Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Accessibility Plan 2025-2028

INTRODUCTION

Remarks by the Chief Commissioner

As Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, I am pleased to present our accessibility plan developed under the Accessible Saskatchewan Act. This plan represents our commitment to creating a more inclusive Saskatchewan where all individuals, regardless of ability, can fully participate in our society. 

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has long championed the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities through our work under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. The Accessible Saskatchewan Act provides us with an enhanced framework to systematically identify, remove, and prevent barriers that hinder full participation in communities across Saskatchewan. 

Accessibility is not just about compliance; it is about creating meaningful change that reflects our core values of dignity and equality. As we work to promote and protect the rights of all Saskatchewan residents, we must ensure that our own organization exemplifies these principles in everything we do. 

Our first accessibility plan outlines our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to building an organization that is truly accessible to all persons. 

The actions outlined in this plan will be implemented with dedicated leadership oversight and regular progress reporting to ensure accountability and a meaningful progress toward our accessibility goals. 

Sincerely,

Treena L. Sikora, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.
Chief Commisssioner

The Accessible Saskatchewan Act and Guiding Principles

The Accessible Saskatchewan Act came into force on December 3, 2023, committing Saskatchewan to building inclusive communities by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers that limit full participation in work, play, and daily activities.

The Six Guiding Principles This accessibility plan is guided by the Act‘s six core principles:

• Inclusion: Ensuring all persons with disabilities can participate fully in accessing our services and working in our organization.
• Adaptability: Recognizing that accessibility needs are diverse and evolving, requiring flexible and responsive approaches.
• Diversity: Valuing the varied experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities.
• Collaboration: Working in partnership with persons with disabilities and disability organizations.
• Self-determination: Respecting the autonomy and decision-making capacity of persons with disabilities.
• Universal Design: Creating environments, services, and communications accessible to all people from the outset.

 In addition to these guiding principles, our commitment to accessibility is shaped by our own vision, mission and core values:

Our Vision: Saskatchewan is a national leader in advancing and protecting human rights and the dignity of all people.

Our Mission: We are a truth-seeking organization dedicated to promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion by protecting and educating all people in Saskatchewan about their duty to uphold human rights, ensuring a safe and just society for all.

Our Commitment to Core Values: We are guided by a steadfast commitment to Accountability, Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Trust, and Transparency. These values are reflected in our actions, decisions, and service to the people of Saskatchewan.

Internal Review

During our internal review, it was clear that Commission staff were providing accommodations to the public on a regular basis. It will be appropriate adopt formal processes to ensure that Commission staff have sufficient guidance to confidently provide accommodations. Some Commission staff members indicated that they would like more training in the area of accessibility.

Engagement and Consultation Summary

The Commission conducted public engagement to ensure persons with disabilities were central to developing this accessibility plan, and remains guided by the maxim: “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”

The feedback we received was helpful in developing this accessibility plan. In particular, it was clear that aspects of our complaint-resolution process may need to be adjusted to ensure that all participants can engage freely. Improving the quality of our service delivery is one goal of this accessibility plan.

Accessibility Achievements to Date

The Commission has established a foundation for enhanced accessibility through existing initiatives:

• Installation of powered doors at our office location;
• New internal guidelines for plain language writing;
• Website updates to include accessible options for font size adjustment, translation into more than 100 languages, keyboard navigation, and focus management.

BARRIERS TO ACCESSIBILITY

​Through our review process, we identified three primary barrier categories relevant to our operations:

Information and Communications Barriers

Barriers preventing effective information access, including non-accessible websites, the use of complex language, limited alternative formats, and a lack of clear communication options for different disability types.

Attitudinal Barriers

Barriers stemming from assumptions and misconceptions including staff knowledge gaps, inflexible policies, and organizational practices that inadvertently exclude persons with disabilities. These barriers often intersect, requiring comprehensive solutions addressing policy changes, physical modifications, staff training, and organizational culture development.

Physical Barriers

In the Commission’s current location, there is no ordinary public access. This may create barriers for people who have difficulty interacting with us via telephone or internet. In cases when the public may be granted access to our location, we are located in downtown Saskatoon on an upper floor of an office building. The building does have a number of accessibility features, including disability parking locations and a paid covered parking lot.  

GOALS AND ACTIONS FOR 2025-2028

Goal 1: Organizational Culture and Leadership

The Commission will be a leader in public accessibility, enforcing The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018 prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of disability and the duty to accommodate. This will be reflected in our internal operations and our public, external actions and activities.

Actions:

1.1 Our Commitment to Accessible Service

• The Chief Commissioner will issue a statement of the Commission’s commitment to providing accessible services to the public.
• Timeline: February 2026

1.2 Leadership and Public Education

• Chief Commissioner participation in public events relating to accessibility.
• Develop accessibility-focused public education content, aligned with the Code.
• Include accessibility in human rights education programming.
• Timeline: Ongoing, content development begins December 2025

Goal 2: Built Environment

The Commission will ensure its physical spaces are accessible to both employees and the public we serve.

Actions:

2.1 Building Accessibility Assessment and Improvements

• Conduct an audit of our office premises to ensure accessibility for all staff.
• Coordinate with Government of Saskatchewan Central Services to ensure appropriate public access and accessibility to the Commission’s offices.
• Timeline: Audit completed 2028

Goal 3: Information and Coummunications

The Commission will enhance the accessibility of our digital communications by auditing and improving our website. It will also ensure all public materials are accessible, and information is provided to the public in an understandable manner.

Actions:

3.1 Website and Digital Accessibility

• Website audit for WCAG 2.2 compliance at conformance level AA.
• Implement necessary website improvements.
• Establish ongoing accessibility monitoring .
• Timeline: Audit completed July 2025, improvements December 2025

3.2 Plain Language and Alternative Formats

• Review all materials for plain language compliance (building on completed style guide).
• Establish alternative format availability processes.
• Create a plain-language guide for all sections of the Code.
• Timeline: Reviews begin April 2027, processes established October 2027, plain-language guide complete: October 2027

Goal 4: Service Delivery and Client Accommodation

The Commission will strengthen our service delivery by making accommodation a core part of intake and complaint-resolution processes, ensuring staff are equipped to respond with care and consistency.

Actions:

4.1 Enhanced Intake and Accommodation Processes

• Redevelop intake questionnaire form to including accommodation questions.
• Train staff on discussing and meeting accommodation needs.
• Adopt new protocols for handling complaints when parties require accommodation.
• Create accommodation tracking and follow-up systems .
• Timeline: Development June 2026, training completed August 2026

4.2 Flexible Processes and Administrative Support

• Develop a procedural framework for authorization of process modifications.
• Establish specific procedures for authorization of accommodation-related expenditures.
• Create standing budget allocations for common needs (ASL interpretation, accessible meetings, etc.).

• Timeline: Framework completed August 2026, procedures November 2026, budget allocations April 2027

Goal 5: Employment Accessibility

The Commission will strengthen our internal culture of inclusion by reviewing hiring practices and improving how employee accommodations are handled. With updated policies and procedures, the goal is to ensure that accessibility is embedded in every stage of employment, from recruitment to retirement.

Actions:

5.1 Inclusive Employment Practices

• Review recruitment materials and processes for accessibility barriers.
• Enhance employee accommodation procedures, with new policy.
• Partner with employee union, where appropriate, on improving workplace accessibility.
• Timeline: completed March 2027

 Goal 6: Staff Training and Development

The Commission will build staff capacity by embedding accessibility into professional development, ensuring employees are equipped with the knowledge and tools to serve all clients effectively.

Actions:

6.1 Accessibility Training

• Conduct training-needs assessment with all staff.
• Implement specialized training programs, as required, such as:
  • Rick Hansen Foundation Inclusion and Accessibility training;
  • Trauma-informed approach training; and,
  • De-escalation techniques.
• Timeline: Needs Assessment: May 2026, training programs begin September 2026

Goal 7: Feeback and Continuous Improvement

The Commission will create meaningful ways for the public to share feedback, helping shape more accessible and responsive services.

Actions:

7.1 Feedback Systems

• Create accessibility feedback portal on website with multiple contact methods.
• Develop complaint process feedback survey system for participants.
• Establish response protocols and improvement tracking.
• Timeline: General feedback system December 2025, survey system May 2026

IMPLEMENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Executive Oversight: Chief Commissioner provides leadership for all implementation activities.

Board Oversight: The SHRC Board of Governors shall maintain strategic oversight and accountability.

Implementation Team: Progress towards the achievement of action items shall be managed and monitored by the Director of Operations & Human Resources.

Specific responsibilities for each action item are listed below:

Progress Monitoring and Reporting The Commission commits to:

• Regular progress reviews with senior leadership
• Annual reports to the Board
• Annual public progress reports, posted online
• Comprehensive review by December 2028
• Subsequent SHRC Accessibility Plan for 2028-2031

FEEDBACK PROCESS

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission welcomes feedback about this accessibility plan:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 306-933-5257

Mail: Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, Accessibility Plan Feedback, P.O. Box 6011, Saskatoon SK  S7K 4E4

We commit to acknowledging all feedback within 5 business days, and providing a detailed response within 14 business days.

Alternative Formats This accessibility plan is available in alternative formats, including large print and audio format, upon request at no cost. Contact us using the information above to request alternative formats.

This plan will be reviewed and updated every three years as required by The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.  Next review: December 2028.