The Accessibility Resource Centre (ARC) is a digital archive of best practices in accessible design, engineering and operational excellence serving people with mobility, sensory, cognitive and mental health disabilities.
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Canada’s accessibility network
The Accessibility Resource Centre (ARC) is a digital archive of best practices in accessible design, engineering and operational excellence. Its goal is to compile and share practical, real-world examples of how legislated accessibility guidelines are being translated into barrier-free designs in both private and public spaces.
Using widely accepted accessibility criteria, ARC captures and conveys the information needed to understand, appreciate and replicate best practices that have been applied by designers, planners, architects, engineers and other experts across Canada.
It’s more than a catalogue of facts and figures. It lets contributors tell their stories and lessons learned in their own words, with supporting images, articles, press releases and other relevant documents.
Submissions are reviewed by officials of the Canadian Abilities Foundation and published in the searchable ARC database.
Once approved, the basic content may be supplemented by the contributor to include background and context about how the project was conceived and delivered and ways in which the project is noteworthy.
The resulting full profile is posted in the ARC database and is searchable by keywords. Furthermore, a link to the project will appear in STRUT, our accessible mapping tool, allowing STRUT users to offer feedback and other notes about their experiences at the location.
The Accessibility Resource Centre will serve as a digital clearinghouse for design, engineering, and operational excellence in accessible facilities and services. The goal of the Centre is to share practical knowledge and real-world experience of the ways in which legislated accessibility guidelines are being translated into barrier-free designs.
ARC will contain all the ingredients necessary to understand, appreciate and replicate best-practices that have been applied by designers, planners, architects, engineers and other knowledge-experts around the world. Using a set of published guidelines for compiling and curating submissions, the Centre will be a searchable repository of built-form and the creative ideas behind accessible designs in both private and public space.
ARC will be more than a catalogue of facts and figures. It will also provide space for those responsible for each entry to tell their stories about each project, from inception to the present day. Moreover, the repository will capture the first-person experience of users, through user-supplied comments, where offer the true measure of accessibility.
Content featured in ARC will be acquired through a process of self-reporting by owners, sponsors or creators of each accessible feature or facility. A project template will capture key elements to be vetted by officials of the Canadian Abilities Foundation before being added to ARC.
Once approved, the basic content may be supplemented by the contributor to include background and context about how the project was conceived and delivered and ways in which the project is noteworthy.
The resulting full profile will be posted in the ARC database and will be searchable by keywords. Furthermore, a link to the project will appear in STRUT, our accessible mapping tool, allowing STRUT users to offer feedback and other notes about their experiences at the location.
STRUT is a co-operative web project developed and managed by the Canadian Abilities Foundation. Its mandate is to encourage and promote inclusion, diversity and accessible customer service.
The STRUT interactive map provides valuable crowd-sourced and researched information about levels of accessibility in public and private places for a wide range of individuals. The CAF’s integrated content supports information exchange, provides inspiration and promotes opportunities for people with disabilities.
The information on the map comes from the community, its users as well as like-minded businesses and organizations from coast to coast that wish to add or update their own locations and information.
Anyone can contribute to STRUT – just click Start Mapping and complete and submit the mapping form.
Visit the STRUT website for more detailed information.
Canadian Abilities Foundation envisions an inclusive, universally accessible society, where all people belong and are valued. Our mission is to make Canada the most accessible country in the world through advocacy, awareness building and sharing of best practice solutions.
Take a look at our publications, internship programs, caregiver awards, accessibility map and more.
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