Regulating the Digital Domain

Project Coordinator: David Pereyra

Digital tools are now part of work, learning, banking and public services, yet people with disabilities still meet barriers at almost every step. Regulating the Digital Domain asked why those barriers persist and what kind of regulation could remove them. Its goal was to significantly improve digital inclusion and the accessibility of information and communication technologies for the full range of people with disabilities, by finding the root causes of exclusion and designing a regulatory approach suited to digital technology.

The project was led by the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) at OCAD University, with Jutta Treviranus as principal investigator. I coordinated the project and worked in the research team with Vera Roberts and Caren Watkins. Together we brought experts with lived experience of disability into three co-design sessions with an advisory group of leaders from disability and community organizations. The project was funded by Accessibility Standards Canada.

What we found

The co-design sessions produced eleven possible regulatory approaches, including process-based regulation, inclusive learning and accessibility testing sandboxes. They shaped three models. Each moves beyond a one-time compliance check towards systems that keep learning and improving.

Model 1: Inclusion Process Pathway

Helps organizations strengthen their accessibility practices. The evidence it generates can show regulators meaningful progress.

Model 2: Inclusive Learning Framework

A flexible, practical guide for building accessibility into lesson plans and teaching in any subject.

Model 3: Digital Inclusion Framework for Developers

A process-based framework that builds accessibility into every stage of the development lifecycle.

Reports

The findings informed Accessibility Standards Canada on how to make digital tools, content and transactions more accessible. Full details are on the project website.