Accessibility

Area of refuge sign in apartment building safe zone with intercom phone and instructions written and in Braille.

Emergency preparedness is an accessibility issue – and we’re getting it wrong

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After more than ten years working in accessibility, I’ve learned that it’s not just what’s written in an emergency plan that matters – it’s whether the plan actually works for everyone. As a Certified Accessibility Professional under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program (RHFAC), I’ve led built environment audits… Read More

Three masked disabled people of color chat while strolling through an outdoor courtyard. On the left, an Indigenous woman wears glasses, wrist support braces, and waist trainers paired with a off-shoulder top and wide leg pants. In the middle, a Black non-binary woman walks with a rollator and wears waist trainers with ice pack inserts over their rainbow striped dress. On the right, a Latinx non-binary person walks while using a teal functional grip cane.

Why do we need anti-racism in accessibility work?

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“Do I put my race before my disability or my disability before my race?” I often battle with this question in spaces I enter. As a visibly disabled Filipinx Canadian living with cerebral palsy, I recognize that I don’t have the privilege to choose because both identities are highly visible…. Read More

Asian woman With Down Syndrome waitress taking order from customer at cafe using digital tablet

How do we define accessibility?

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Our consulting experience has taught us an important lesson. People have the desire and drive to build accessibility, but they don’t know what it looks like in practice. This makes sense because we don’t have a clear definition of accessibility that tells us how to “do it”. What does accessibility… Read More

Bartender with Down Syndrome presents a payment terminal to a customer at his table

BC’s draft accessible service delivery standards: What they’ll mean for your organization

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In 2024, the BC Government released the first two draft accessibility standards. The proposed standards for accessible service delivery and employment were available for public comment between May and July of 2024. The team at Untapped Accessibility did a deep dive into the draft standards to ask the question what… Read More

A woman of colour and a white man using a white cane walking through the hallway of an urban subway system. He is holding her arm for guidance.

Meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage

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Wayfinding signage is only truly effective when it is meaningfully accessible. Good signage empowers people to navigate spaces independently and confidently. Poorly designed signage, however, can create barriers, confusion, and frustration, especially for people with disabilities. Meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage is not about simply meeting minimum standards. It is about… Read More

Office worker using a motorized wheelchair is using assistive technology to access the internet.

Canada’s digital accessibility plan: what you need to know

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The Accessible Canada Act is a law passed in 2019 that hopes to remove barriers for people with disabilities by 2040.
The federal government is changing the accessibility rules for digital accessibility.

Side view of a man in a wheelchair visiting the hairdressers in the North East of England. The hairdressers are braiding his hair while also dying the ends of it with different colours.

Accessible service delivery is good for your clients and your business

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Walk into any store or call any client service helpline, and you’ll likely be greeted by mottos like, “We put clients first” and “Your satisfaction is our priority.” However, if accessibility is not embedded in service delivery, the actual client experience can be far from satisfactory. You may think you’re… Read More

A woman looks happy and confident as she leads a group discussion at her place of work. She is wearing a yellow sweater and is a wheelchair user.

The Untapped Accessibility Think Tank model: A rigorous, relatable, and rich way to consult people with disabilities

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In recent years, the importance of including people with disabilities in research, policy discussions, and the development of accessible services has become increasingly recognized across both academic and governmental sectors. However, in my own experience working and teaching at post-secondary institutions across the country, the values of trust and rapport… Read More

two people of oclour interview a while woman who uses a wheelchair

How employers can support people with disabilities to thrive throughout their careers

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Introduction I’m a social worker with 17 years of experience in non-profits, post-secondary institutions, and healthcare. As someone with severe-to-profound hearing loss and dwarfism, I’ve navigated workplaces as both an employee and an advocate for accessibility. While progress has been made, systemic barriers remain. The Accessible Canada Act lays the… Read More

A motorized wheelchair user in a green shirt is pictured from the side. They are leaning forward to point at a flipbook being held open and presented to them by a person in a floral blouse.

Strategies for engaging the disability community

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“Nothing about us, without us” is a principle that underscores the importance of including disabled people in shaping initiatives that impact their lives directly. When we are involved from the start, outcomes are more inclusive, equitable, and ultimately more successful. This blog explores strategies for engaging the disability community, rooted… Read More