Accessibility

Section 1: Past Accessibility Initiatives and Accomplishments

This section includes a selection of the accessibility initiatives that EllisDon has implemented on or before January 1, 2025.

1. Customer Service

At EllisDon, we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive telephone system to ensure that employees, clients, and stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities, can effectively communicate and access services. We have implemented the following initiatives:

• Text Telephone (TTY) support for users with hearing impairments.
• Interactive voicemail messages and interactive voice response (IVR) menus to support speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionality.
• Clear and concise IVR menu options that are available in alternative formats.
• Adaptive telephone devices such as large-button phones, amplified sound handsets, and hands-free options.
• Headset and speakerphone solutions for employees with mobility impairments.
• Compatibility between screen readers and voice recognition software.
• Regular accessibility audits of the telephony system.
• Training to all staff to recognize their rights and responsibilities under the AODA.

2. Information & Communications

EllisDon has taken steps to enhance accessibility across our external website and digital platforms. These efforts included:

• Incorporating basic accessible design practices on EllisDon.com, such as clear page structures, logical navigation, and ensuring images included descriptive text where feasible.
• Ensuring new microsites followed baseline accessibility considerations, including clear layouts and easy-to-read content.

3. Employment

EllisDon is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Recognizing that systemic and attitudinal barriers have historically hindered underrepresented groups from accessing employment opportunities, EllisDon has undertaken several initiatives to address these challenges:

• Inclusive Recruitment Practices: EllisDon's Talent Acquisition and Inclusive Diversity teams collaborate to reassess and redesign the recruitment process. This includes revising the language used in job postings and requirements to ensure they are inclusive and free from bias.
• Accommodation: At EllisDon, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and ensure that accommodation is available upon request for candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

4. Safety

EllisDon actively strives towards a positive and inclusive safety culture. We continue to ensure our physical work environments are inspected so they are safe for all, including those with disabilities. EllisDon has limited public spaces within its control. Some of EllisDon’s most recent accessibility initiatives include:

• EllisDon’s Fit Your Frame Campaign: EllisDon partnered with Md Bespoke – a Black-owned Canadian custom clothing manufacturer – to provide construction safety vests for individuals whose frame and body type are not best served by traditional vest offerings. The fit your frame campaign is part of EllisDon’s ongoing efforts to provide more inclusive sized PPE.
• Partnership with Marks Commercial: EllisDon has partnered with Marks Commercial to provide gender-inclusive safety workwear and footwear options for our employees and subcontractors to purchase on their own at discounted rates. As part of this initiative, employees and our subcontractors can create an account on the Mark's Commercial website to view and personally purchase items such as pants, high visibility jackets and footwear at a reduced price online.
• Support for the Works for Workers Five Act: EllisDon provided significant industry support for the Works for Workers Five Act (2024, S.O. 2024) legislation which included accessibility and inclusivity initiatives.

5. ALLiED initiatives

ALLiED (ALL inclusive at EllisDon) is an employee led group at EllisDon that was formed with a commitment to unite people of all backgrounds, communities and identities to celebrate differences to raise the bar for inclusivity at EllisDon. The following are the initiatives implemented by ALLiED:

• MapMission Day: In 2024, members took part in MapMission Day, a significant national event dedicated to mapping out the accessibility and inclusiveness of our local areas. This initiative, led by AccessNow, seeks to be the premier source of information on accessibility. By using the AccessNow app, individuals can access up-to-date details about the accessibility features of different locations in their neighborhoods. This empowers people to organize their daily activities with confidence, dignity, and a smoother experience.
• StopGap Foundation: ALLiED provided financial support to StopGap to create barrier-free spaces across Canada. StopGap provides brightly coloured, portable access ramps to remove physical barriers caused by a single stepped location. Support of this initiative will help raise awareness about the importance of a society free of physical and attitudinal barriers.

6. Partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Since 2021, EllisDon’s Infrastructure Services Division, a group of teams focused on optimizing the built environment, has been an official supplier of the CPC and a proud supporter of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada:

• The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games marked EllisDon’s first interaction with the CPC and involvement with international sports events. EllisDon designed, built and operated the Athletes’ Village and managed the Ontario celebration zone.
• EllisDon officially partnered with CPC in 2021 when EllisDon’s Infrastructure Services Division supported the Canadian Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by providing concierge support, space planning and pre & post occupancy inspection services.
• Our team continued to build on our service offering at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games and Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games, as the team provided on-site operations and maintenance technical expertise, procurement, inventory management, and signage strategy and implementation.

7. Training

EllisDon is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible training process. Some of EllisDon’s most recent accessibility training initiatives include:

• Providing new employee training for all employees on their rights and responsibilities under the AODA. Module topics include: Compliance requirements, information and communication standards, employment standards, transportation standards, design of public spaces standards, customer service standards.
• The Talent Development team, responsible for the training materials at EllisDon, appointed an Accessibility Champion who attended a Digital training course dedicated to creating accessible training materials and created best practices for the Talent Development team.

Section 2: Current and Future Accessibility Initiatives and Accomplishments

1. Customer Service

The Data and Digital Engineering team has committed to the goal of improving the accessibility of telephone hardware for those with disabilities in 2025 and beyond with the following enhancements:

• Deploy AI-powered transcription services for voicemail-to-text and call recordings.
• Provide automated and human-assisted relay services for individuals who need support in making and receiving calls.
• Enable real-time text (RTT) and live captions for voice calls.
• Implement voice-controlled dialing and command features for users with limited dexterity.
• Ensure compatibility with screen readers and voice recognition software.
• Enable closed captioning and live transcription for meetings and calls.
• Offer alternative communication channels such as email, chat, and video messaging.
• Conduct accessibility training for employees on using adaptive communication tools.
• Ensure visual alerts are available for individuals with hearing impairments.
• Train staff on assisting individuals with disabilities during emergency communications.

2. Information & Communications

Since January 2024, EllisDon’s Marketing & Communications team has enhanced its focus on digital accessibility across web, microsites, and social platforms. Current initiatives include:

• Website development: As part of an ongoing website redesign initiative, EllisDon is actively working to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards by enhancing text alternatives, keyboard navigation, colour contrast, and user input processes to better support assistive technologies.
• Microsite Accessibility Audit: In 2025, EllisDon will begin a comprehensive review of existing microsites to assess their accessibility compliance. Updates will be made to bring microsites into alignment with current accessibility standards, ensuring consistency across all EllisDon digital properties.
• Accessible Social Content: Starting March 15, 2025, all new social media posts and graphics will include:
  • ALT text descriptions for images and video thumbnails.
  • All video content with voiceovers and narrations will feature captions to improve accessibility, ensuring content is clear for everyone.
  • Social graphics will prioritize high-contrast visuals, prioritizing contrasting colours in captions, titles, and copy to enhance readability for all users.

3. Employment
In October 2025, EllisDon will adopt the Workday Human Resources Information System (HRIS) system. The system will include the following accessibility features for candidates applying for jobs:

• Screen reader support for the visually impaired.
• Focus indication and keyboard support for non-mouse users.
• Appropriate use of colour and sufficient contrast for people with lower perception of colour.