As CEO of Accessibility Standards Canada, Dino Zuppa is helping shape a more accessible future through national standards that remove barriers and create greater opportunities for everyone.
1. Accessibility has shifted from a compliance discussion to a broader conversation about inclusion and innovation. How do you see the role of accessibility evolving in Canada over the next decade?
Accessibility is increasingly being recognized as more than a legal obligation. It’s becoming a driver of systemic change, innovation, economic participation, and social inclusion.
As Canada’s population ages and disability affects a growing number of Canadians, accessibility will become a core consideration in how we design products, services, workplaces, public spaces, and technologies. Organizations are also discovering that designing for accessibility often leads to better products and experiences for everyone.
The future of accessibility is about building it in from the beginning, not adding it after the fact.
2. What progress has Canada made in accessibility over the last five years, and where do you believe the biggest gaps still exist?
Canada has made significant progress in accessibility over the last five years. Through the Accessible Canada Act, Canada has emerged as a world leader by taking a proactive and systemic approach to identifying, removing, and preventing barriers.
Important progress has included accessibility regulations, stronger planning and reporting requirements, and the development of accessibility standards in areas such as employment, digital accessibility, plain language, housing, service delivery, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. We’re also seeing growing recognition of the principle of “Nothing Without Us,” where people with disabilities are in leadership positions and are involved throughout the design and development process.
The biggest opportunity now is to build on this strong foundation and ensure accessibility becomes embedded in everyday practice. The next stage is not only about having legislation and standards, but about making sure they translate into accessible experiences in workplaces, public spaces, transportation, communications, and digital services.
Continued collaboration among people with disabilities, governments, industry, and communities will be essential to achieving a barrier-free Canada by 2040.
3. Accessibility is often discussed in relation to disability, but many accessible features end up benefiting everyone. Why is universal design such an important concept?
Universal design shifts the conversation from “How do we accommodate one person?” to “How do we design something that works for everyone?” It recognizes that people experience the world in different ways and that good design should be flexible, usable, and inclusive from the start.
It also ensures co-design by involving people with different lived experiences early in the process so their perspectives, needs, and barriers are understood before decisions are made. When accessibility is built in from the beginning, the result is a better experience for everyone.
Many features that begin as accessibility solutions end up becoming everyday conveniences. Captions, texting, voice recognition, automatic doors, and curb cuts are all examples of innovations that help remove barriers while making life easier for a much broader population.
That is the power of universal design: when we design for inclusion, everyone benefits.
4. What benefits have you seen when accessibility is embedded into an organization’s culture, products, and services from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought?
Preventing barriers is almost always more effective than trying to fix them later. When accessibility is considered early, organizations reduce costs, avoid redesign, improve usability, reach more people, and build trust. Just as importantly, it changes culture. Accessibility stops being viewed as a checklist or the responsibility of a single team and becomes part of how decisions are made across the organization.
Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. When that mindset takes hold, organizations are better positioned to identify barriers early, foster innovation, and create more inclusive experiences for everyone, from employees to customers and communities.
5. Looking ahead, what areas of accessibility do you believe will have the greatest impact on improving quality of life for Canadians?
Accessible digital services, employment, housing, and the built environment will have a profound impact on quality of life in the years ahead.
As more services move online, digital accessibility becomes essential to participating in everyday life. Accessible employment practices help unlock talent and create opportunities for people to contribute their skills and experience.
Accessible-ready housing and community design will also become increasingly important as Canada’s population ages. Creating homes and public spaces that are accessible-ready is more cost-effective to adapt over time, supports independence, inclusion, and aging in place.
6. What are some common misconceptions organizations have about accessibility that may be holding back progress?
One common misconception is that accessibility only benefits a small group of people. In reality, accessibility affects all of us at different stages of life, whether through aging, temporary injuries, changing circumstances, or supporting family members and friends.
Another misconception is that organizations need to solve everything at once. That belief can make accessibility seem too complex, costly, or overwhelming to begin. In practice, accessibility is most effective when it becomes part of everyday decision-making. Meaningful progress often comes from small, practical improvements that build over time and help prevent barriers before they arise.
The key is to start. Organizations don’t have to wait for a perfect plan to begin making a difference. Progress starts with commitment, willingness to learn, action and continuous improvements. Small, practical steps taken consistently can lead to real systemic change.
7. Emerging technologies such as AI are rapidly changing how people interact with the world. What opportunities and challenges do you see for accessibility?
AI presents a tremendous opportunity to remove barriers and improve accessibility. Used well, it can help people access information, communicate, work, learn, and participate more independently.
At the same time, AI also presents real challenges. Many AI systems are designed around averages, but people don’t always fit average patterns. If accessibility isn’t considered from the beginning, AI systems may overlook the diversity of human experiences and reinforce existing barriers.
That is why accessibility, transparency, human oversight, and the meaningful involvement of people with disabilities throughout the AI lifecycle are essential. Accessibility Standards Canada’s Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence Systems standard provides practical guidance to help organizations design AI that is accessible, inclusive, and fair from the start.
The true measure of AI’s success won’t be how efficient it becomes, but how effectively it helps remove barriers and enables more people to participate fully in society.