Colour Blind Awareness Day: Understanding a Different World in the Workplace

Event – September 4, 2024: Creating an Accessible Environment for Colour Blind Individuals

September 6, 2024, is Colour Blind Awareness Day, which serves as crucial reminder to acknowledge and understand the challenges faced by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) employees with colour vision deficiencies. It is also an opportunity for us to raise accessibility awareness on behalf of those experiencing a world through a different lens, right here in our workplace.

Why Colour Blindness Accessibility Matters in the Workplace

As an ESDC employee, it is your responsibility to make sure your products (e.g. documents, presentations, and websites) are accessible to colour blind users.

Adhering to colour blindness accessibility guidelines is not just a best practice; it is also a legal and ethical obligation. Doing so shows that we care about creating an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

How You Can Adopt User-Friendly Practices for Colour Blind Individuals in Your Daily Work

1. Inclusive Practices

• Take a moment to assess your colour vision with the Colour Test Plates.
• Familiarize yourself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Contrast and Colour Accessibility Requirements.
• Adopt best practices when creating documents, presentations, or using software.
  • Are you familiar with these best practices? If not, please join us on September 4, 2024.
• Use self-serve online tools like the Contrast Checker, the WebAIM Contrast Checker, or the Link Contrast Checker to ensure that your content is accessible to colour blind users.

2. Communications

Offer alternative ways to convey information:

• Describe any important information that involves colour (e.g. “The blue line represents…”).
• Use colour contrast checker tools to ensure that there is sufficient contrast between text and background colours in order to improve readability for everyone. For example:
  • Using a light grey text for a document’s page numbers hinders the effective navigation of said document.
  • A report or financial data using red and green colours can be problematic. Individuals with red-green colour deficiency may see both as shades of brown and grey, making it difficult to understand the data.
• Do not just rely on colour to indicate important information. Use text labels, accessible symbols, and icons with clear textual descriptions.

3. Support

• Request the installation of the Colour Contrast Analyzer tool through the National Service Desk.
• Are you still struggling to adhere to the colour blindness accessibility guidelines? Submit a request through the Request Management Tool, and the IT Accessibility Office (ITAO) will be happy to provide guidance.

4. Participate in Training and Events

Join us on September 4, 2024, at the Creating an Accessible Environment for Colour Blind Individuals Workshop. We will be demonstrating practical techniques and resources to create an accessible environment for colour blind individuals.

French Session: September 4, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (EDT)
English Session: September 4, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT)

ITAO’s Accessibility Centre of Excellence (ACE) and the Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Audit (ICTAA) team will collaborate to share best practices and techniques that will aid you in creating a digitally accessible environment for colour blind individuals.

Do not miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge, skills, and tools; all of which can have a meaningful impact on employees at ESDC.

Register for Creating an Accessible Environment for Colour Blind Individuals via Saba.

Why Attend This Event?

• We will share tips and tricks that will help you create inclusive presentations, reports, and other visual materials.
• Boost your knowledge on colour design choices to ensure that digital content is accessible to all.
• Learn about new tools and resources that will help you meet accessibility standards, such as the WCAG and more.
• Familiarize yourself with adaptive technology resources, tools, and expertise available here at ESDC to support employees with colour vision deficiencies.
• Whether you are an employer, manager, or team member, learning more about colour blindness can lead to improvements in inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that everyone can perform their tasks effectively and collaboratively.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the IT Accessibility Communications, Outreach and Support Team at EDSC.TI.SENSIBILISATION-AWARENESS.IT.ESDC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.