Inclusive Design Research Centre

Accessibility and inclusion are rights to be protected. They are also catalysts for new ideas and innovation that can lead to better design and more profitable business strategies.

The IDRC is an international centre of expertise on the inclusive design of information and communication technology. Learn more about the IDRC. We recognize that governments, businesses and other organizations may require training and resources to ensure that their information and communications systems meet the AODA Integrated Accessibility Regulation. In response, the IDRC provides the following accessibility training, software and resources.

What is AODA?

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• A study titled, Releasing Constraints: Projecting the Economic Impacts of Increased Accessibility in Ontario (HTML, PDF), finds that improving inclusivity and accessibility in Ontario provides both economic opportunity and benefits.
• Research how to make businesses and communities more accessible to persons with disabilities by visiting the government of Ontario’s accessibility directorate.
• The IDRC engages in cutting edge research related to Inclusive Design. If you would like to know more, visit our Research and Development page . Jutta Treviranus offers Five Hot Tips For Start-ups

• Take IDRC's self-paced Understanding Web Accessibility course.
• IDRC's Accessibility Workshops

• AChecker Web Accessibility Checker

  AChecker can be used to test the accessibility of Web pages to ensure they conform with AODA and other international Web accessibility standard.

• Accessible Office Documents

  A set of free step-by-step guides to creating accessible office documents for the most popular office application suites, including Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, iWork, WordPerfect, Adobe Acrobat and Google Docs.

• Accessible Web Applications

  Fluid is an open-source software community that designs user interfaces, builds Web tools, teaches inclusive design and integrates interface components into open source applications.

• Accessible Learning Systems

  ATutor is an accessible online learning environment, used to develop and deliver Web-based instruction.

• Accessible Content Authoring

  AContent is an accessible learning content authoring system and content repository. It can be used to create and share accessible learning materials.

• Materials in Alternative Formats

  Many organizations provide standard information that the public relies on, from bank statements, to bus schedules to application forms. Rather than offering information in print only, providing alternative format materials allows all persons, inclusive of those with disabilities, to access the information they require, as needed. It is good business sense to offer alternative format materials, which could include audio, Braille, large print and accessible electronic texts.

  SNOW, a project of the Inclusive Design Research Centre, provides information and resources on alternative format materials including what they are, who might use them and how to produce them.