ACE Trainings
Our series of free ACE (Accessibility Confident Employers) training targets a range of sectors in Nova Scotia including businesses, public service organizations, and the impact (non-profit) sector.
Scroll down or click the options below to learn about our free offerings.
Self-Paced Online Cohorts
These 4-week blended trainings include live Zoom sessions at the beginning and end and four self-paced modules online.
Welcoming All: Accessible Customer Service
Date: May 1st – 22nd, 2025 | Time: Anytime | Location: Online
- Identify how to communicate with customers who have various disabilities
- Explore how to interact with customers who:
- Use service animals, support persons, assistive devices
- Are neurodivergent
- Identify how to use any devices or equipment the provider may have to help customers access goods or services
- Practice how to assist a customer having difficulty accessing goods or services
Skill Builders
These two-hour, highly interactive online skill builders provide ready-to-use frameworks, relevant examples, and scenarios to build skills, knowledge, and confidence.
Access Achieved: Learning from Our Plans and Practices
Date: April 23rd, 2025 | Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Location: Online
During this skill builder we will:
- Explore key insights from our collective efforts to develop and refine accessibility plans, highlighting lessons learned and best practices.
- Discuss how to weave accessibility into the fabric of organizational culture effectively.
- Exchange practical tools and insights that aid in keeping accessibility plans fresh and impactful.
- Engage in dynamic peer-to-peer exchanges to spark innovative solutions to shared challenges.
- Develop a proactive approach to continually refresh and improve your accessibility strategies.
Neuro-inclusive Workplaces
Date: May 29th, 2025 | Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Location: Online
During this skill builder we will:
- Define neurodivergence and explain the importance of accessibility and inclusion for neurodivergent employees in the workplace.
- Examine common workplace barriers faced by neurodivergent Canadians and assess how these barriers impact inclusion and performance.
- Explore practical strategies and practices that promote workplace inclusion and a sense of belonging for neurodivergent employees.
- Develop actionable approaches to building a more inclusive and supportive workplace for neurodivergent employees.
Accessibility in Action: Adapting for Summer and Seasonal Staff
Date: June 12th, 2025 | Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Location: Online
During this skill builder we will:
- Examine unique accessibility requirements for seasonal and summer employment.
- Identify best practices for accessible training and onboarding of temporary staff.
- Develop strategies for implementing effective, short-term accessibility measures in diverse work environments.
- Facilitate an understanding of legal and ethical accessibility considerations for seasonal workers.
- Create actionable plans for integrating accessibility into summer employment programs quickly and effectively.
On-Demand
On demand training allows you to learn in a way that’s optimized for you– in your own time, pace and place.
3-hour: These 3-hour on-demand, self-paced trainings provide foundational definitions, concepts, and approaches to accessibility and equity work.
Accessibility Foundations
- Define types of disabilities, accessibility, and the prevalence of disability in Nova Scotia
- Explain the importance of the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act
- Explore the impact of the Accessibility Act on employers
- Provide examples of barriers and ableism and their impacts on persons with disabilities
- Outline practices to address accessibility barriers
Allyship Foundations
- Define allyship and how it can be a powerful force toward inclusion and belonging
- Unpack your privilege and your power
- Identify historic and current day realities and inequities for equity seeking groups
- Feel more confident to interrupt bias and respond to microaggressions
- Use an active allyship framework to identify inequities and potential allyship actions
Breaking Barriers: The Art of Inclusive Hiring
- Evaluate current organizational culture and systems
- Establish impactful partnerships
- Optimize job postings and processes incorporating accommodations
- Practice inclusive and bias-free interviewing techniques
- Embrace skills-based hiring
90-minute: These 90-minute, on-demand, self-paced trainings introduce the topic, why it’s important, and step-by-step approaches to implement the skills within the workplace.
Introduction to Accessible Communications
- Define accessible communications and its importance
- Explore digital accessibility, alternative formats, and plain language
- Discover the accessibility +1 practice to get started
Core Skills of Plain Language
- Define clear and accessible language and why it’s important
- Describe who benefits from plain language and why
- Apply key principles of plain language to review a document
- Start using plain language in your communication
Core Skills of Digital Accessibility
Practice 7 core skills of digital accessibility including: headings and document structure, font style, lists and tables, links, alternative text, colour contrast, and video and audio.
In-Person
These are hybrid events, so we can accommodate you in person and online!
Accessibility Leadership Lab
Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville
June 4th, 2025 | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
An interactive hybrid gathering for leaders and teams across private, public, and social impact sectors. Explore the ACE Accessibility Leadership Model, gain insights from cross-sector leaders, develop skills for safer disability disclosure, and identify actions to drive meaningful accessibility change.
- Understand and apply the ACE Accessibility Leadership Model to advance accessibility in organizations.
- Gain insights from cross-sector leaders on the challenges and successes of implementing accessibility plans and policies.
- Develop skills to foster safer spaces for disability disclosure in workplace and community settings.
- Identify and implement accessibility leadership actions at the personal, interpersonal, and structural levels to drive meaningful change.