This year, Canada’s National AccessAbility Week (May 31 – June 6) and Quebec’s Semaine Quebecoise des personnes handicappes (June 1st – June 7th) overlap. While physical, in-person celebrations are not possible due to COVID-19, we highlight some of the advancements McGill has made in the area of accessibility in the past year:
- Appointment of Rachel Desjourdy as the inaugural Accessibility Advisor for staff and faculty in the Office of the Provost
- Endorsement of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan 2020-2025 which includes measures to improve and promote accessibility on campus
- Design Services released its new accessibility standards for buildings on campus
- Continued development of the Interactive Accessibility Network (IAN) Map – a collaboration between the Office for Students with Disabilities, the Office of Sustainability, the Geography Information Center, and the Office of the Provost. Expected launch in August 2020.
- Restarting the Employment Equity Community of Practice for HR Professionals
- Revising the guidelines for Accommodating Employees with Disabilities and establishing the Central Accommodation Fund
“Creating an accessible and inclusive campus is not the responsibility of a handful of individuals, but rather a collective role that we each have as members of the McGill community,” says Desjourdy, who reminds people that there can help promote accessibility on campus. Here are a few ways that you can do so:
- Boost your knowledge of accessibility through workshops offered through the Equity Team (for staff and faculty), or Skills21
- Get involved with the Joint Board Senate Committee on Equity, Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities
- Have another idea? Feel free to share it with the Accessibility Advisor rachel.desjourdy@mcgill.ca