Site MenuDescriptive text of "Accessibility – Your Responsibility" video
The animation begins:
The figure of 14% appears and then is underlaid by a map of Canada. The graphics move to the top of the screen then the word ‘disability' and the year ‘2012' appear. All graphics fade out and are replaced by almost 100 different figures.
"About 14% of Canadians reported having a disability in 2012. That means a lot of electors with a disability!"
The title ‘Access to a polling place' appears and transitions to an exterior scene of the polling place. An elephant is blocking access to the entrance. An election officer, named Frank, arrives and seems distressed. He leaves the scene and returns with a box of mice which he shows to the elephant to scare it off. The elephant runs away leaving a puff of smoke behind.
"If something is preventing electors from accessing or making it difficult for them to access the polling stations, do your best to clear the area of obstruction."
The title ‘Reduced mobility access' appears and transitions to an exterior scene of the polling place. An older elector with a cane is walking up the ramp towards the door where the information officer is standing. He opens the door for the elector.
"If there is no automatic door opener at your polling place, or if it does not work, an information officer will be assigned the task of opening the door for electors who may have difficulty getting in."
A blue and yellow sunburst turn counter clockwise around Frank's head as he raises his eyebrows. A magnifying glass appears on his right eye. A thought bubble containing a question mark appears to the right of his head.
"Some obstacles may not be as obvious. Some electors could find it difficult or be unable to read or understand instructions."
The scene shows the registration desk inside of the polling place. The older elector with a cane is reading a registration certificate to the registration officer. The elector is squinting. Frank enters from the left of the screen and offers him a magnifying glass.
"If you see someone who might not understand what is written or what to do, be patient and do your best to help."
The scene opens with a close-up of the poll clerk tapping his foot. The deputy returning officer is sitting beside him at their table. The first elector waiting in line expresses her discontent with the poll clerk who seems impatient. The deputy returning officer gets up and signals to the central poll supervisor to report the issue. The central poll supervisor enters from the right of the screen and gestures to the poll clerk.
"Some obstacles depend on you. Electors may not feel comfortable enough to vote if you seem impatient or impolite. Remember to always be patient and polite with electors. If you see another worker being impatient or impolite, tell your central poll supervisor right away."
The letters ‘A-L-D' appear briefly, followed by two previous scenes: one showing Frank, the information officer, opening the door for the older elector; the other one showing Frank offering him a magnifying glass. This is followed by Frank in the sunburst with a magnifying glass to his right eye as he raises his shoulders and hands. As the scene blurs, the letters A, L and D appear.
"You are legally required to accommodate electors with disabilities and to serve them in a way that most respects their dignity… but how? If you see an elector who might need help, remember A-L-D."
The following text appears, one line at a time:
"ASK politely if there is anything you can do to help.
LISTEN carefully to what the elector says and be patient.
DO whatever the elector asks you to do to help them."
The next scene takes place inside the polling place and each of the following election officers are glowing in different colours, one at a time: the poll clerk, the central poll supervisor, the deputy returning officer, the information officer and the registration officer.
"We all have a role in making sure the polling place is accessible to all electors who come to vote!"
The scene opens with the deputy returning officer and poll clerk sitting at their table with two electors waiting in line. The first elector reports an issue to the deputy returning officer who directs him to the central poll supervisor. The elector walks over to her to the right of the screen. A thought bubble appears over the central supervisor's head containing at first, a question mark, then ‘Thanks!' and finally, ‘Do you want to fill out a feedback form?' The supervisor then hands the elector the form.
"If an elector comes to you with an accessibility concern, take the comments or complaint seriously and politely direct the elector to the central poll supervisor who will:
- Ask the elector to explain the situation
- Thank the elector for the feedback
- Give the elector the option of filling out a Polling Site Accessibility Feedback form"
The next scene shows a blue and yellow sunburst turning clockwise around the central poll supervisor as she calls the office on her cell phone. The screen then splits in two with the supervisor at the left. The right half shows a returning officer answering the phone in his office .
- "Try to resolve the issue or report it to the returning officer who will try to find a solution the same day."
The animation ends with a pan to right of the polling place showing the registration officer sitting at this desk, the two candidates' representatives sitting next to the Accessibility Feedback Box, and Frank with his left hand behind his back, waiting in line behind another elector. The poll clerk and the deputy returning officer are sitting at their table. The pan ends with Frank in the middle as a circle frames his face. A mouse runs up his shoulder and Frank winks. The circle closes in on itself and the screen fades to black.