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OCAD U CO
Inclusive Design

Tools, methods and recommendations for making your offering more inclusive

Our Inclusive Design program is an in-depth consultation where you will be paired with an OCAD U faculty designer to help build your knowledge and capacity in applying inclusive design practices and principles.

 

The designer will evaluate an area of your product, service or platform, assess the accessibility needs of your audience, and offer recommendations for improving the inclusivity and accessibility of your offering. There will also be live group workshop sessions to build capacity, reflect with peers and deepen learnings.

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The program is funded by NRC-IRAP and primarily offered to their portfolio companies across Canada.

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Focus Areas

  • Theory and practice of Inclusive Design and why it’s Important

  • Designing accessible websites for all users  

  • Captioning and video description

  • Inclusive product design  

  • Diversity needs of customers and end-users

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Program Structure

The program offers a combination of live

group workshops and 1:1 consultations:

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  • 2-hour virtual, synchronous participatory sessions to learn new tools and methods
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  • 1:1 weekly check-ins with the program instructor
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  • Approximately 3 hours of independent work per week including conducting interviews, analyzing responses, and developing insights
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Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be issued a Certificate of Completion.

Who should apply?

Do you want to have a better understanding of

how to meet the diverse needs of your users?

 

  • Are you looking for ways to increase your organization’s knowledge of and capacity in inclusive design practices?

  • Are you looking for an external evaluation to help make your website or product more inclusive and accessible?

INVESTMENT
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Inclusive Design program offers more than 20 hours of instructor time over the course of 9 weeks. The expectation is that companies invest 5-6 hours per week, split between ‘live’ virtual sessions and independent work.

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For IRAP clients, the cost of the program is covered by IRAP. Accepted applicants will only be required to cover a $500 admin fee.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must meet the following criteria to be considered for this service:

  • Minimum of one full-time employee receiving a T4,

  • Less than 500 employees,

  • The firm is operating in Canada and has a CRA Business Number,

  • The firm has demonstrated a desire to grow and generate profits,

  • The firm meets IRAP program eligibility criteria.

Interested?

The Inclusive Design Program has limited capacity. All interested companies must submit an application in order to be considered for participation.

Still have questions? Contact us.

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