Disability Studies in the Big Picture

By Heather Willis, Accessibility Coordinator

July is my September. What I mean by this is that every September, people remark that although they haven’t been a student for years, the day after Labour Day marks a new beginning, a fresh start – even more so than the first day of a new calendar year. For the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson, that marker is Canada Day.

As an alumni of this program, this time of year always takes me back to the three summers I spent immersed in the Disability Studies’ two-week intensive program (or “Summer Institute” as it’s known) that takes place after Canada Day. Thankfully now, in my role as Accessibility Coordinator, I have the opportunity to be involved in some of the program’s events, which are happening as I write this.

So what does this have to do with accessibility at Ryerson?  Well, the short answer is everything, of course. We have a responsibility to ensure inclusion and accessibility throughout the university, so that we can create an inclusive learning and working environment for all. There are at least three areas where we strive to accomplish this:

As an Employer

We have a responsibility as an equal opportunity employer to identify potential barriers to employment for employees with disabilities, and to do our best to eliminate them. This includes the entire life cycle of employment, from recruitment to ensuring appropriate accommodation to career development.

As a Centre for Higher Learning

With advances in technology and accessibility in general, increasing numbers of students have access to post secondary education than ever before. The result has been a wider diversity of learning styles and needs, currently addressed as individual accommodation. As part of our overall accessibility initiative at Ryerson, we have a “Universal Design for Learning” Working Group.  A component of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) legislation requires that we provide educators with “accessibility awareness training related to accessible program or course delivery and instruction".  Ideally with the aid of AODA guidelines, tools, and technology, there will be less need for individual accommodation as the classroom itself becomes more inclusive.

Curriculum

There is not a single area of study here at Ryerson to which a disability/accessibility lens would not provide an enlightening and edifying perspective. Whether it’s understanding how a particular area of study impacts or intersects with the lives of persons with disabilities, or accessibility considerations in the design of everything from clothing to buildings, or perhaps a sociological perspective that needs to be taken into account, all are relevant to a learning experience that will serve students well as they move forward into their careers in an increasingly diverse and inclusive society.

By creating an accessible learning environment at Ryerson, we’re passing on to the next generation of leaders and change agents the importance of creating a barrier-free society for all.

To further promote innovation and the removal of barriers experienced by persons with disabilities, the Council of Ontario Universities is launching their second annual Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) competition. Open to all undergraduate students enrolled at a publicly funded university in Ontario, this competition will challenge students to apply their creativity to consider inclusive design as a way of making the world more accessible for people with disabilities.

For those interested in learning more about disability issues, the Disability Studies program, in collaboration with The Chang School, offers an integrated studies online course (CINT 902) either as a standalone or as an elective in many programs, as well as a six-course certificate program. For more information, check out the School of Disability Studies website or The Chang School.

If you would like to discuss any accessibility issues you can contact Heather at
hwillis@ryerson.ca or (416) 979-5000 ext 4144.