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National Accessibility Week 2023

Please scroll below to read more about accessibility and disability inclusion-focused events, and trainings that are taking place virtually and in-person in Canada in 2023.

To celebrate National Accessibility Week, the AccessMac Program in the Equity and Inclusion Office, and the McMaster Accessibility (Advisory) Council are proud to present the Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Update (ADIU) for 2021-2022!

Since Fall 2017, the ADIU has summarized the accomplishments and efforts of McMaster students, staff, and faculty working to enhance and move forward accessibility and disability inclusion work at the University, and in communities outside of the University. It is a true cross-campus community publication and every year features dozens of submissions received from faculties, services, and individuals inclusive.

As of 2020, the Annual Update has been moved into a new Pressbook format to enhance accessibility of the resource as an open access educational resource – past versions of the Update will be moved into this Pressbook over time, and can currently be accessed from the Inclusion Initiatives section of the Accessibility Hub website. Future versions of the Update will be built directly into this Pressbook so that all versions, past and present, will be able to be accessed from one stable link location.

Sincere thanks and appreciation to the campus community for your ongoingly wonderful and thoughtful submissions – keep up the incredible work and we sincerely look forward to future submissions!

Expandable List

This session will provide event professionals at the University with key resources, tips and techniques to facilitate accessible events whether in person, online, or when necessary in a hybrid format. Participants will be reminded of our obligations to create accessible spaces in online and physical environments, introduced to accessible facilitation techniques, and provided with advice on how to integrate online and in-person experiences to maximize accessibility.

When: May 29 2023

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Location: Virtual

Please register online for AODA + UNIVERSAL DESIGN = Accessible Events

Join two of our staff from Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)’s Digital Operations team. They’re going to talk about their experience using digital skills in employment and how these skills are important in all facets of employment. Register for this virtual webinar at the top of this page.

When: May 30, 2023

Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm (EDT)

Location: Virtual

Please register online for Digital Employment Journey

 

Join Cho Kim, software engineering leader at Confluent where he will share the story of Confluent’s accessibility journey from audit to VPAT and the learnings along the way.

When: Tuesday, May 30th

Time: 2 pm (EDT)

Location: Virtual

Please register online for Accessibility in Motion: Webinar with Confluent

Join us in celebrating the 20th annual AccessAbility Day, presented by the City of Ottawa in collaboration with the Canadian Accessibility Network and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – National Capital Region. Our three organizations are proud to bring you a Canada-wide discussion on accessibility policy, featuring top institutions, public administration leaders, and civil society advocates. As we come together to celebrate National AccessAbility Week, we invite accessibility champions from across Canada to participate in this rich and informative gathering. This year’s theme is “Developments in Accessibility Legislation and Policies at the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Levels,” and will discuss key accessibility issues. Don’t miss your chance to join this important conversation on shaping the future of accessibility in Canada.

When: Wednesday May 31, 2023

Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm (EDT)

Location: Virtual

Please register online for AccessAbility Day with the City of Ottawa. Registration will be open until 4:00 pm Tuesday May 30. A Zoom link will be shared with registrants the evening before the event.

This session will explore disability justice and its principles with a particular focus on conversations of intersectionality and Blackness. Participants will learn practical strategies within teaching and learning to embed disability justice within various environments. Dr. Sami Schalk will join a panel of U of T community members to critically analyze how ableism manifests and can be disrupted in working and learning environments.

The Inclusion in Action Speaker Series is a collaboration between the Institutional Equity Office (IEO), and the UTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office (UTM EDIO).

When: June 12, 2023

Time: 10am – 12pm

Location: Virtual

Please register online for Inclusion in Action Speaker Series: Understanding Black Disability Justice: Advancing Disability Justice in Post-Secondary Contexts 

Queens University for National Accessibility Week in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) is celebrating National Accessibility Week from May 30 to June 5. Established by the Government of Canada in 2017, National Accessibility week is a time to celebrate the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities. It is also a time to acknowledge those who have worked to remove barriers to accessibility in their communities and to push for continued action towards a fully inclusive Canada.

FHS is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for all staff, faculty, and learners. This week, students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to adopt the following practical strategies to increase the accessibility of your virtual meetings and the accessibility of your Word, Excel, PDF and PowerPoint documents.  As the ways in which we interact continue to evolve, it is crucial that we ensure that the technology we use and the strategies we employ are accessible for all.

When: Tuesday, July 6th

Time: 11am – 12:30 (EDT)

FHS will be hosting a fireside chat on disability inclusion. This event, which will be hosted over zoom, will feature two expert guest speakers and is open for all to attend. Register for the fireside chat by emailing edifhs@queensu.ca by no later than July 5th at 4pm.

Join CCRW & INNoVA’s employer focused webinar on accessibility! As a part of National Accessibility Week, CCRW and INNoVA are excited to partner together to offer this session for employers. We will talk about National AccessAbility Week and the importance of accessibility in Canada. INNoVa will also be sharing practical tips and considerations for employers on accessibility in the workplace. Our goal for this session is to not only raise awareness on accessibility but to give the employers who attend this session information and ideas that can inform their approach to accessibility.

When: June 1, 2023

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm (EDT)

Location: Virtual Event over Zoom

Please register online for Talking About Accessibility: A Webinar For Employers

 

You’re invited!  St. John’s is holding a Global Café and Resource fair on June 1st at 12PM-4PM in celebration of National AccessAbility Week, to help foster greater connections between community resources and to develop a network of support for clients who self identify with disabilities among other identities. This event will feature booths by community resource partners, employers, and accessible business owners who can share information on how they aim to serve diverse populations and will be attended by the general public, media outlets and local political figures.

When: June 1, 2023

Time: 12:00 – 4:00 pm (EDT)

Location: 245 Freshwater Rd. St. John’s, NL

Please register online for St. John’s: Global Cafe And Resource Event