Introduction

The members and partners of the COPHAN have pooled their expertise to bring you the content of this guide, which is a synthesis of the discussions on the needs of the population and on universal accessibility.

This guide is a reference document. While there is room for improvement, its contribution is unique and, most importantly, it stems from the milieu of persons with disabilities: NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US. It will help improve the life of persons with disabilities and of their family members, while guiding and informing the ministries, organizations, large companies and all persons concerned by the creation of an accessibility plan.

This guide also aims at enhancing the public policies of the different levels of government.

Objectives of the Guide

  • To promote the inclusion and social participation

    People with disabilities by guaranteeing them equal access to education, employment, public services, and digital technology. The goal is to remove barriers and enable full integration into society.

  • Create a bilingual guide of best practices

    In terms of accessibility, offering clear strategies, legal references, and concrete steps enabling organizations to improve inclusivity and comply with current standards.

  • Facilitating access to information

    by structuring content in an intuitive way so that institutions and companies can quickly find solutions and implement effective accessibility measures.

A few numbers

According to l’Office des personnes handicapées du Québec (OPHQ), a significant portion of the population faces accessibility challenges. These figures demonstrate the urgent need to improve accessibility measures across the public and private sectors.

  • Significant Disability

    21 % of Quebecers over the age of 15 have a significant disability (1.42 million people), impacting their independence and requiring specific accommodations1.

  • Multiple Functional Limitations

    33 % of this population lives with multiple functional limitations affecting mobility, communication, vision, or hearing, thereby complicating access to essential services2.

  • Impact on the Population

    50 % of Quebec’s population is affected by accessibility issues, including people with disabilities, their families, and support professionals.

  • Future Projections

    With an aging population, these figures are expected to rise, making proactive planning essential to meet growing accessibility needs.

Logo de l'office des personnes handicapées du Québec

Limitations of the Guide

This guide is based on current knowledge in the field of universal accessibility and serves as a reference for the application of best practices in various sectors. It brings together essential information from research, professional experience, and user feedback to address accessibility challenges. It combines three types of knowledge to ensure a comprehensive approach:

  • Academic knowledge

    Expertise of researchers and specialists in accessibility.

  • Technical knowledge

    Feedback from professionals working with people with disabilities.

  • Experiential knowledge

    Testimonials and experiences of those affected.

A few definitions

  1. Statistiques sur les personnes handicapées | Gouvernement du Québec
  2. Enquête québécoise sur les limitations d’activités, les maladies chroniques et le vieillissement 2010-2011
  3. Definition formulated in 2011 by Groupe DÉFI Accessibilité (GDA) in the research report for community advocacy groups of Montreal entitled Accessibilité universelle et designs contributifs (version 5.3), prepared by LANGEVIN, ROCQUE, CHALGHOUMI and GHORAYEB, Université de Montréal.
  4. Qu’est-ce que l’accessibilité universelle? – AlterGo