20180104a - Deaf Communications Strategy 2018

This request for proposal (RFP) invites individual consultants, consulting firms or teams of researchers (the Firm) with expertise in Sign languages and communications with the Deaf or hard of hearing public in Canada, to submit proposals to provide a sustainable communications strategy that includes documentation of best practices, review of Council practices and identification of key Canada Council messages to be developed into scripts for sign language interpretation to the Canada Council for the Arts (the Council).

The Canada Council wishes to implement a sustainable and effective method of engaging and communicating with Deaf (including hard of hearing) arts professionals and public.

Therefore it will commission a firm to develop a comprehensive strategy to deliver key messages and information to Deaf artists and the public and to facilitate exchange. The proposed strategy should address a range of media including sign language interpreted videos, captioned videos, plain language text and other visual cues. This can be implemented in a variety of contexts and environments such as announcements, blogs, event summaries, webinars, live web events, consultations, information sessions, etc. The strategy should provide recommendations on how these mediums can be incorporated into the Council's web site, portal architecture and all communications technologies and materials, with the purpose of improving user experience. Deliverables will include identifying messages, creating and editing scripts for sign language interpretation, an analysis of the effectiveness of current practices, a strategy for continued sustainable communications  and a report on best practices.