1. Accessibility Directorate
  2. Access by Design 2030

Access by Design 2030: Achieving an Accessible Nova Scotia

Access by Design 2030 provides a framework for how the province will achieve our goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030 and identifies priorities for this work.

Read Access by Design 2030:

Watch a recording of the release of Access by Design 2030 and the Government of Nova Scotia Accessibility Plan (YouTube).

Standards Development

Standards will be developed in the following areas:

  • Built environment
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Goods and services
  • Information and communications
  • Transportation

The first standards developed will be related to the built environment and education. Work will begin in 2018. Standard development committees will be established to assist the Accessibility Advisory Board in making recommendations on the content of these standards. These committees will consist of persons with disabilities, organizations representing persons with disabilities, those affected by the proposed standards, and government entities with responsibilities related to the proposed standards. The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed standards.

Development of standards in the remaining areas will begin at a rate one per year, beginning in 2021. The Accessibility Advisory Board will recommend the order in which they are developed.

Accessibility standards will first apply to the Government of Nova Scotia, followed by public sector bodies, and then to other entities (such as the private sector).

Awareness and Capacity Building
Building capacity in accessibility and increasing awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and barriers to participation.

Collaboration and Support
Collaborating with partners to ensure accessibility and the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are central to policy development and program development and delivery.

Compliance and Enforcement
Monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Accessibility Act and standards.

Monitoring and Evaluation
Implementing processes to evaluate and improve accessibility standards and initiatives.

Government of Nova Scotia Leadership
Demonstrating leadership and becoming a model for accessibility by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in government programs, services, policies, and infrastructure.