Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are marketed as universal tools — but for many Canadians, they’re anything but. People with vision impairments, hearing loss, limited mobility, or cognitive differences often find themselves fighting the very devices meant to connect them.
Where the Struggles Show Up
Tiny text & poor contrast: Not all apps respect system-wide accessibility settings.
Voice assistants: Helpful for some, but frustratingly inaccurate or unavailable offline.
Physical design: Slim phones with glass surfaces aren’t built for shaky hands or adaptive grips.
Audio/video content: Captions are inconsistent, and audio descriptions are still rare.
Navigation overload: Complex menus and gestures can overwhelm or exclude new users.
Canadian Context
CRTC & accessibility rules: Telecom providers must meet certain accessibility standards, but enforcement is uneven.
Device subsidies: Programs exist for low-income and disabled Canadians, but they’re limited and inconsistent across provinces.
App design: Many Canadian government and banking apps are not fully compliant with accessibility guidelines.
Indigenous and rural communities: Accessibility challenges stack with connectivity gaps, creating double barriers.
The Challenges
Market priorities: Devices are designed for mass appeal, not diverse needs.
Inconsistent standards: WCAG exists, but app and device compliance varies.
Affordability: Accessible devices (like specialized keyboards or screen readers) are often expensive add-ons.
Digital literacy gap: Even when features exist, users may not know how to activate or use them.
The Opportunities
Inclusive design from the start: Build accessibility into mainstream devices, not as an afterthought.
Universal standards: Enforce accessibility compliance across all major apps and devices.
Community feedback loops: Involve disabled users in testing before rollout.
Public education: Train people (including service providers) to better support accessible tech use.
Policy leadership: Canada could push for procurement rules that only allow accessible devices in public contracts.
The Bigger Picture
Accessibility is about more than disability — it’s about ensuring that everyone can participate in digital life. A device that doesn’t work for a segment of the population is a device that reinforces inequality.
The Question
Should Canada adopt a “digital accessibility by default” rule — requiring that all devices and apps sold in the country meet accessibility standards before hitting the market?
Accessibility Challenges with Common Devices
The Everyday Barriers We Don’t Always See
Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are marketed as universal tools — but for many Canadians, they’re anything but. People with vision impairments, hearing loss, limited mobility, or cognitive differences often find themselves fighting the very devices meant to connect them.
Where the Struggles Show Up
Canadian Context
The Challenges
The Opportunities
The Bigger Picture
Accessibility is about more than disability — it’s about ensuring that everyone can participate in digital life. A device that doesn’t work for a segment of the population is a device that reinforces inequality.
The Question
Should Canada adopt a “digital accessibility by default” rule — requiring that all devices and apps sold in the country meet accessibility standards before hitting the market?