TORONTO—Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the government of Ontario has set a goal to make the province accessible to people with disabilities by 2025 [see “Radical Clarity,” July-Aug 2008]. To support the goal, the government is partnering with 14 non-profit organizations as part of the EnAbling Change Partnership Program to develop tools that will help businesses and organizations comply with standards and increase accessibility for those with disabilities.

To help graphic designers meet these goals, the government has joined forces with RGD Ontario. “Ontario has one of the largest design industries in Canada, with a workforce of more than 40,000 designers, and there is an urgent need to ensure accessibility is part of every design project,” said RGD Ontario executive director Hilary Ashworth, in a government press release.

Through workshops and online training, graphic designers will learn how to produce accessible work online and in print. This includes using large font sizes and a contrasting background, tagging electronic images with alternative text and presenting information in a clear and understandable manner.

RGD Ontario is hosting an ACCESS-ABILITY Conference: Graphic Design for a More Accessible World this Thursday in Toronto. For more information and to register, click here. Contact: Rgdontario.com, Mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/