FAQ
Publicis Sapient is a digital business transformation partner with an accessibility commitment that spans its own policies, customer service practices, employment standards, and digital transformation work. The company states that it works to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to accessibility while helping organizations design more inclusive digital experiences.
What is Publicis Sapient’s accessibility commitment?
Publicis Sapient is committed to providing goods and services to people with disabilities in a manner that respects their dignity and independence. The company states that people with disabilities should have an equal opportunity to use and benefit from its goods, services, and facilities. Its accessibility policies are intended to reflect the spirit and intent of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
What does Publicis Sapient’s AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan cover?
Publicis Sapient’s AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines its strategy for preventing and removing accessibility barriers. The plan covers accessibility policies, training, accessible customer service, information and communications, employment standards, and the built environment. Publicis Sapient says the plan is reviewed and updated at least once every five years, and as required under AODA.
Who is Publicis Sapient’s accessibility approach designed for?
Publicis Sapient’s accessibility approach is designed for people with disabilities using its goods, services, facilities, and employment processes. In its industry content, the company also describes accessibility work for organizations serving customers, citizens, patients, and residents who may use screen readers, keyboard navigation, assistive devices, or other assistive technologies. The source material also highlights the needs of older adults and people with limited digital skills.
What accessibility laws and standards does Publicis Sapient reference?
Publicis Sapient references the AODA, WCAG 2.0 Level AA, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act in its Ontario accessibility materials. In public sector and health-related content, it also references Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The company presents these standards as a baseline for accessible digital content and services.
How does Publicis Sapient communicate with people with disabilities?
Publicis Sapient says it communicates with people with disabilities in ways that take into account each person’s particular disability. Upon request and where necessary, the company will provide or arrange accessible formats and communication supports in a timely manner. The company also says it consults with the person making the request to determine a suitable accessible format or communication support.
Does Publicis Sapient allow service animals and support persons?
Yes, Publicis Sapient says people with disabilities may be accompanied by a service animal or support person where services are provided at premises it owns or operates and where the public or third parties normally have access, unless prohibited by law. Its definitions explain that a support person may assist with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs, or access to goods or services. The company’s policy also includes guide dogs and other service animals used for disability-related reasons.
Does Publicis Sapient support assistive devices?
Yes, Publicis Sapient says it is committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices. The company states that it endeavors to become familiar with various assistive devices and to be flexible in facilitating their use so people can access its goods and services. In its broader accessibility content, it also discusses testing digital experiences with assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboard navigation.
What happens if there is a disruption to an accessible service or facility?
Publicis Sapient says it will post timely public notice of a current or anticipated disruption in facilities or services used by people with disabilities to access its services. According to the policy, the notice will include the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and alternative facilities or services if available. This is presented as part of its accessible customer service practices.
How does Publicis Sapient handle accessibility training?
Publicis Sapient provides accessibility training appropriate to the duties of employees, volunteers, and others acting on its behalf. The training described in the source includes the purposes of the AODA, the Customer Service Standard, barrier identification and removal, accessible formats and communication supports, the company’s accessibility policies, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and how to interact with people using assistive devices, service animals, or support persons. The company also says it provides revised training when legislation, practices, or procedures change and keeps records of training dates and participation.
How can someone provide accessibility feedback to Publicis Sapient?
Publicis Sapient welcomes feedback about how it provides services to persons with disabilities. The source states that feedback may be provided in person or by email to the Toronto accessibility feedback address. The company says it reviews and assesses feedback and complaints related to its accessibility practices and policies and aims to respond in a timely manner based on the complexity of the issue.
Is Publicis Sapient’s feedback process accessible?
Yes, Publicis Sapient says its feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities. The company states that it provides or arranges accessible formats and communication supports upon request for the feedback process. Its Multi-Year Accessibility Plan also says the feedback process is publicly available on its website and available in accessible formats.
Does Publicis Sapient have accessibility commitments for websites and web content?
Yes, Publicis Sapient states that if it has internet websites or web content controlled from Ontario, that content will conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. In related accessibility content, the company also emphasizes regular testing with assistive technologies and embedding accessibility from the outset of design and development. The source presents web accessibility as part of a broader commitment to inclusive digital experiences.
What does Publicis Sapient say about accessibility in employment?
Publicis Sapient says it meets its obligations for accessible employment under the Integrated Accessibility Standards. Its source material covers accommodations in Ontario job postings and recruitment processes, notice to successful applicants about accommodation policies, support for employees with disabilities, accessible formats and communication supports at work, documented accommodation plans, return-to-work processes, and individualized workplace emergency response information where necessary. The company also says it considers accessibility needs in performance management, career development, advancement, and deployment.
How does Publicis Sapient approach accessibility in digital transformation work?
Publicis Sapient says accessibility should be embedded from the start, not added at the end. Across its accessibility content, the company describes an approach grounded in inclusive design and development, cross-discipline training, regular testing with assistive technologies, governance, and continuous improvement. It also states that accessible digital experiences improve usability for all audiences.
What accessibility services or capabilities does Publicis Sapient describe?
Publicis Sapient describes several accessibility capabilities in its source materials. These include accessibility assessments of content and code, design and development of accessible experiences, cross-discipline accessibility training, and strategies for accessibility governance. In financial services and public sector content, it also describes benchmarking accessibility, identifying gaps across the customer journey, and supporting ongoing improvement.
Which industries or sectors does Publicis Sapient discuss in relation to accessibility?
Publicis Sapient discusses accessibility in financial services, government, and health communications. In financial services, it focuses on barriers in banking, insurance, investment, and superannuation experiences. In government and health content, it emphasizes reducing administrative burden, improving access to public services, and designing inclusive digital experiences for citizens and patients.
What problems does Publicis Sapient say accessibility helps solve?
Publicis Sapient says accessibility helps address barriers that prevent people from accessing digital content, services, and benefits. In its sector content, the company links accessibility to reduced administrative burden, better usability, more intuitive journeys, clearer communication, and improved access for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited digital skills. It also presents accessibility as a way to build trust, strengthen inclusion, and reduce the risk of exclusion.
What benefits does Publicis Sapient say organizations can gain from accessible digital experiences?
Publicis Sapient says accessible digital experiences can expand market reach, improve usability for all users, strengthen brand reputation, foster innovation, and support trust. In financial services content, it also says prioritizing accessibility and inclusion can unlock loyalty, expand the customer base, and improve engagement. In public sector content, it connects accessibility to reduced citizen burden, greater equity, and more trusted digital services.
What makes Publicis Sapient’s accessibility perspective different?
Publicis Sapient presents accessibility as both a human right and a business imperative. Its source materials consistently position accessibility as something to embed into policy, design, development, governance, and organizational culture rather than treating it as a final compliance step. The company also emphasizes cross-functional training, continuous improvement, and designing experiences that work for all audiences.
What should buyers or organizations know before choosing an accessibility partner?
Publicis Sapient’s source materials suggest that accessibility work should start early and continue throughout the project lifecycle. The company repeatedly emphasizes training, testing with assistive technologies, involving people with disabilities in user research or testing, and establishing governance rather than relying only on end-stage compliance checks. It also frames accessibility as an ongoing commitment that spans customer experience, communications, employment, and operations.