Government of Saskatchewan Accessibility Plan 2024-2027
Table of contents
Information and communications barriers
Accessibility goals and actions
Goal 1 – Improve employee knowledge and awareness of accessibility
Goal 2 – Make government buildings more accessible
Goal 3 – Make provincial parks more accessible
Goal 4 – Improve the accessibility of government programs and services
Goal 5 – Make digital content more accessible
Goal 6 – Support a diverse and inclusive provincial government workforce
Goal 7 – Provide leadership to promote accessibility and inclusion
This report is available in alternate format upon request.
To request an alternate format, please contact the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office by email at accessiblesk@gov.sk.ca(External link) or by phone at 306-787-7283 or 1-877-915-7468 (Toll-free).
Introduction
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to identifying, removing, and preventing accessibility barriers for individuals who work at or access government facilities, programs, and services. As part of this commitment, the government introduced The Accessible Saskatchewan Act, which came into force on December 3, 2023. The Act requires the provincial government to publicly post an accessibility plan to remove and prevent accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities.
In the spirit of ‘Nothing about us, without us’, the Government of Saskatchewan consulted with persons with disabilities to inform the actions outlined in the government’s first accessibility plan. A public survey was conducted between April 15 and May 10, 2024, to seek feedback from individuals, including persons with disabilities, about the accessibility barriers they experience while using provincial government facilities, programs, and services. More than 1,000 individuals participated in this survey.
During this engagement, we heard about physical accessibility barriers that people experience related to entrances, parking, and navigation when accessing provincial government buildings. We also heard about information and communication barriers related to finding and understanding information about provincial government programs and services. For example, people told us that websites can be confusing, making it hard to find and access information. People also shared their experiences with attitudinal barriers and being treated differently due to their disability.
Ministries across the Government of Saskatchewan worked together to consider the feedback received and identified actions that the government will take over the next three years to improve the accessibility of government facilities, programs, and services.
Accessibility barriers
The Accessible Saskatchewan Act defines a barrier as anything that hinders or challenges the full and equal participation in society of persons with disabilities.
There are many types of barriers that persons with disabilities may experience, including physical barriers, information and communications barriers, and attitudinal barriers. Definitions and examples of each barrier type are outlined below to help people understand the experiences of persons with disabilities.
Physical barriers
Physical barriers exist when spaces are designed in ways that prevent or limit mobility or access.
For example:
- Hosting public events at a venue that is only accessible by stairs.
- Parking lots with no curb cuts that make it difficult to access sidewalks.
- Washrooms that lack accessible stalls or automatic door openers.
Information and communications barriers
Information and communications barriers exist when information or material is shared in a way that is not accessible to all people.
For example:
- Using small print that is hard to read.
- Websites and documents that are not accessible for screen readers.
- Videos that do not have closed captioning.
Attitudinal barriers
Attitudinal barriers exist when people act or think based on false assumptions.
For example:
- Not including persons with disabilities in decisions that impact them.
- Making assumptions about a person’s ability to communicate or do things for themselves.
- Avoiding a person with a disability for fear of offending them.
Accessibility goals and actions
The Government of Saskatchewan has taken steps to improve the accessibility of government facilities, programs, and services. However, we recognize that progress will be ongoing as we aim to become a more inclusive province. This plan outlines the actions that government will prioritize over the next three years to remove accessibility barriers that persons with disabilities experience. Ministries will work together to complete the actions outlined in this plan and raise awareness about accessibility across government. Using a one-team approach, the government will work to identify and remove barriers that persons with disabilities experience in the province.
Goal 1 - Improve employee knowledge and awareness of accessibility
Increasing employee awareness about accessibility and understanding the importance of inclusion are key to improving the quality of services provided to all individuals, including persons with disabilities.
Achievements to date:
Since being introduced in 2018, more than 5,000 Government of Saskatchewan employees have completed the Disability Awareness training. This training is intended to help provide employees with an understanding of the importance of disability awareness in the workplace, challenge false ideas, and show how to create an inclusive workplace culture.
The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement’s Digital Citizen Experience team is responsible for managing government websites and social media. Employees on this team receive ongoing training and certification related to accessibility and improving the user experience. This training ensures that team members know how to make websites, like Saskatchewan.ca, and social media posts accessible.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Develop new accessibility-focused training for Government of Saskatchewan employees to increase accessibility awareness and promote a more inclusive and accepting work environment. This training will expand on information contained in existing disability awareness training and will help employees identify and remove accessibility barriers, more confidently interact with persons with disabilities, and create more inclusive spaces for all.
- Explore opportunities for additional specialized training for government employees related to the services that their ministries provide.
Goal 2 - Make government buildings more accessible
The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that accessible buildings are an important part of improving the accessibility of government services.
Achievements to date:
The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement has started evaluating the accessibility of government buildings. Two buildings have received accessibility certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation. To receive this certification, buildings must undergo an accessibility audit and meet certain accessibility requirements. To date, the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina and the L.F. McIntosh Building in Prince Albert have received accessibility certification. Three buildings are currently pending certification, including the T.C. Douglas Building and Cooper Place in Regina; and the Sturdy-Stone Centre in Saskatoon.
The government has also made accessibility improvements to government buildings during routine facility updates. These updates have included moving reception areas to the main floors of buildings, increasing the availability of automatic door openers, adding lower service counters, and installing new elevators in government buildings.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Increase the number of Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification audits completed on government-owned buildings. These audits will help to identify accessibility barriers and actions that can be taken to remove physical barriers in government buildings.
- Evaluate provincial government buildings to better understand current accessibility barriers and to plan and prioritize future renovation projects.
- Include accessibility requirements in the construction and design of government buildings. This will ensure that accessibility is always a factor in the design of government buildings and promote a more consistent user experience.
- Provide funding for eligible licensed child care centres to complete accessibility certification reviews. These reviews will evaluate the accessibility of a facility and help identify ways to remove and prevent accessibility barriers that children, staff, and family members may experience.
- Develop strategies to increase braille signage and make accessibility improvements to washrooms and reception areas in government buildings.
- Review accessible parking strategies for government buildings and work with local authorities regarding on-street accessible parking at government buildings.
- Complete upgrades to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and its exhibits to enhance accessibility and remove barriers that persons with disabilities experience when visiting the museum.
Goal 3 - Make provincial parks more accessible
The Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport has made significant strides in enhancing accessibility across provincial parks, visitor sites, and through community investment, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity as a top priority.
Achievements to date:
Accessible and barrier-free campsites designed for individuals with reduced mobility are available throughout the province. Buffalo Pound, Pike Lake, and Cypress Hills Provincial Parks have accessible pools so everyone can enjoy these amenities. Accessible playgrounds have been constructed at Pike Lake, Great Blue Heron, and Cypress Hills Provincial Parks. Pavilions and day-use areas have undergone accessibility upgrades at Rowan’s Ravine, Echo Lake, and Pike Lake Provincial Parks. Accessible docks have been installed at provincial lakes, including a new accessible dock at Katepwa Lake for the 2024 season.
Other recent improvements include automatic push buttons for building entrances, the modernization of washrooms and shower facilities, the installation of beach access mats, and provision of beach wheelchairs at many of Saskatchewan’s provincial parks.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Review the accessibility of two provincial parks per year, beginning in 2025-26, to identify current accessibility barriers. Information gathered through these reviews can help inform future park improvement plans.
- Develop a checklist for park managers to conduct regular park accessibility evaluations, so that barriers can be identified and addressed.
- Continue to add accessibility features such as beach wheelchairs, accessible docks, campsites, and trails to provincial parks.
- Develop a new webpage on the Saskatchewan Parks website that provides more information about accessible activities, accommodations and other features at park locations in the province.
Goal 4 – Improve the accessibility of government programs and services
The Government of Saskatchewan is taking steps to remove accessibility barriers that limit access to government programs and services.
Achievements to date:
In 2019 and 2020, the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Saskatchewan Medical Association to provide height-adjustable medical exam tables. This initiative provided physicians with up to $5,000 each to help cover costs of getting height-adjustable exam tables. Over 200 height-adjustable exam tables were purchased for family doctors and specialists from communities across the province. Having adjustable exam tables allows persons who have mobility limitations to more easily and safely transfer onto the exam table, improving quality of care and dignity for persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of Social Services has introduced initiatives that allow individuals to access services in their homes and communities. The Mobile Outreach Services initiative reduces barriers that individuals experience when accessing a government building. Under this initiative, ministry workers meet clients at different community-based organizations, including shelters, Friendship Centres, hospitals, hotels, and other community centres. In 2021, the ministry introduced self-service for Saskatchewan Income Support clients. Clients are now able to make an application, update an application, update their personal contact information and upload applications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without having to travel to a regional office. Self-Service was expanded to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program in February 2023 and is currently available to all SAID clients that have applied for the program online.
The Ministry of Social Services also provides free Wi-Fi in their client service centres to help clients access information. Providing access to Wi-Fi also ensures persons who are D/deaf and Hard of Hearing can use internet-based sign language interpretation services and allows clients to access information and forms on their mobile devices without impacting their mobile data usage.
The Provincial Library and Literary Office with the Ministry of Education has purchased a selection of dyslexia-friendly and decodable books for libraries. Both are special formats of books designed to be more accessible to children experiencing print disabilities. Library systems have experienced significant demand for these books as they create a more inclusive reading experience.
The Ministry of Education has developed American Sign Language and Deaf Culture and Langue des signes québécoise et culture des Sourds (Quebec Sign Language) curricula. Offering these curricula as electives builds understanding, awareness and capacity in students by teaching them a new language.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Create plain language guides for how to apply to government programs and services. This will make it easier for everyone to understand the application processes of available programs.
- Update the Government of Saskatchewan’s Visual Identity Guidelines to give employees more guidance for making accessible communications for the public. Saskatchewan’s Visual Identity Guidelines already provide requirements for things like accessible colour combinations, font choices and graphic design for all government communications and marketing. Building additional accessibility measures into these guidelines will improve the accessibility of all government publications.
- Review and update government documents to ensure information is easy to find, easy to read and easy to understand. For example, the Ministry of Social Services will evaluate and improve the accessibility of Social Services applications for social services programs.
- Evaluate how people currently access information and communicate with government employees to identify ways to improve the accessibility of services. For instance, the Ministry of Health will review and improve the accessibility of information and documents related to the Saskatchewan Drug Plan.
- Explore the feasibility of providing free Wi-Fi at public-facing government offices. Providing access to Wi-Fi may improve access to internet-based communications services used by persons with disabilities.
Goal 5 – Make digital content more accessible
As many individuals access information through digital platforms like websites and social media, it is important to make sure that digital content is understandable and accessible on the devices that people use.
Achievements to date:
The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement has started evaluating the Saskatchewan.ca website to identify opportunities for improvement. The ministry has purchased tools to check its accessibility and conducted testing to identify difficulties that people experience when using the website.
The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement successfully launched the Government of Saskatchewan’s Digital Public Services Policy. This policy included accessibility requirements, which must be considered when awarding contracts for digital public-facing services. Proposals are assigned accessibility scores based on how they will follow requirements consistent with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA or higher, resulting in improved accessibility of future applications and digital services. The WCAG outline steps that can be taken to make sure that everyone can use websites, no matter their abilities.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Continue to review and improve the accessibility of provincial government websites and web-based services.
- Review the Highway Hotline App to identify accessibility issues and actions that can be taken to remove barriers that people may experience when using the app.
- Develop a new Saskatchewan Student Aid System that provides in-app guidance and support elements, such as walkthroughs, task lists, smart tips, self-help menus, and more. A modernized user interface will adapt to any screen size or mobile device and reduce the need for fillable PDFs.
- Develop a new online system allowing secondary education transcripts to be downloaded as PDFs that are compatible with screen reader technology.
Goal 6 - Support a diverse and inclusive provincial government workforce
The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the importance of fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.
Achievements to date:
The Public Service Commission has been supporting the revitalization of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Disability Support Network. This network is open to government employees interested in learning about disabilities and creating an inclusive workspace. The Disability Support Network is intended to promote disability awareness and provide education through events which help to create an inclusive and supportive work environment.
In January 2024, the Public Service Commission launched the Employee Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan. This is an ongoing commitment to promote mental health at all levels of government by encouraging and supporting employees to be informed and proactive leaders and colleagues. The 2024 Employee Mental Health Campaign is an action in the Employee Mental Health Action Plan. This year-long campaign is designed to engage employees in building awareness, reducing stigma, promoting healthy mental health practices, building resilience, and encouraging inclusion.
In the summer of 2024, the Public Service Commission’s Employee Well-being and Inclusion Branch began directly supporting managers and supervisors who require expert advice and guidance on providing medical accommodations. The centralization of this support ensures timely and direct consultation with managers to build capacity and ensure consistent medical accommodation practices, processes, and information.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Review, with an accessibility lens, the Public Service Commission’s policies and processes, in the Human Resources Manual, including resources to support medical accommodation in the workplace. The goal is to ensure that these policies are equitable and support a diverse and inclusive workplace that is representative of the citizens of the province.
- Review the current process for Government of Saskatchewan employees to self-declare a disability to identify opportunities for improvement. Improving understanding of employee diversity in the context of recruitment, retention, and career advancement, helps the Government of Saskatchewan to better support employees with disabilities and realize a more engaged and productive workforce.
Goal 7 – Provide leadership to promote accessibility and inclusion
As part of the implementation of The Accessible Saskatchewan Act, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed to taking the lead on following any new requirements created by the Act and the regulations created under it.
Achievements to date:
The government developed a Guide to Developing an Accessibility Plan for public sector organizations that are required to develop an accessibility plan under The Accessible Saskatchewan Act. The guide provides information about common accessibility barriers and how to remove the barriers that are hindering persons with disabilities from accessing their organization’s buildings and services.
Actions for 2024-27:
- Provide support to public sector organizations that are required to develop an accessibility plan under The Accessible Saskatchewan Regulations, including working with the Rick Hansen Foundation to offer accessibility training to these organizations. These efforts will help to ensure that organizations can effectively develop an accessibility plan and work towards preventing and removing accessibility barriers.
- Develop a Guide for Hosting Accessible Events. This resource will be publicly available, helping organizations and ministries make their events more accessible.
- Government will include accessibility requirements during the procurement and tendering processes. Including accessibility considerations will ensure government proactively considers accessibility when purchasing goods and services.
- Establish a cross-government committee of senior executives to oversee implementation of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Accessibility Plan 2024-27. By fostering a one-team approach, this committee will ensure the successful implementation of this accessibility plan and set the stage for future plans.
Conclusion
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to improving accessibility in Saskatchewan and will review and update this plan every three years. The actions outlined in this plan are intended to improve the accessibility of government services and remove barriers that persons with disabilities experience. As we move forward in our province’s accessibility journey, we want to continue to hear from members of our community about accessibility barriers that impact the lives of persons with disabilities.
Contact us
Please contact the Saskatchewan Accessibility Office to share any feedback, questions, or comments you have on our accessibility plan, or to request an alternate format of this document.
Saskatchewan Accessibility Office
14th Floor, 1920 Broad Street
Regina, SK S4P 3V6
Phone: 306-787-7283
Toll-free: 1-877-915-7468