Montreal is the first city to adapt its communications tools
to the needs of the mentally disabled

Montreal, April 5, 2005—The City of Montreal strengthens its efforts in applying the principles of equality and universal accessibility. Montreal is not only the first city, but the first government authority to design and develop a Web site that meets the specific communication needs of people who have difficulties with reading, language, and speech, as well as those who are intellectually challenged. Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay, together with the coordinator of the Comité régional des associations pour la déficience intellectuelle (CRADI), Thérèse Colin, and research scientist from the Université de Montréal’s Groupe Défi-Apprentissage Sylvie Rocque, launched the Web site Accès Simple, which will enable all citizens to actively participate in the social and democratic life of the City.

“We are very proud to present today a world first in this exceptional and innovative concept. A major consensus uncovered during the 2002 Montreal Summit was to make Montreal a unified and inclusive metropolis. As Montreal is a city open to differences, we are doing everything we can so that all of its citizens can actively participate in the social life of the city. Everybody has the same rights and is treated with equality and respect. It is a simple question of democracy,” stated the Mayor.

Access to information for everyone

A significant portion of Montrealers is, to various degrees, functionally illiterate or has learning difficulties due to speech or language impediments, or because they are intellectually challenged. These problems can lead to social isolation and exclusion. The City recognized that the participation of citizens in taking charge of their community is essential to the democratic life of Montreal. Everybody’s right to access to information is closely tied to the ability to be self-sufficient and to participate in community life. This is how the Accès simple Web site meets the specific communication needs of these people.

The Mayor continued by saying, “Universal accessibility is not just for those who have limited mobility, vision or hearing. It must also take into consideration those who are illiterate, have learning difficulties or are intellectually disabled: people we so often overlook. They are first-class citizens who want to know more and better understand how the City functions and the services to which they have access. Montreal is their city as it is the city of all Montrealers.”

Participation of several partners

Conscious of promoting the social integration of those who are physically or mentally challenged, the City is following up on its commitments made during the Summit by introducing a sub-committee comprising representatives from disability communities, research scientists and parents. The group was responsible for carrying out a feasibility study on the communication needs of these target groups. The objectives of the sub-committee were to come up with solutions to facilitate access to information and to develop methods and tools for adapted communication. The suggestions from these meetings that became the pilot project included the idea to adapt certain sections of the City’s Web site intended for people with language or speech impediments, or for those who are intellectually challenged.

“This project came to be through the research of the Université de Montréal’s Groupe DÉFI-Apprentissage and the commitment of disability communities. The close collaboration with this disability community and the partnership established with several disability groups, especially CRADI, enabled the City to improve its actions in access to information. And this is just the beginning. Over the coming months and years, we will develop other adapted communication tools,” the Mayor concluded.

You are invited to browse the Web site at the following address: www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/accessimple.