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Accessibility Week

Dalhousie's first-annual Accessibility Week was held November 28 to December 5, 2022. A series of unique events and initiatives offered members of the community a window into what it's like to live with a disability and steps the university is taking to reduce barriers to access on its campuses.

Accessibility Week events

Below you'll find access to recordings of virtual events that took place as part of the campaign, news stories and other content published during the week, and other useful links related to Dalhousie's Accessibility Plan and accessibility at the university more generally.

All students, staff ,and faculty were invited to the following free events, each of which offered a glimpse into how Dalhousie is working to remove barriers to education, employment, and research.

  • Accessibility in action: Sharing highlights from new projects at Dal (Nov. 30)

How is accessibility being considered and implemented in facilities projects across our campuses? This presentation provided highlights from recently complete projects.  Request access to watch event now  (Dal ID/Login required). 

  • Lunch and learn: How does Dal address student and employee accommodations? (Dec.1)

This noon-time discussion delved into Dal's accommodation processes and the university's Accessibility Plan. Speakers included Jen Davis, Manager Student Accessibility Centre, Orla McDevitt, Director Accessible Employment, and Lisa DeLong, Director Human Rights and Equity Services. Request access to watch event  (Dal ID/Login required) 

  •  Speak Truth to Power forum: Accessibility in action through awareness (Dec. 5)

Panelists spoke to the invisible barriers to living with a (dis)Ability. Their (dis)Ability is visible but the multiple barriers they face in living with a (dis)Ability are not understood by most.  Request access to watch event (Dal ID/Login required)

News and stories

Dal News stories

What It's Like, a web series where members of the Dal community shared their experiences of living with a visible or invisible disability.

 

Online accessibility game

Last fall, a team of Dalhousie Computer Science students came together as part of a class project to begin the development of an online game to teach people about accessibility. In just three months, the team produced a game packed with an incredible amount of information about accessibility and underwritten with a message about the importance of removing barriers for people with disabilities. The team even wrote one of the game stories themselves (on ADHD). 

To learn more about the project: Computer Science students create online game to shift attitudes about accessibility

While not yet fully accessible, the game is available for early use now with further refinements to be made by students next term. The goal: to complete an educational game that's fully accessible to all and will reap broader benefits for people with disabilities.  

"I hope you take the time to experience the game as I believe most will come out of it with a new perspective on what it is like to experience a (dis)ability in day-to-day life," said Joel Kuruvilla, one of the student developers.

 

The International Day for Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

Dal's Accessibility Week overlapped with the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The theme for the day for 2022 was “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.“  
 
The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

More information from the United Nations.