December 3 is the annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly, this day aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all areas of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every facet of political, social, economic and cultural life.
At Sheridan we are committed to identifying, preventing and removing barriers to enable the full participation of our students, employees and campus visitors with disabilities.
Following is a summary of some of the initiatives Sheridan has undertaken in 2018:
- Collaboration between the School of Community Studies (FAHCS), Centre for Teaching & Learning, Accessible Learning (Student Affairs), Library and Learning Services, with support from the Centre for Equity and Inclusion to create a barrier free program (Community Worker – Outreach and Development). This successful initiative focused on the use and creation of accessible digital and print materials, videos, course readings and classroom activities and assessments.
- SSU and Facilities Services embedded accessibility design standards, and principles of inclusion into the design process of HMC2A
- Procurement Services revised their applicable procurement documents with updated language to reflect Sheridan’s obligation to incorporate accessibility design, criteria and features in procuring of goods, services or facilities.
- Addition of the Government of Ontario’s, Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management, “Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities” available at Sheridan Emergency Preparedness.
- Office of the Registrar staff received “Creating Accessible Documents in MS Word and Adobe Acrobat”
- Extensive renovations at the Trafalgar Library and Learning Services include the addition of increased lighting in the book stacks area, enhancement of wayfinding with text and iconography on signage, service desks and online public catalogue computers placed at both seated and standing heights, and increased quiet study space.
- Two E-designers in the Centre for Teaching and Learning received international designation as Certified Professionals in Web Accessibility
- Every event or workshop invitation extended by the Centre for People and Organizational Development includes language informing attendees how they may receive information about accessibility or to request individual accommodation.
- Marketing and Brand Strategy focused the July 2018 edition of the Partner Network Newsletter on “Are you being Accessible on Social Media” and created a “Social Media and Accessibility” Fast Fact Sheet in partnership with the Centre for Equity and Inclusion. These areas also researched, prepared and presented a proposed Sheridan E-Accessibility Training Plan to the Web Governance Council.
- The Centre for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Development conducts workshops for faculty that both model and instruct faculty on inclusive and accessible design for the classroom
- Creative Campus Galleries ensured all Gallery locations and exhibitions were intentionally designed from the outset with accessibility and inclusion principles and planning in mind.
- Information Technology Services participated in the development and inclusion of accessibility criteria, design and features in the procurement of a number of software platforms, and as an integral part of the Sheridan Intranet Refresh Project.
- Numerous departments and Sheridan Faculties, SSU and other student led initiatives embedded inclusive and accessible event planning practices to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities such as the provision CART (Communication Access Real –Time Captioning), addition of temporary ramps for stages, microphone usage, provision of material in Large Print, etc.
The Sheridan 2018 Annual Accessibility Report, produced by the Centre for Equity and Inclusion, will include these initiatives above, along with many others undertaken this past year at Sheridan.
Congratulations to all Sheridan colleagues who have worked together with commitment to remove barriers, and help move us toward greater inclusion of persons with disabilities as we recognize this International Day of Disabled Persons.
For more information about accessibility at Sheridan, please contact the Centre for Equity and Inclusion at accessiblity@sheridancollege.ca