4. Priority Area: The procurement of goods, services, and facilities

Public Service and Procurement Canada manages much of the Government of Canada’s procurement. It aims to ensure that the goods and services purchased are accessible by design, where possible, so that Canadians with disabilities can use them without adaptation.

Departments and agencies such as the CER have a role to play within their procurement activities also. Some questions that should be asked at the beginning of the procurement cycle are: 

• Can the product/technology be used by someone: 
  1. In a seated position? 
  2. Using one hand, with limited upper body strength? 
  3. With limited fine motor skills? 
  4. With vision or hearing loss? 
• Does the product have ergonomic features? 
• Are there environmental irritants associated with the particular product (e.g. smells, flashing lights, toxins)?
• Can the supplier communicate with and accommodate people with different types of disabilities? 
• Is the site accessible by different modes of transportation and by persons with disabilities? 
• Will attendees have a direct line of sight to a sign language interpreter?
• Does the facility have emergency procedures to assist people with disabilities?