibility Plan; and · uses expertise, resources and knowledge to support employee-led Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG) initiatives. |
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A detailed audit of the built environments at both the Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum was done this year. During the diagnostic phase, a significant number of opportunities for improvement were noted, ranging from how easy it is to grasp handrails to the lighting of hallways. Solutions to these barriers were identified, and priorities were determined, followed by a costing exercise. A work plan was then created, completing the audit. Over time, this project has the potential to result in major accessibility-related improvements for people with a range of disabilities.
The following table summarizes actions related to the built environment in 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan.
| Action | Progress |
|---|---|
| Action: By January 2023, we will define the scope of work for an accessibility audit for the built environment at each Museum. | Done. |
| Action: By December 2023, we will complete an accessibility audit of the built environment at each Museum, including both public and administrative spaces . | Done. A list of accessibility barriers at both Museums has been compiled. The data from this list will be analyzed in order to create a workplan and address barriers. |
| Action: In 2023, review and update the Plan Your Visit webpages for both Museums, to add information about accessibility features and known barriers. | Action in progress. We expect this to be done by March 2024. Details on the progress of this action can be found below in the section Communications (Other than ICT). |
| Action: In 2023, deliver the first phase of the ongoing LED lighting-conversion project. | Action in progress. We expect this to be done by December 2024. A purchase order has been issued for new fixtures, although installation dates will depend on production and delivery delays. |
| Action: In 2023, research and purchase portable seating for visitors. | Action in progress. We expect this to be done by December 2024. A stakeholder meeting has defined requirements, and research was done to explore issues and best practices. More research is needed before choosing the most accessible option. |
| Action: In 2023, set up processes and communications to guide visitors in the use of portable seating . | Action in progress. Delayed until 2024. Accessible portable seating must be sourced and purchased before processes can be set up. |
| Action: By December 2023, make portable seating available to visitors. | Action in progress. Delayed until 2024. Accessible portable seating must be purchased before it can be made available to visitors. |
| Action: Work with an accessibility advisory group throughout the Canadian Children’s Museum Renewal (CCMR) project. This activity will be ongoing. | Action in progress. The CCMR project team is planning external consultations with people with disabilities in early 2024 around the project’s theme. |
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The Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG) is made up of 20 volunteer employees and has been active since 2016. DIG’s role is to support the Museums in becoming diverse and fully inclusive workplaces, in which all employees feel accepted and valued. To that end, DIG helps educate staff while raising awareness of the value and richness in our similarities and differences. We do this by leading meaningful diversity and inclusion initiatives and activities, including partnership events such as National Museums at Pride. The year 2023 was the first time that the region’s national museums participated in the Capital Pride Parade.
The following table summarizes employment actions for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan. It also includes goals for 2024 and 2025 that we have already started.
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In Their Own Voices is a collection of more than 150 personal interviews with Canadian veterans and their families. A future online portal will make the audio recordings available to the public, along with photographs and digitized objects. To support the accessibility of the interviews, all of them will have accurate transcripts available in both official languages. Subtitles will also be created, and images will have alt text.
All interviews with the veterans themselves were supported by accessibility measures such as covering travel expenses for veterans and a support person. Care was also taken to conduct interviews in an accessible recording studio.
The following table summarizes ICT actions for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan. This also includes goals for 2024 and 2025 that are already underway.
| Action | Progress |
|---|---|
| Action: By June 2023, identify a contact on the job-postings webpage to make it possible for applicants to obtain information in an alternative format. | Done. |
| Action: By December 2023, complete an accessibility audit of the Museums’ websites. | Action is in progress. We expect this to be done by March 2024. |
| Action: By December 2023, complete a review of social media content and practices for accessibility. | Action in progress . We expect this to be done by March 2024. |
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The Museums administer a national investment program called Digital Museums Canada (DMC). DMC helps to build digital capacity within Canadian museums and other cultural organizations.
DMC took on several accessibility initiatives this year, including building a new version of its Community Stories web platform to meet accessibility standards. Successful applicants to this funding stream will now be able to build their projects on a platform that is accessible to users at the front end, and to website creators with disabilities at the back end.
DMC also created accessible supports for people with disabilities who are applying for funding. These supports included information sessions, office hours, and mentorship chats that all used plain language. DMC offered ASL or LSQ interpretation and closed captions, and provided accessible documents ahead of time. This commitment to accessibility reduced and removed barriers for people with disabilities who were applying for funding to create digital projects with DMC.
The following table summarizes communications actions for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan.
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Both Museums conducted on-site audience surveys this summer. These surveys will help us better understand who is coming to the Museums. They will also help us see how we can meet the needs of different target audiences, including people with disabilities.
The surveys have allowed us to measure visitor satisfaction with our exhibitions and programs. We also asked specifically about accessibility, and collected constructive feedback about our services, amenities and facilities. Participants shared their ideas on how we can improve. The data collected will help shape future offerings and identify initiatives to further improve accessibility.
The following table summarizes actions related to Design and Delivery of Programs and Services for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan.
The following table summarizes the procurement actions for 2023, as outlined in our Accessibility Plan.
We do not provide transportation to the public. We do, however, understand that it is our responsibility to be aware of transportation barriers that may affect employees or visitors. Our Accessibility Plan currently includes addressing one transportation-related barrier in the built environment. We have also identified issues with snow removal along bus routes outside our buildings. In addition, the Museums have received feedback on access to our sites during large-scale events hosted on Museum grounds, or nearby.
The Museums will continue working with event partners to address specific barriers to accessibility. Our objective is to continue building upon this awareness by including this and other transportation-related actions in our next Accessibility Plan.
On November 1, 2023, the Museums had an hour-long consultation with members of the Left Turn Right Turn Accessibility Advisory Group. Before the meeting, participants reviewed a draft of this Progress Report. At the meeting itself, we asked the group the following questions:
Feedback included:
We have addressed their feedback as much as possible in this updated Progress Report.
To date, the Museums have received one request for the Accessibility Plan in an alternative format. This request was made on March 8, 2023, with a request for a Word version of the Plan. We took steps to post an MS Word file on the Museums’ websites. Along with an accessible PDF version of the Plan, the MS Word file is now available on the Accessibility Plan landing pages for both Museums.
We have also received general accessibility-related requests, comments, questions, complaints and recommendations. This feedback has either been submitted through online web forms or sent to the Museums’ accessible@historymuseum.ca or accessible@warmuseum.ca email inboxes.
The following is a summary of the volume of feedback received, by theme, from January 1 to November 30, 2023.
This feedback has provided opportunities for the Museums to acknowledge and respond to accessibility-related requests, comments, questions, complaints and recommendations. Once receipt of the feedback has been acknowledged, staff decide where to forward it. The relevant department then decides how to handle the issue — for example, deciding whether it is possible to act on the feedback immediately, or whether it requires a longer-term solution.
Among other things, we have identified a need to improve how we update our Accessibility Working Group. Accessibility Plan leads in this group would benefit from hearing the public’s comments, questions, suggestions and recommendations. This can help to ensure that systemic problems and trends are noted and prevented. We will report back on our progress in this area in next year's Progress Report.
Accessibility Audit: This involves assessing barriers for people with disabilities. An audit is normally undertaken by different organizations, using a shared set of standards.
Administrative Spaces: This refers to spaces not accessible to the public — including offices and meeting rooms.
Built Environment: This refers to structures made by people, including sidewalks, roads, buildings and furniture.
Consultation Framework: This Plan indicates how, when and with whom the Museums will consult.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Strategy: The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Strategy is the name given to a plan that the Museums have worked on. It is designed to ensure that people are treated fairly and with respect, and that they are given equal opportunities. This document applies to all individuals, no matter their backgrounds, identities or abilities.
Federal Organizations: Various levels of government are responsible for different things in Canada. The federal government oversees the country as a whole. Federal corporations are companies for which the federal government is responsible. These include national museums such as the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum.
Portable Seating: Accessible seating options designed to be transported and used throughout the Museums by members of the public with reduced mobility.
Governance Structures: These structures determine how decisions are made and how organizations are managed.
Terms of Reference: This is a committee or board document describing who they are, what they do, and how they will work.