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

Release date: August 18, 2021
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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

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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

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

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