The purpose of this toolkit is to help prescribed public sector organizations in Nova Scotia meet their obligations under the province’s Accessibility Act. Developed by the Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate, the toolkit provides practical guidance for establishing Accessibility Advisory Committees, developing accessibility plans, consulting with persons with disabilities, and creating more accessible and inclusive services, workplaces, policies, and environments.
The toolkit was developed as an implementation resource for organizations required to comply with the Accessibility Act. It draws on the principles and requirements of the legislation, the provincial accessibility strategy Access by Design 2030, and examples of promising practices from public sector organizations across Nova Scotia. The resource combines legislative requirements with practical tools, templates, consultation methods, sample committee terms of reference, application forms, and planning frameworks to help organizations take action.
The primary audience includes municipalities, universities, colleges, health authorities, crown corporations, and other public sector bodies designated under the Accessibility Act. It is particularly useful for senior leaders, accessibility leads, policy-makers, human resources professionals, facilities managers, and members of Accessibility Advisory Committees who are responsible for planning and implementing accessibility initiatives.
The toolkit should be used when an organization is establishing an Accessibility Advisory Committee, preparing its first accessibility plan, reviewing existing accessibility practices, consulting with people with disabilities, or updating accessibility plans that must be reviewed every three years. It is also valuable when assessing barriers in services, employment, information and communication, transportation, education, and the built environment.
Overall, the toolkit serves as a practical roadmap for public sector organizations to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to accessibility, ensuring that people with disabilities can participate fully and equitably in society while helping organizations comply with legislative requirements and advance accessibility in a systematic, sustainable way.
