The AODA has requirements for web accessibility, as well as requirements for the procurement of self-service kiosks. However, the third review of the AODA recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country.
For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) has adopted European standards for accessibility in information and communication technology (ICT). Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make ICT products and services more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal standards for accessible relay services and emergency services.
Accessible Relay Services and Emergency Services
Relay services support two-way communication through ICT between people using different modes of communication, including:
- Text
- Sign language
- Speech
An operator converts modes of communication, so that two (2) people using different modes can understand each other. For example, people use video relay service (VRS) to communicate in Sign language with non-signers. An operator converts one person’s Sign language to speech, and the other person’s speech to Sign language. Similarly, someone can use speechreading or text to communicate with someone using voice when a relay operator converts each mode of communication.
Likewise, operators can support two (2) people using speech to understand each other, through captions or speech-to-speech relay services. For example, someone who is deaf may communicate through speech and understand the other side of a conversation through captions. Alternatively, an operator can relay one person’s speech if the other person finds it difficult to understand.
Any ICT product that offers two-way communication with relay services should support these services for both incoming and outgoing calls that use:
- Voice
- Video
- Real-time text (RTT)
Similarly, any ICT product that offers two-way communication for emergency services should also support relay services for incoming and outgoing calls. People using text, video, and voice must be able to communicate with each other in emergency situations.