Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) continues to promote the need for communication access for Canadians with speech and language disabilities. Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks…
Nationally: CDAC added 41 new communication intermediaries to our national roster.
It also released an accessibility checklist for businesses and organizations to gauge their communication access to individuals with speech and language disabilities.
On the West Coast: BC Regional Coordinator Lois Turner and Social Media Coordinator Glenda Watson Hyatt took the message about Communication Access Now to the International Day for Persons with Disabilities expo held in Vancouver. Many people showed an interest in the information and in the need for communication access.
Recently, Lois presented to the Seniors Advisory Committee for the City of New Westminster, and to the Richmond Centre for Disabilities’ Board, which advises the City of Richmond on accessibility issues. Both groups gave favourable feedback about the presentations and indicated that they would display the communication access symbol.
In Ontario: Regional Coordinator Tracy Shepherd spent the International Day of Persons with Disabilities sharing the Communication Access Now message at the Ability Fair in Ottawa’s Library and Archives Building, where over 100,000 public servants had been invited to browse and learn about available information and resources.
In Atlantic Canada:In early December, Debbie Maund, Atlantic Canada Regional Coordinator, along with CAN Ambassador Kalika Webb shared the Communication Access Now message at the Nova Scotia Minister’s Advisory Panel on Accessibility Legislation Public Consultation in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Panel members were pleased to learn of the CAN project and are taking the information back to their committee. We look forward to future dialogues with them.
Earlier this week, Debbie and Kalika shared the Communication Access Now message with two groups of frontline municipal staff in the City of Dieppe, New Brunswick. Attendes peppered Debbie and Kalika with questions and then left planning the various locations around municipal buildings that would display the communication access symbol.
Debbie is looking forward to following up with them in the New Year to continue our work together spreading the CAN message. She is hoping their enthusiasm will spark the interest of other municipalities in the region.
To have someone speak to your city, business or organization about communication access, please contact your regional coordinator.
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