Accessibility

Since 1988, the Canadian Transportation Agency has had a mandate to protect the human right of persons with disabilities to an accessible transportation network.

We can resolve individual complaints about accessibility through facilitation, mediation or adjudication.

We create regulations, codes of practice and guidelines for accessibility – and we promote them through proactive communications and outreach.

We also regularly visit transportation service providers, airports, and federal rail and marine terminals to verify that equipment and facilities are accessible and employees have the training they need to serve persons with disabilities.

For advice on accessibility issues, we consult an Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Some of our accessibility decisions include:

• Highlights of one-person-one-fare policy decision
• Allergy cases

• Take Charge of Your Travel: Guide for persons with disabilities
• Travelling with a mobility aid
• Travelling with an attendant
• Travelling with a service animal
• Allergies and travel
• Requests for additional seats

The Agency sets out expectations for the accessibility of federal transportation.

Our Codes of Practice set out standards for a minimum level of accessibility for persons with disabilities. They're developed in consultation with transportation service providers and the community of persons with disabilities (including our Accessibility Advisory Committee).

We monitor compliance to ensure codes are effective in removing undue obstacles.

Accessibility Standards

Standards that apply to all transportation providers

• Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations 
• Removing Communication Barriers for Travellers with Disabilities (Communication Code)
• Personnel Training for the Assistance of Persons with Disabilities Regulations
• Accessible design for self-service interactive devices (CAN/CSA-B651.2-07) [PDF]

Accessibility standards for air carriers

• Aircraft Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities: Code of Practice for Fixed-Wing Aircraft with 30 or More Passenger Seats (Air Code)
• Accessibility Guidelines for Small Aircraft - Services for persons with disabilities on aircraft with 29 and fewer passenger seats (Small Aircraft Guidelines)
• Air Transportation Regulations, Part VII

Accessibility standards for trains

• Passenger Rail Car Accessibility and Terms and Conditions of Carriage by Rail of Persons with Disabilities (Rail Code)

Accessibility standards for ferries

• Ferry Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (Ferry Code)

Accessibility standards for passenger terminals

• Passenger Terminal Accessibility (Terminal Code)
• Accessibility of Non-National Airports System Air Terminals (Non-NAS Code)

• Accessible design for the built environment (B651-18) [PDF]

• Appendix E of ASME A17.1-2016/CSA B44-16 Elevator requirements [PDF]

Implementation Guides

• Best practices for providing assistance to customers with disabilities: A resource tool
• Training videos on how to assist persons with disabilities
• Web accessibility - A resource tool for transportation-related websites
• Implementation guide regarding automated self-service kiosks
• Travelling with an attendant: A resource tool for persons with disabilities and carriers
• Carriage of mobility aids on board planes, trains and ferries
• Implementation guide regarding space for service dogs onboard large aircraft
• Implementation guide regarding tactile row markers onboard large aircraft
• Contracts for accessible ground transportation
• Principles of Universal Design
• Summary of regulations covering the accessibility of air travel

Additional Resources

• Accessibility: Glossary
• Accessibility: Reference Information
• Accessibility of communications (Additional references)
• Accessibility of washrooms (Additional references)
• Assistive devices and technical aids (Additional references)
• Disability-related organizations (Additional references)
• Standards and guidelines for accessibility (Additional references)

• CSA Group - Accessibility Standards for CTA