What are the accessibility experiences of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions?

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

Release date: August 18, 2021
Related article More information PDF version
Infographic: What are the accessibility experiences of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions?
Description: What are the accessibility experiences of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions?

Using data from the 2021 Survey on Accessibility in Federal Sector Organizations (SAFSO), this infographic provides a snapshot of barriers related to accessibility within federal sector organizations for Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions that limit their daily activities.

In the past two years, 73% of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions encountered at least one barrier.Note 1

  • Atlantic provinces: 69%
  • Quebec: 71%
  • Ontario: 73%
  • Prairie provinces: 74%
  • British Columbia: 75%

The proportion of people who encountered one or more barriers was similar by gender:

  • Men: 74%
  • Women: 72%

Almost two-thirds (63%) of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions encountered one or more barriers when using transportation, such as airplanes, passenger trains, ferry services, and buses.

Top three situations where transportation barriers were encountered:

  • Wait lines: 35%
  • Using the website: 30%
  • Lighting or sound levels: 30%

Nearly half (45%) of Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions encountered barriers related to information and communication technologies (ICT).Note 2

ICT-related barriers were encountered in the following situations:

  • Using self-serve technology: 27%
  • Accessing federal government information, services or support online: 24%
  • Watching TV shows, movies or other content through traditional television platforms: 22%
  • Accessing federally regulated businesses online: 19%

More than 3 in 5 (62%) Canadians with disabilities, difficulties or long-term conditions experienced at least one communication barrier, either in understanding something or being understood.

Situations where communication barriers were experienced most often:

  • Over the phone: 43%
  • In person: 41%
  • Reading and understanding written materials: 40%

Source: Statistics Canada, Survey on Accessibility in Federal Sector Organizations, 2021

More information

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified: