What is LEAP?
LEAP is an assessment tool that allows library staff at participating institutions to evaluate the accessibility of library eResources. It provides a growing repository of accessibility assessment reports that library staff can review to help make acquisition decisions, support library users, and advocate for accessible eResources.
LEAP’s Goals
LEAP’s primary goal is to assist academic libraries in meeting and exceeding our legislative obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to “provide, procure or acquire by other means” digital resources in an “accessible or conversion ready format” upon request by January 1st, 2020. LEAP helps us better understand the accessibility features and limitations of library eResources and gives library staff the information required to mitigate or minimize impacts on our patrons.
With LEAP, we endeavor to create a more inclusive library experience by supporting equitable access to electronic resources without the need for individualized accommodations.
Governance
LEAP is directed by the LEAP Steering Committee (LSC), with the support of College Libraries Ontario (CLO) and the Ontario Colleges Library Service (OCLS).
Three working groups report to and are directed by the LSC:
- Quality Assurance
- Training
- Metrics & Assessment
LEAP is supported by LEAP Leads at each participating institution who coordinate the service locally, act as local champions; and provide support for colleagues at their institution as well as within the college library system.
Participating Institutions
| Cambrian College | Centennial College | Algonquin College | Collège Boréal | Georgian College | La Cité Collégiale |
| Canadore College | George Brown Polytechnic | Durham College | Loyalist College | Mohawk College | Seneca Polytechnic |
| St. Clair College | Humber College | Confederation College | Niagara College | Lambton College | Fleming College |
| St. Lawrence College | Sault College | Northern College | McMaster University | Ontario Tech University |
History of LEAP
LEAP began in 2015 when the AODA Research Project conducted an environmental scan which identified the need for an accessibility assessment tool and repository of accessibility assessments. You can find the environmental scan here: Library eResources Accessibility Portal | LEAP | AODA Research Project
The LEAP portal was completed in 2020 and assessments began in April that year. 2024/2025 is LEAP’s fifth assessment cycle.
What we do
Participating institutions are responsible for completing assessments and contributing to the repository of accessibility assessment reports.
Terms and Conditions for Collaboration
LEAP is committed to ensuring equitable and transparent collaboration with other educational institutions, service sectors and vendors. This can include new assessments, review of existing assessments and recommendations for training resources to ensure LEAP content includes representation of different lived experiences, varied perspectives and accessibility expertise. We encourage partnerships to help us further our goals to improve the assessment tool and communicate to vendors.
Content on the LEAP site, including assessment reports, is licensed under; the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 4.0 International License.
How to join
If you are interested in participating in or learning more about LEAP, please click here