Talking accessibility

The video opens with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer’s animated logo. Text on screen reads: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility.” Thoughtful music plays throughout the video.

[00:00:08] Stephanie Cadieux and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter appear on a split screen, with ASL interpreter on the right. Text on screen reads: Stephanie Cadieux; Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer.

Stephanie Cadieux: I’m speaking with Canadians about what accessibility really means, and why it matters. As a society, we cannot afford to accommodate inaccessibility any longer. Far too much potential is being lost and it’s time to act.

[00:00:23] Jason Mitschele is checking his cell phone while seated in an office lunchroom setting. A service dog is lying on the floor next to him. Text on screen: Breaking Barriers.

[00:00:32] Animated logo appears briefly, then split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a series of images show Jason Mitschele walking outside with his service dog.

Jason Mitschele: I've been discouraged. When I was younger, when I told my high school teachers about going to law school, they discouraged it. They felt that it was something that was too much reading, too hard to get in. And I almost started to believe it myself.

[00:00:49] Jason Mitschele and his service dog appear full screen. They are walking outside on a rainy day.

[00:00:55] Split screen: Jason Mitschele and an ASL interpreter appear. Text on screen: Jason Mitschele, Team Leader and Senior Counsel, Superior Court Litigation Team, Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

Jason Mitschele: My name is Jason Mitschele, and I am a Senior Federal Crown Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada here in Toronto.

[00:01:06] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right. Jason Mitschele and his service dog enter an office building.

Jason Mitschele: When I was going to undergrad, my ground-breaking moment was actually in my beginning of fourth year. I kind of felt there's no reason I can't do that.

[00:01:17] Split screen: Jason Mitschele and ASL interpreter on the right.

Jason Mitschele: I mean, these are people that are not – they're not on a pedestal, or they're not – you know, they're just regular people that happened to be going to law school.

[00:01:25] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele’s service dog settles into her bed in the office.

Jason Mitschele: You literally get the file hot off the presses as they're coming in during the day. So, there's no time to scan it, there's no time to have it put in an alternative format. You really have to be able to access that file as it's coming in, live in court.

[00:01:30] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation in a wood panelled room.

Jason Mitschele: Especially being a prosecutor, a lot of what we deal with are large voluminous files with handwritten officer's notes.

[00:01:51] Split screen: Jason Mitschele and ASL interpreter to the right.

Jason Mitschele: Me just having a clunky scanner wasn't going to cut it.

[00:01:56] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele walks down a hallway with his service dog. His paralegal assistant follows behind, they all seat themselves in Jason’s office.

Jason Mitschele: My employer has been very committed to accommodating me, advocated for me that, no, I needed my own actual, not just assistant, but paralegal. Someone that actually had some knowledge of the law so that they would know how to best assist me.

[00:02:15] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Jason Mitschele: Obviously, I have the technology, I have my computer with my speech program and whatnot.

[00:02:19] Split screen: Jason Mitschele with ASL interpreter on the right.

Jason Mitschele: But having my own person dedicated to me has been invaluable. And I think it's really been the key to my success here.

[00:02:27] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele and his assistant are seated in Jason’s office; ASL interpreter.

Jason Mitschele: My disability is obvious and visible,

[00:02:33] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Jason Mitschele: so, in some ways it's easier. But, you know,

[00:02:36] Split screen: Jason Mitschele with ASL interpreter on the right.

Jason Mitschele: I think in some ways also it's – I have felt left out at times.

[00:02:41] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele is seated in his office. He puts on headphones and starts working with a braille keyboard.

Jason Mitschele: What takes an average lawyer maybe two hours to do, it’s going to take me five or six. It's just a reality. But that's hard. It's hard on other aspects of your life, you have to work a lot harder, a lot smarter.

[00:02:57] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele’s service dog snoozes in her bed.

Jason Mitschele: I have to plan everything to a T.

[00:02:58] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Jason Mitschele: How am I going to get here? How am I going to leave? How am I going to get back? How am I going to get this assignment done? Do I need any help to do this?

[00:03:07] Split screen: Jason Mitschele with ASL interpreter on the right.

Jason Mitschele: I'm always trying to think outside the box and find ways that I can do things.

[00:03:12] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Jason Mitschele prepares to leave the office. He re-attaches the harness on his service dog, walks up a hallway, and enters an elevator.

Jason Mitschele: My first boss, she knew I was going to struggle unless I had more accommodations. And that's someone who really did make a difference in my life because she believed in me, took a chance, fought for me, and got the accommodations in place. It’s a great career, a life-long career. It’s really allowed me to grow and be who I want to be.

[00:03:35] Jason Mitschele crosses the lobby and walks outdoors.

[00:03:42] Video ends with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer animated logo.

The video opens with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer’s animated logo. Text on screen: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility. Thoughtful music plays throughout the video.

[00:00:08 Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux appears to the left with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to the right. Text on screen: Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer.

Stephanie Cadieux says: I’m talking with Canadians about what accessibility really means, and why it matters. As a society, we cannot afford to accommodate inaccessibility any longer. Far too much potential is being lost - it’s time to act.

[00:00:23] Outdoor view of a person entering a Canada Post office building. Text on screen: Delivering Solutions.

[00:00:32] Animated logo appears briefly, then split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a person is seen walking with their service dog to collect their mail.

Natasha Saltes: I think sometimes in this digital era, we forget about the significance of tangible items sent by mail. A lot of these items have sentimental value, and they connect people over distance.

[00:00:53 Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right. Stephanie Cadieux joins Natasha in conversation. Text on screen: Natasha Saltes, Director, Accessibility Canada Post.

Natasha Saltes: Accessibility is really about removing the barriers, preventing barriers, and ensuring that everyone is included and has a sense of belonging.

[00:01:09] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: An open laptop; a person scrolls through a document on Canada Post’s Delivery Accommodation Program.

Natasha Saltes: The Delivery Accommodation program was developed to assist residential customers with disabilities, functional limitations, or health conditions to access their mail.

[00:01:18] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right. Natasha Saltes and Stephanie Cadieux look at the laptop, and then appear in conversation.

Natasha Saltes: Many of the customers of the Delivery Accommodation program identify as having multiple disabilities, and the majority indicate that they have difficulty with mobility and agility.

[00:01:37] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a series of images show a person’s service dog opens an automatic accessibility door and accompanies them into a post office; a visually impaired person retrieves their mail; a person in a wheelchair retrieves their mail.

Natasha Saltes: Access to mail enables them to have connections with family, with friends, with their community. The program also ensures that important items like medication, medical supplies and household essentials are delivered safely.

[00:01:52] Split screen with ASL interpretation to the right: a series of images show a person in a wheelchair writing at a pull-out accessible desk in the post office. They hand a parcel to be mailed over to a postal worker, and a person in a wheelchair retrieves a box from a large, low placed mailbox.

Natasha Saltes: So, having that sense of independence and really feeling that strong sense of connection with others contributes to quality life.

[00:01:58] Split screen with ASL interpretation to the right: a series of images show a visually impaired person retrieving their mail from a pull-out tray in a mailbox; a person using a key with an over-sized handle to open their mailbox; arrows point ing to higher and lower placed mailboxes; a person in a wheelchair retrieving a box from a large, low placed mailbox; and an over-sized key with braille.

Natasha Saltes: We have sliding trays; we have key turners that make it easier to actually open the mail compartment. We can provide an adjustment to the height of a mail compartment, so that means we could make the compartment higher or lower, depending on the needs of the individual. We also offer braille on the compartment so that it could be more easily identified.

[00:02:22] Split screen with ASL interpretation to the right: a series of images show a postal worker delivering mail to the residence of a person in a wheelchair.

Natasha Saltes: And then for customers who are not able to access their assigned mode of delivery, we also offer daily home delivery of packages and weekly delivery of mail.

[00:02:36] Split screen with ASL interpretation to the right: Natasha shows a person an accessible mailbox inside a post office; ASL interpreter.

Natasha Saltes: There are models of accessibility that we can learn from. And I really see the program as being an example that can help other organizations.

[00:02:48] Split screen with ASL interpretation to the right: Natasha shows a person a document on a laptop. The document reads “Procurement of goods, services, and facilities,” and shows a person retrieving their mail from an accessible mailbox.

Natasha Saltes: I always describe our commitment to accessibility as a journey.

We made a lot of progress in removing barriers.

[00:02:57] Split screen: Natasha Saltes and ASL interpreter. Stephanie Cadieux joins Natasha in conversation.

Natasha Saltes: It's definitely an ongoing process for us.

[00:03:00] Natasha Saltes appears full screen. The Canada Post logo can be seen in the background.

Video ends with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer’s animated logo.

The video opens with Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer’s animated logo. Text on screen: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility. Thoughtful music plays throughout video.]

[00:00:07] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux appears to the left with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to the right. Text on screen: Stephanie Cadieux; Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer.

Stephanie Cadieux: I’m talking with Canadians about what accessibility really means, and why it matters. As a society, we can’t afford to accommodate inaccessibility any longer. Far too much potential is being lost – it’s time to act.

[00:00:23] Stephanie Cadieux and Raphael Solomon are seated together at an accessible table. Text on screen: Making it Work.

[00:00:30] Animated logo appears briefly, then split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a person is in conversation with Raphael in an office setting.

Raphael Solomon: The idea is you can bring in some fantastic people if you're willing to make a small amount of effort.

[00:00:43] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Raphael Solomon and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Raphael Solomon: My name is Raphael Solomon.

[00:00:45] Split screen: Raphael Solomon and ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Raphael Solomon, Economic Expert, Copyright Board of Canada.

Raphael Solomon: I work for the Copyright Board of Canada. I pursued a Master’s, and PhD in Economics.

[00:00:52] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a view of the hands only of two people opposite each other at a desk, followed by Raphael speaking.

Raphael Solomon: I was offered the promotion, Director of Economic Research to look after staff. And to hire staff. And it was hard.

[00:01:06] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Raphael Solomon and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Raphael Solomon: One of the things that happened around the same time was that I got my formal autism diagnosis. I was more receptive to the idea that there were some things I just wouldn't be good at, and that I should embrace the things at which I'm good and move from there.

[00:01:24] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: A person is in conversation with Raphael in an office setting.

Raphael Solomon: And we started talking, my manager and I. She was saying, ‘I don't want to lose Raphael. He's clearly an asset to the board. He's good at analyzing the evidence and data; writing. He's good at teaching. How can I best make use of him within this organization?’

[00:01:45] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: a series of images show Raphael working at a desk in an office setting.

Raphael Solomon: One of my biggest strengths has got to be my near photographic memory. People can ask me something, and I can probably find you the reference in under five minutes. People here have always been accommodating. This is a great place to work.

[00:02:00] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Raphael Solomon and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Raphael Solomon: It's made me feel good about myself, and about myself as a person, as a person with disabilities, as an employee.

[00:02:10] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: A series of images show Raphael in an office setting. Raphael puts on headphones and connects a laptop.

Raphael Solomon: I've been given headphones that really help me focus, to block out the outside sound. I really don't deal with surprises well.

[00:02:24] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Raphael Solomon and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Raphael Solomon: My manager made a point of giving me heads ups. ‘Don't let anyone else know, but this is what's going to be announced at the all-staff meeting.’  It's made a tremendous difference. I can get overwhelmed when I'm around people for too long. And so, the opportunity to work from home is a bit of a break for me.

[00:02:43] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: A computer monitor in shown.

Raphael Solomon: I'm that sort of funny guy, who maybe doesn't know when to be quiet, and what have you, but will have something good to say if you want to listen. People have understood that the package that is me, is an interesting mix.

[00:03:00] Split screen with ASL interpreter on the right: Raphael Solomon and Stephanie Cadieux in conversation.

Raphael Solomon: It may be some challenges, together with some great opportunities.

[00:03:04] Raphael Solomon appears full screen. A Copyright Board of Canada sign can be seen in the background.

[00:03:10] Video ends with Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer animated logo.

The video opens with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer (OCAO) animated logo. Text on screen: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility. Thoughtful music plays throughout the video.

[00:00:08] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter appear. Text on screen: Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer of Canada.

Stephanie Cadieux: I'm talking with Canadians about what accessibility really means, and why it matters. As a society, we cannot afford to accommodate inaccessibility any longer. Far too much potential is being lost - it's time to act.

[00:00:22] Outdoor view of a person with a limp walking along a city sidewalk. Text on screen: Towards a World Without Limits

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: My name is Ousmane Thiendella Fall. I studied education sciences, and my work has focused on school inclusion.

[00:00:50] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall, Accessibility Advocate and Educator.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: I've been interested in this area since I was a teenager, living with a disability myself. So, I've always been concerned with questions of accessibility.

[00:00:59] Split screen: A series of images from Handifestival International 2008; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: In 2007, I took part in creating an international festival for people with disabilities, putting an emphasis on culture.

[00:01:14] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: The idea came to me in terms of culture, because the importance of culture or the arts is that, in some ways, their expression is universal.

[00:01:26] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall meets with a colleague in an office setting. They work together at a desk, and on a laptop; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: The culture of an institution or organization is the set of values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that preside in that organization. So, if the organization is aiming for inclusion and accessibility, I think it's only natural that these elements be expressed through its culture.

When we talk about change, it brings resistance to mind. Resistance can be conscious or it can be unconscious.

[00:02:11] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: I think it's important to have employees with disabilities to create diversity. It's becomes more than words, it's seen in lived reality, and that changes how an organization is perceived.

[00:02:26] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall in a video meeting with a colleague; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: It encourages people to go into this environment, and it also encourages them to see that the people employed here can serve as role models.

[00:02:41] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: It may also encourage them to ask the same question of other organizations. Why don't you do what this organization does, for example?

[00:02:47] Split screen: A meeting room fills with colleagues, including Ousmane Thiendella Fall, for an enthusiastic discussion; ASL interpreter.

Ousmane Thiendella Fall: An organization that succeeds in emphasizing diversity and the inclusion of people with disabilities not only succeeds in fulfilling its mission through the diversity of its employees, but also gains in terms of experience, in terms of success.

One piece of advice I would give to someone hoping to bring about change in their environment, I'd say, in all humility, to take the time to explain what they're planning to do, what they expect the result to be and to avoid shortcuts.

[00:03:40] Split screen: Ousmane Thiendella Fall; ASL interpreter.

When it comes to change, the work is never finished, especially when it comes to cultural change, both socially and organizationally. It is never finished.

[00:03:50] Outdoor view of Ousmane Thiendella Fall on a city sidewalk.

[00:03:55] Video ends with OCAO animated logo.

[00:00:00] Video opens with the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer (OCAO) animated logo. Text on screen: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility. Thoughtful music plays in the background throughout the video.

[00:00:08] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux; American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Text on screen: Stephanie Cadieux, Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer.

Stephanie Cadieux: Hello, I'm Stephanie Cadieux, Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer.

My hope is that talking with Canadians about what accessibility really means and why it matters will open the door to further understanding. It's time to act.

[00:00:22] A person's hands are seen holding a photo album; Stephanie Cadieux and Shira Standfield are seated together at a table. Text on screen: Thinking Outside.

[00:00:29] OCAO animated logo appears briefly, and fades to a split screen with a series of images and an ASL interpreter: a woman enjoys the beauty of a sunset from a hilltop; waves wash over smooth stones at sunset; a pristine beach at the edge of a forest; an accessible beachside boardwalk; a man seated in a wheelchair looks out over the ocean from an accessible beach; gulls fly overhead; waves crash on a rocky shoreline; sunlight on a forested mountainside by a lake; an autumn flower; an eagle soars above the trees.

Shira Standfield: Everyone deserves a meaningful experience in the outdoors. If there is a beautiful view to see, everyone should have access to that beautiful view.

[00:00:44] Split screen: Shira Standfield; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Shira Standfield; Advisor - Visitor Accessibility and Inclusion, Visitor Experience Branch Parks Canada, Government of Canada.

Shira Standfield: My name is Shira Stanfield, and I work for Parks Canada, and my role is the Advisor on Accessibility and Inclusion for Visitors.

[00:00:52] Split screen: A series of images of Shira Standfield rock climbing; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: I was a rock climber before I was injured and being outside was something that brought me great joy. That was my thing.

[00:01:05] Split screen: Shira Standfield; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: After I was injured, I realized that there were so many barriers to having those same experiences.

[00:01:10] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and Shira Standfield are seated together in conversation; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: I realized I could actually design places and have influence on providing those outdoor experiences for people.

[00:01:16] Split screen: ASL interpreter; a series of images: Specification drawings for an accessible greenspace; an accessible cabin in the mountains; a family with a child in a wheelchair happily approach a cabin up an accessibility ramp; a family with a baby stroller also use the ramp; a family with a parent in a wheelchair on an accessible gravel path through a forested campground; a family with a child in a wheelchair head down a ramp to a boardwalk on the beach.

Shira Standfield: Universal design is just good design. It's intuitive, it's easy to use, it's actually just good design that works for all people. To do universal design well is really not that difficult. It's just thinking things through in the early design phases when concepts are being developed - why would we design something to exclude people?

[00:01:37] Split screen: ASL interpreter; a series of images: an interpreter at an Indigenous Museum shows an artifact; Indigenous art can be seen on the walls in the background as an interpreter shows a person a wolf fur; a Parks Canada representative shows visitors a skull from their bison exhibit; a Parks Canada guide speaks to a group of visitors; a Museum guide in period costume stands over an outdoor forge; another period-costumed guide carves a paddle.

Shira Standfield: If you're at a program, the interpreter might be holding an artifact and they might say, ‘I'm holding this thing,' but they don't describe it. So, someone who can't see very well may not know what they're talking about. So, learning how to describe things in rich detail with lots of descriptive words so that someone really gets a sense of what that is. It's really simple, but it's really effective.

[00:01:58] Split screen: Shira Standfield and ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: It actually helps everyone really get a sense of what this artifact thing is.

[00:02:04] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and Shira Standfield are seated together in conversation; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: It's not just for people who can't see that well.

[00:02:05] Split screen: ASL interpreter; a series of images: a group of Parks Canada guides gather at an accessible gravel trail head, one is in a wheelchair; a Parks Canada guide takes notes from a person in a wheelchair on an accessible gravel trail; a person in a wheelchair is accompanied by friends on an accessible gravel trail through the Alberta Badlands, with big sky all around them; a person in a wheelchair puts litter in an accessible, bear-proof garbage can along a Badlands trail; a person in a wheelchair is accompanied by a friend at an historical site dug into the side of a hill.

Shira Standfield: There are many types of adaptive equipment: trail wheelchairs; beach wheelchairs; trail riders; hiking chairs, having outriggers so the kayak doesn't flip over.

[00:02:15] Split screen: Shira Standfield; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: We're just piloting some glasses for people who are colourblind so that when they put these glasses on and they go out and look at fall colors.

[00:02:22] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and Shira Standfield are seated together in conversation; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: They can really see the reds and the greens.

[00:02:26] Split screen: ASL interpreter; a series of images: Shira is seen showing another person in a wheelchair and their friend the fall colours along an accessible gravel trail; Shira smiling from a kayak at the seashore; Shira sliding down a snowy trail on her SitSki.

Shira Standfield: Getting outdoors is fundamental to mental and physical health.

[00:02:33] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and Shira Standfield are seated together in conversation; ASL interpreter.

Shira Standfield: To have that opportunity to de-stress and have an experience away from urban environments.

[00:02:36] Split screen: Shira Standfield; ASL interpreter.

[00:02:38] A series of images: a family with a child in a wheelchair head down a ramp to a boardwalk on the beach; an aerial view of an accessible trail along the water's edge; two men, one using a walker, take an evening stroll along a pier.

[00:02:42] Shira Standfield smiles proudly in front of an accessible Parks Canada cabin in the woods.

[00:02:44] Video ends with OCAO animated logo.

[00:00:00] Video opens with Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer (OCAO) animated logo. Text on screen: The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer presents: Talking Accessibility Reflections. Thoughtful music plays throughout video.

[00:00:08] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter appear. Text on screen: Stephanie Cadieux; Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer.

Stephanie Cadieux: In my role as Chief Accessibility Officer, I've had the opportunity and privilege of speaking with hundreds of people, organizations, and companies working on accessibility.

[00:00:17] Split screen: Series of images: an accessible playground; Stephanie Cadieux in conversation with Shira Standfield; Stephanie Cadieux in conversation with Jason Mitschele, a series participant; Stephanie Cadieux in conversation with Natasha Saltes, a series participant; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: This process has been fascinating, informative, and really enlightening for me, my team, and our partners in advancing accessibility.

[00:00:26] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux in conversation with Raphael Solomon, a series participant. Text on screen: What we have shared and learned?

[00:00:33] OCAO animated logo appears briefly, then split screen: A colleague walks into an accessible office space and takes a seat with Sherri van de Hoef. They work together at her desk; ASL interpreter.

Sherri van de Hoef: Accessibility to me means everybody's welcome. Whether their disability is visible or not, whether they choose to share that they have a disability or not. Everyone has the opportunity to participate and feel welcome. People will surprise you. They bring things to the table that you don't even expect.

[00:01:00] Split screen: Sherri van de Hoef; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Sherri van de Hoef, Manager - Monitoring, Reporting and Engagement, Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada.

Sherri van de Hoef: And if we exclude people simply because it's a bit more work or it's different, or we don't understand it, then we're losing out on a ton of creativity and intellect and strengths that we don't even realize we need.

[00:01:16] Split screen: Jillian Nicol enters an accessible office space. She adjusts the lighting to suit her needs; ASL interpreter.

Jillian Nicol: For me, accessibility means flexibility and a little bit of creativity as well. The more flexible and the more different options you have, the more accessible something becomes.

[00:01:36] Split screen: Jillian Nicol; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Jillian Nicol, Program Officer, Standards Development, Accessibility Standards Canada.

Jillian Nicol: Yes, I am really proud of my work, and I am extremely proud of the work that Accessibility Standards Canada does as well. It is high quality, and everybody here really, really cares about what they are doing.

[00:01:48] Split screen: Jillian Nicol finishes adjusting the workspace and starts to work at an accessible desk; ASL interpreter.

Jillian Nicol: Having my accommodation needs met has let me focus on my strengths and develop them and learn new strengths that I did not realize I had.

[00:02:01] Split screen: Natasha Saltes demonstrates an accessible Canada Post mailbox; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: I have heard about simple solutions that help to create more inclusive environments and I have heard about efforts made to combat more complex, systemic issues.

[00:02:11] Split screen: Raphael Solomon puts on his headphones, plugs in his device, and starts to work; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: I have heard about efforts that have not worked out as planned but led to learning and trying again and doing better. Sometimes, fear of not being perfect impedes progress. So, I say fail forward. Do not be afraid to try.

[00:02:25] Split screen: Kevin Shaw works at his accessible desk; ASL interpreter.

Kevin Shaw: Accessibility means freedom. It means people have the independence

[00:02:41] Split screen: Kevin Shaw; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Kevin Shaw, Policy Officer, Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada.

Kevin Shaw: to do whatever they want, when they want, and how they want, without any barriers getting in the way. Anybody can get a disability at any time, and that is what I think we do at our office. We want to remove and prevent barriers in society.

[00:03:29] Split screen: Jason Mitschele and his service dog walk along a rainy sidewalk and enter an office building; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: Accessibility is not about one size fits all solutions or ticking off check boxes - it is a mindset:  a mindset that leads to commitment and concrete actions taken to remove barriers so that everyone can contribute and live life to their fullest potential.

[00:03:49] Split screen: Jason Mitschele is seated in his office. He puts on headphones and starts working on a braille keyboard, while his service dog snoozes in her bed; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: Why does this matter so much? Because otherwise, too much innovation, expertise, and too many opportunities are missed.  The cultural and economic costs can be massive. As a society, we cannot afford that loss.

[00:04:06] Split screen: Unnati Vasavada converses with a colleague while walking through an accessible workspace. They sit together in a break room and look over a floor plan; ASL interpreter.

Unnati Vasavada: For me, accessibility means that doors are open and that I am truly welcome. This is important because where I am welcome, I am willing to contribute in return,

[00:04:23] Split screen: Unnati Vasavada; ASL interpreter. Text on screen: Unnati Vasavada, Chief of Staff, Director, Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada.

Unnati Vasavada: and fully capable of doing so, whether it is as a member of the community, a client, an employee, or a leader.

[00:04:34] Split screen: Series of images: Several colleagues are seated together in a video conference meeting; Ousmane Thiendella Fall, series participant, shakes the hand of a colleague; Jason Mitschele walks down a hallway with his service dog and his paralegal assistant; Raphael Solomon meets with a colleague; Natasha Saltes meets with an associate; Unnati Vasavada, Sherri van de Hoef, Jillian Nicol, and Kevin Shaw are all seen smiling from their respective office spaces; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: We need diverse perspectives and experiences to fully meet the challenges we face collectively and to expand our sense of possibility.

[00:04:52] Split screen: Stephanie Cadieux; ASL interpreter.

Stephanie Cadieux: The future is accessible, and it is up to all of us to keep advocating and working for a barrier-free Canada.

[00:04:55] Video closes with OCAO animated logo. Text on screen: The future is accessible.