Accessible Saskatchewan Act Annual Report 2024-25

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Introduction

This is the annual report on the administration of The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (ASA) for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Over the last year, the Government of Saskatchewan has been working to implement the ASA and promote accessibility awareness in Saskatchewan by doing the following:

  • developing the Government of Saskatchewan’s first accessibility plan;
  • providing training and resources to public sector bodies to support their compliance with the ASA; and
  • engaging in ongoing collaboration with the Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop the first accessibility standard under the ASA.

These actions are key steps towards making Saskatchewan a more inclusive and accessible province for persons with disabilities.

Accomplishments in 2023-24

Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027

From April 15 to May 10, 2024, the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office (SAO) hosted a survey on accessiblesk.saskatchewan.ca to ask members of the public about the accessibility barriers that they experience when interacting with government facilities, programs, and services. The survey was filled out by 1,039 people who shared the types of barriers that they experience and where they experienced them. The feedback from this survey was shared with government ministries to help identify areas for accessibility improvements in government. Using a one-team approach, a cross-government committee identified actions that could be included in the Government of Saskatchewan’s first accessibility plan.

On December 3, 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027 was publicly released. The accessibility plan contains seven overarching goals and 28 actions that the Government of Saskatchewan will take to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers in government owned and operated facilities, programs, and services. The seven goals contained in the accessibility plan focus on:

  • improving employee knowledge and awareness of accessibility;
  • making government buildings more accessible;
  • making provincial parks more accessible;
  • improving the accessibility of government programs and services;
  • making digital content more accessible;
  • supporting a diverse and inclusive provincial government workforce; and
  • providing leadership to promote accessibility and inclusion.

You can read the Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027 here.

Guide to Developing an Accessibility Plan

In summer 2024, the SAO created the Guide to Developing an Accessibility Plan, which was sent to organizations prescribed as public sectors bodies (PSBs) under The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations. The purpose of this guide is to assist PSBs to develop their accessibility plans as required by the ASA. PSBs are required to publicly post an accessibility plan by December 3, 2025.

The guide provides PSBs with information and guidance on how to meet their requirements under the ASA. Helpful resources in the guide include information about common accessibility barriers and how to remove them, tips for engaging with persons with disabilities virtually and in-person, and steps to take to begin developing a plan. The guide also includes a template that organizations can use when publishing their accessibility plans.

Accessibility Awareness Training

In January 2025, the SAO partnered with the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to provide foundational accessibility awareness training opportunities to employees of the Government of Saskatchewan and PSBs prescribed within The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations. The purpose of these training opportunities was to increase employees’ awareness and understanding of accessibility and disability, gain confidence in how to communicate and interact with persons with disabilities, and gain knowledge in how to recognize different accessibility barriers. The accessibility awareness training opportunities included:

  • RHF Inclusion and Accessibility Training;
  • Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Fundamentals Training; and
  • Virtual and in-Person Accessibility Seminars hosted by an RHF accessibility consultant.

The RHF Inclusion and Accessibility Training is a one-hour, online, self-directed course that takes a person-centred approach to creating welcoming spaces for persons with disabilities. This training was provided to over 400 participants from 68 PSBs and 16 Government of Saskatchewan ministries.

The RHFAC Fundamentals Training Course is a four-week, online, self-paced course that provides information about the scope and prevalence of disability and knowledge and application of Universal Design principles and how to make physical spaces accessible. This training was provided to employees across the Government of Saskatchewan to spread awareness and increase knowledge of accessibility barriers that may exist in the built environment across government services.

The accessibility seminars were hosted by a RHF staff member who is an award-winning entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, and inspirational speaker. He shared stories about his lived experiences as a person with a disability and provided information about how to provide inclusive services to people with various types of disabilities. The seminars also provided an opportunity for participants to work in small groups and work through a series of case-studies to explore practical solutions to accessibility barriers. A total of seven seminars took place which were attended by 145 people representing 67 PSBs.

Accessibility Advisory Committee

On March 1, 2024, the Minister of Social Services appointed 15 people to Saskatchewan’s first Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). The members each have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences with disability, and knowledge about the barriers that exist in the province and the impact these barriers have on persons with disabilities. The majority of AAC members identify as persons with disabilities, and all have personal, lived experience with disability.

The purpose of the AAC is to provide advice to the Government of Saskatchewan when requested on proposed accessibility standards, public awareness and education initiatives, and other accessibility-related matters for which the Minister seeks advice. The first meeting of the AAC took place on April 5, 2024. Since its first meeting, the AAC has been meeting consistently to learn about processes for developing accessibility standards, learn about current legislation in Saskatchewan, review existing accessibility standards from other jurisdictions across Canada, and discuss potential requirements that could be included in accessibility standards for Saskatchewan.

Next Steps

Under the ASA, PSBs are required to publicly post an accessibility plan by December 3, 2025. An accessibility plan identifies the actions that an organization will take to remove and prevent accessibility barriers for persons who interact with their facilities, programs, and services.

After an initial accessibility plan is posted, the plan is required to be reviewed and updated at least once every three years. The SAO will continue to provide advice and support to PSBs in the development of their accessibility plans as the December 3, 2025, deadline approaches.

Over the next year, the SAO will continue to work with the AAC on the development of the first accessibility standard for Saskatchewan. This will include conducting engagement to develop recommendations for an accessibility standard that will consider the needs and experiences of Saskatchewan citizens. Once the development of the AAC’s proposed accessibility standard is completed it will be posted for public comment for a minimum of 60 days. After the public comment period, feedback on the standard will be reviewed and used to develop the standard into a regulation under The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.

Contact Information

If you require this document in an alternate format, please contact the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office at:

14th Floor, 1920 Broad Street

Regina, SK S4P 3V6

Toll-free: 1-877-915-7468

Phone: 306-787-7283

Email: accessiblesk@gov.sk.ca

Introduction

This is the annual report on the administration of The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (ASA) for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Over the last year, the Government of Saskatchewan has been working to implement the ASA and promote accessibility awareness in Saskatchewan by doing the following:

  • developing the Government of Saskatchewan’s first accessibility plan;
  • providing training and resources to public sector bodies to support their compliance with the ASA; and
  • engaging in ongoing collaboration with the Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop the first accessibility standard under the ASA.

These actions are key steps towards making Saskatchewan a more inclusive and accessible province for persons with disabilities.

Accomplishments in 2023-24

Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027

From April 15 to May 10, 2024, the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office (SAO) hosted a survey on accessiblesk.saskatchewan.ca to ask members of the public about the accessibility barriers that they experience when interacting with government facilities, programs, and services. The survey was filled out by 1,039 people who shared the types of barriers that they experience and where they experienced them. The feedback from this survey was shared with government ministries to help identify areas for accessibility improvements in government. Using a one-team approach, a cross-government committee identified actions that could be included in the Government of Saskatchewan’s first accessibility plan.

On December 3, 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027 was publicly released. The accessibility plan contains seven overarching goals and 28 actions that the Government of Saskatchewan will take to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers in government owned and operated facilities, programs, and services. The seven goals contained in the accessibility plan focus on:

  • improving employee knowledge and awareness of accessibility;
  • making government buildings more accessible;
  • making provincial parks more accessible;
  • improving the accessibility of government programs and services;
  • making digital content more accessible;
  • supporting a diverse and inclusive provincial government workforce; and
  • providing leadership to promote accessibility and inclusion.

You can read the Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027 here.

Guide to Developing an Accessibility Plan

In summer 2024, the SAO created the Guide to Developing an Accessibility Plan, which was sent to organizations prescribed as public sectors bodies (PSBs) under The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations. The purpose of this guide is to assist PSBs to develop their accessibility plans as required by the ASA. PSBs are required to publicly post an accessibility plan by December 3, 2025.

The guide provides PSBs with information and guidance on how to meet their requirements under the ASA. Helpful resources in the guide include information about common accessibility barriers and how to remove them, tips for engaging with persons with disabilities virtually and in-person, and steps to take to begin developing a plan. The guide also includes a template that organizations can use when publishing their accessibility plans.

Accessibility Awareness Training

In January 2025, the SAO partnered with the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to provide foundational accessibility awareness training opportunities to employees of the Government of Saskatchewan and PSBs prescribed within The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations. The purpose of these training opportunities was to increase employees’ awareness and understanding of accessibility and disability, gain confidence in how to communicate and interact with persons with disabilities, and gain knowledge in how to recognize different accessibility barriers. The accessibility awareness training opportunities included:

  • RHF Inclusion and Accessibility Training;
  • Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Fundamentals Training; and
  • Virtual and in-Person Accessibility Seminars hosted by an RHF accessibility consultant.

The RHF Inclusion and Accessibility Training is a one-hour, online, self-directed course that takes a person-centred approach to creating welcoming spaces for persons with disabilities. This training was provided to over 400 participants from 68 PSBs and 16 Government of Saskatchewan ministries.

The RHFAC Fundamentals Training Course is a four-week, online, self-paced course that provides information about the scope and prevalence of disability and knowledge and application of Universal Design principles and how to make physical spaces accessible. This training was provided to employees across the Government of Saskatchewan to spread awareness and increase knowledge of accessibility barriers that may exist in the built environment across government services.

The accessibility seminars were hosted by a RHF staff member who is an award-winning entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, and inspirational speaker. He shared stories about his lived experiences as a person with a disability and provided information about how to provide inclusive services to people with various types of disabilities. The seminars also provided an opportunity for participants to work in small groups and work through a series of case-studies to explore practical solutions to accessibility barriers. A total of seven seminars took place which were attended by 145 people representing 67 PSBs.

Accessibility Advisory Committee

On March 1, 2024, the Minister of Social Services appointed 15 people to Saskatchewan’s first Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). The members each have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences with disability, and knowledge about the barriers that exist in the province and the impact these barriers have on persons with disabilities. The majority of AAC members identify as persons with disabilities, and all have personal, lived experience with disability.

The purpose of the AAC is to provide advice to the Government of Saskatchewan when requested on proposed accessibility standards, public awareness and education initiatives, and other accessibility-related matters for which the Minister seeks advice. The first meeting of the AAC took place on April 5, 2024. Since its first meeting, the AAC has been meeting consistently to learn about processes for developing accessibility standards, learn about current legislation in Saskatchewan, review existing accessibility standards from other jurisdictions across Canada, and discuss potential requirements that could be included in accessibility standards for Saskatchewan.

Next Steps

Under the ASA, PSBs are required to publicly post an accessibility plan by December 3, 2025. An accessibility plan identifies the actions that an organization will take to remove and prevent accessibility barriers for persons who interact with their facilities, programs, and services.

After an initial accessibility plan is posted, the plan is required to be reviewed and updated at least once every three years. The SAO will continue to provide advice and support to PSBs in the development of their accessibility plans as the December 3, 2025, deadline approaches.

Over the next year, the SAO will continue to work with the AAC on the development of the first accessibility standard for Saskatchewan. This will include conducting engagement to develop recommendations for an accessibility standard that will consider the needs and experiences of Saskatchewan citizens. Once the development of the AAC’s proposed accessibility standard is completed it will be posted for public comment for a minimum of 60 days. After the public comment period, feedback on the standard will be reviewed and used to develop the standard into a regulation under The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.

Contact Information

If you require this document in an alternate format, please contact the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office at:

14th Floor, 1920 Broad Street

Regina, SK S4P 3V6

Toll-free: 1-877-915-7468

Phone: 306-787-7283

Email: accessiblesk@gov.sk.ca

Page published: 29 Jul 2025, 04:14 PM