Dear Members of the 杏吧原创 Community,

National AccessAbility Week is celebrated the last week of May every year. It is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities, as well as a time to recognize the efforts of those actively working to remove barriers to access and inclusion.

As we celebrate National AccessAbility Week 2025, it is our pleasure to share 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 renewed Coordinated Accessibility Strategy (CAS). This refreshed strategy guides the implementation of accessibility initiatives at 杏吧原创 and acts as a catalyst to drive our culture of accessibility. It was developed after several months of comprehensive consultation and represents the diverse voices of our community, including those with lived experiences of disability. We have made significant progress since the first CAS launched in 2020, but there is more to be done. This renewed strategy guides our ongoing commitment to a campus that is accessible and inclusive for all.

We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback throughout this process. Your input was invaluable in shaping the renewed strategy. As part of our commitment to conducting a transparent process, the CAS has published a report outlining the feedback received throughout the drafting phase of the consultation.

Together, we can create a more accessible and inclusive world for all.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Blanchard
Vice-President (Students and Enrolment)

Rafik Goubran
Vice-President (Research and International)

L. Pauline Rankin
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

Duane McNair
Vice-President (Finance and Administration)

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Interdisciplinary accessibility research impacts broader inclusivity

When it comes to accessibility, research is essential to help identify barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully accessing and using products, services, and information. The next step, addressing these barriers, leads to a more inclusive experience for everyone. Whether leading or collaborating on projects, research is at the core of much of the work done at the Accessibility Institute at 杏吧原创 University.

Dr. Boris Vukovic, the Institute鈥檚 Director, has worked at 杏吧原创 University for over 20 years, where he also serves as Director of the National Office for the Canadian Accessibility Network. Acting as the Institute鈥檚 principal researcher, Dr. Vukovic pursues transformative projects that are collaborative, relevant and impactful. As he explains, 鈥淎ccessibility, envisioned as an emerging transdisciplinary, solution-focused field of research and practice, benefits our entire society through the removal of barriers, better design, more inclusive practices, and social innovation.鈥�

Dr. Vukovic notes that as we look to the future, accessibility research is particularly important for several reasons.

鈥淪ome reasons are more internal to our accessibility space, like gaining a better understanding about what accessibility means to diverse disability populations and their needs or developing and evaluating solutions to complex accessibility problems,鈥� he says. He adds that other reasons have to do with finding ways to integrate accessibility with competing and ever-changing social priorities through collaborative work that drives innovation and human prosperity.

One of the emerging trends with which the Accessibility Institute is involved is the surging Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. 鈥淭he Institute had the foresight to propose and receive a Tri-Agency grant to use large language models for disability services before ChatGPT was released and all AI broke loose,鈥� explains Dr. Vukovic. 鈥淲e are now at the forefront of developing ethical AI solutions for assessment of disability-related needs and support services, informed and trained by lived experience and expertise.鈥�

Collaboration is key to lasting success, says Dr. Vukovic. 鈥淎ccessibility challenges are wicked problems, the kind that do not have straightforward solutions or can be tackled by one discipline, sector, or specialty. Collaborating across disciplines and sectors is the only viable approach to accessibility research.鈥� He notes that the Accessibility Institute was developed to do just that, by mobilizing and connecting people with disabilities, researchers and community partners. In this context, the Institute recognizes the key role of organizations such as Accessibility Standards Canada in supporting research and innovation in this space.

Dino Zuppa is Chief Executive Officer of Accessibility Standards Canada, a federal organization with a legislative mandate dedicated to developing accessibility standards and advancing research to create a more accessible Canada. He notes that accessibility and inclusion make good economic sense for us as a society, with the potential for up to $300 billion in economic growth. 鈥淎 barrier-free society benefits everyone. Research is the foundation for real progress in accessibility, and it must reflect the diversity of experiences within the disability communities,鈥� he says. 鈥淭ruly inclusive and collaborative co-design and intersectionality-based research takes into account the unique issues and perspectives of persons with disabilities.鈥�

Zuppa acknowledges that the work to create a barrier-free Canada is multidimensional, constantly changing and includes many different components. 鈥淎t Accessibility Standards Canada, we ensure that intersectionality is central to our work 鈥� our funded research and our standards development process are led by people with disabilities and actively engage equity-seeking groups to capture a broad range of opinions, perspectives, skillsets and identities. Since 2019, we have funded over 90 inclusive research projects, supporting the development of accessibility standards that address real-world barriers. This approach leads to stronger, more inclusive solutions that drive systemic change and make accessibility a fundamental part of society.鈥�

Given its rich history in many avenues of research, the Accessibility Institute is always eager to support a diversity of solution-based projects across disciplines and sectors. The Institute is looking to partner with community organizations, university researchers, governments, businesses, and most crucially, people with disabilities and lived experience experts.

Contact the Accessibility Institute to explore collaboration opportunities.

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As organizations today place more emphasis on improving workplace culture and operations, efforts to enhance inclusion and accessibility are top of mind for many. Change can be challenging, but the rewards of increasing accessibility competence can be meaningful and lasting.

According to Diane Biesinger, a senior manager with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), organizations can truly flourish when the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are used to help guide purposeful action to improve accessibility competence.

鈥淎 workplace benefits from having many thoughts and ideas coming from a variety of different individuals so it鈥檚 essential to ensure people with a range of lived experiences are part of the conversation,鈥� she notes. 鈥淰aried input is key to being leading edge and making thoughtful decisions that serve not only the needs of the workplace but also its clients or customers.鈥�

It is the desire for foundational change that drives the work of the Accessibility Institute at 杏吧原创 University. One of their flagship projects is a unique non-credit educational offering specifically designed to bridge the gap between accessibility awareness and workplace operations.

New program educates professionals on key competencies

Focusing on upskilling professionals, the Institute鈥檚 new Professional Education for Accessibility Competence (PEAC) program emphasizes key competencies in workplace accessibility, empowering individuals and their organizations to implement practices and move beyond compliance to genuine inclusion.

Enhanced accessibility competence helps attract and retain talented employees and ultimately makes for a more competitive, dynamic organization which fosters greater trust and therefore retention, says Biesinger. 鈥淏y helping individuals feel like they truly belong, they can perform at their best and be stronger collaborators, which opens the floodgates for a greater journey in the workplace and beyond. The PEAC program is a great foundation for individuals and organizations wanting to get started.鈥�

鈥淧EAC enriches and supports the shared understanding of accessibility in professional environments,鈥� explains Tara Connolly, an assistant director at the Accessibility Institute. 鈥淭he modules are designed to deepen comprehension of accessibility and disability perspectives and enable participants to emerge equipped to elevate inclusivity and make change within their own spheres of influence,鈥� she adds.

Connolly is quick to point out that accessibility is everybody鈥檚 business, not just those involved in the accommodation process. 鈥淣ow or in the future we will all need accessibility in our environments, whether due to aging, injuries, or invisible disabilities. Nimble, flexible workplaces designed with inclusivity for all can only occur when there is attitudinal awareness that accessibility is for all. PEAC helps create a solid foundation on this critical issue and serves as a springboard for further learning.鈥�

Every organization, large or small, will reap myriad benefits from enhanced accessibility competence. If you鈥檙e ready to get started, find out more about the Accessibility Institute鈥檚 PEAC program and register for an upcoming session.

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The Importance of Allyship and Lived Experience

For more than a decade, the Accessibility Institute at 杏吧原创 University has been working toward a fully inclusive world by committing to advancing accessibility across disciplines and sectors, through collaborations with key stakeholders, including persons with disabilities. This mission drives the Institute鈥檚 work within the community, engaging diverse voices to shape more inclusive policies and practices.

A powerful example of this approach is the continued allyship with Yazmine Laroche, who has led pioneering and transformative work in accessibility in Canada鈥檚 federal public service. When Laroche first entered the public sector, she noticed few people with disabilities in senior roles. Determined to make a difference, she rose to become Deputy Minister of Public Service Accessibility, using her platform to lead a groundbreaking initiative.

By consulting with more than 12,000 public servants, Laroche ensured that accessibility policies were shaped by real, lived experiences, creating a blueprint for a more inclusive, accessible federal workplace. Her work exemplifies the “Nothing 杏吧原创 Us Without Us” approach the Accessibility Institute champions, prioritizing community-driven change and collaboration for accessible environments.

鈥淣othing 杏吧原创 Us Without Us鈥�

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to be stereotyped; I didn鈥檛 want to be typecast as 鈥渢hat disabled girl鈥�, recounts Laroche, 鈥淚 felt I had to prove that I was competent, so I did everything I could to downplay my disability.鈥�

This is a reality for many persons with disabilities in Canada. Often is the case that they鈥檙e pushed or 鈥渆ncouraged鈥� into diversity roles. When she rose to the most senior levels of the federal public service, Laroche decided that it was time to become an advocate and an ally.

Under Laroche鈥檚 leadership, the Office of Public Service Accessibility consulted with over 12,000 federal workers over six months across Canada to develop a strategy to transform the federal workplace. The goal, from the top-down, was to make the federal public service as accessible as possible. It was through extensive engagement, with the community and with key decision makers, that led to their strategy and implementation plan.

The key to getting it right, according to Laroche, was building a community of input.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities

When drafting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations (UN) declared, 鈥楴othing 杏吧原创 Us Without Us鈥�, emphasizing the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities in any plan for accessibility. And the Accessible Canada Act goes further, requiring organizations to develop plans based on the input of people with disabilities. This was reflected in the approach taken by the federal government when adopting their accessibility plans.

鈥淵ou need to engage with people who have lived experience, internally or externally, to develop these policies鈥�, Laroche says. If your organization doesn鈥檛 have people with disabilities, or at least people disclosing their disabilities, it鈥檚 time to ask why. People with disabilities make up 27% of Canada鈥檚 population. Smart employers are tapping into that talent pool.鈥�

Building a Network of Networks in Accessibility

To further its efforts towards inclusion in the workplace and nationwide, the Accessibility Institute founded the Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN) in 2019. It represents a groundbreaking national effort to advance accessibility. CAN brings together over 100 collaborators from academic, public, non-profit, and private sectors across Canada.

By pooling resources, expertise, and innovative ideas, CAN provides a coordinated approach to breaking barriers to accessibility. It is this change that Laroche and the Accessibility Institute continue to advocate for.

鈥淢aking something accessible doesn鈥檛 make it less beautiful, it just makes it accessible,鈥� concludes Laroche. 鈥淎ccessibility isn鈥檛 about taking things away from other people, it means making things open to everyone.鈥�

Through the work of champions like Yazmine Laroche and institutions like the Accessibility Institute at 杏吧原创 University, Canada is taking meaningful steps toward a more inclusive and accessible society. Laroche鈥檚 leadership in transforming the federal public service shows the impact of listening to and engaging with people with lived experience. Her approach not only broke down barriers within government but also set a standard for other organizations. The Accessibility Institute and the growing CAN community are inspired by accessibility champions like Yazmine Laroche to continue this momentum, bringing together experts, resources, and allies across sectors to advance accessibility as a foundation of inclusivity. Together, they are reshaping workplaces, communities, and policies to ensure that accessibility isn鈥檛 an afterthought but a core value, making spaces truly open to everyone.

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All members of the 杏吧原创 community are invited to join the Accessibility Institute in recognizing Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD encourages everyone to take some time today (and everyday) to talk, think, and learn about digital accessibility and inclusion. Digital accessibility is included in 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to accessibility. To learn more about addressing barriers and making online environments and experiences more inclusive, we encourage 杏吧原创 web editors and content creators to take Web Services’ Accessibility Training and check out their accessibility resources and news posts.

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At the heart of 杏吧原创 University’s commitment to fostering an inclusive campus community are the champions who drive accessibility forward. The Dedicated Access Fund (DAF) is an initiative that stands as a testament to the university’s dedication to breaking down barriers and ensuring that every student, faculty member, and visitor feels a sense of belonging.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the inspiring narrative behind 杏吧原创’s Dedicated Access Fund, shining a spotlight on the champions leading this transformative initiative. Join us as we unravel the stories, motivations, and aspirations of those driving the wheels of progress toward a more accessible and inclusive future at 杏吧原创 University.

Read the full story on the Humans of Accessibility page.

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The Accessibility Institute is proud to announce the launch of a new project that will explore innovative ways technology can be incorporated into built environments to assess and monitor the daily living activities of persons with disabilities, including those aging in place.

The project titled “Enabling Independence: Assessing activities of daily living to inform safety standards for built environments” will investigate how technology can be used to address safety concerns and barriers associated with mobility within the home. The goal of the project will be to incorporate smart home technology solutions that improve safety, facilitate higher degrees of independent living, detect problems that arise in the home, as well as identify risk factors early to help prevent problems before they occur.

This project is being conducted in collaboration with the following organizations and departments: , , , , , and 杏吧原创 University’s Faculty of Engineering and Design.

The project is funded by through the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program.

Visit the project webpage for additional information and ongoing project updates.

Background

The Accessibility Institute, based at 杏吧原创 University, is a dynamic hub for multi-disciplinary accessibility research, education, training, and community engagement.

Best Buy Health is a national corporation, a subsidiary of Best Buy Canada, with a mission to enrich and save lives through technology and meaningful connections.

Bruy猫re is an academic health care organization based in Ottawa driven by learning, research and innovation.

The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County is a regional non-profit organization that provides compassionate support, tailored coaching, and practical education for everyone impacted by dementia while building a dementia inclusive community.

Independent Living Canada is a non-profit national disability organization which advocates that attitudinal and environmental barriers in society create disabling conditions and are rather the result of living in a society designed by and for non-disabled persons.

Municipal Retirees Organization of Ontario (MROO) is a regional, independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that speaks on behalf of all Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) retirees.

The 杏吧原创 University Faculty of Engineering and Design is one of the nation鈥檚 leading institutions in the study and research of engineering, architecture, industrial design, and information technology, home to a comprehensive platform of teaching programs and world class research.

Contact

For inquiries about this project, please contact Boris Vukovic. 

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The Accessibility Institute at 杏吧原创 University is proud to announce the launch of a new collaboration with the that will explore employment outcomes for recent postsecondary graduates with disabilities. 

The project, titled “SURF – Sourcing Understanding thru Research for Future Talent”, will gather data on how long it takes postsecondary graduates with disabilities to find paid employment and what resources and supports they are able to draw on as they transition to the workforce.

The three-year project will provide valuable insights that will contribute to the advancement of Accessibility Standards Canada’s next generation of accessibility standards related to program and service design and delivery, employment, and school-to-work transitions.

As a collaborating project partner, the Accessibility Institute will contribute subject matter expertise and support project data collection, marketing, and promotion.

Visit the project webpage for additional information and ongoing project updates.

Background

The Accessibility Institute, based at 杏吧原创 University, is a dynamic hub for multi-disciplinary accessibility research, education, training, and community engagement.

The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) is a national not-for-profit organization that promotes and supports meaningful and equitable employment of persons with disabilities. As innovators and agents of change, they build partnerships, develop skills, share knowledge and influence attitudes. CCRW offers disability confidence training, employer incentives, accommodation assessments, consulting services, and job search assistance.

Contact

For more information about the Accessibility Institute’s involvement in the SURF Project, please contact:

Boris Vukovic
Director, Accessibility Institute
杏吧原创 University

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The Accessibility Institute (formerly READ Initiative), was engaged by Transport Canada to investigate the current state of accessible vehicles in taxi and rideshare services in Canada. The objective of the study was to create a quantitative picture of the number of accessible taxis and ride-sharing vehicles, as well as a contextual qualitative understanding of the demand for and availability of accessible vehicles, in the Atlantic provinces.

The findings of this initiative have revealed the significance of these services in the lives of individuals with disabilities; establishing that when access to these services is limited or hindered intermittently or systematically, it reduces people’s autonomy and excludes them from participating fully in society.

The report concludes collective perception of accessible taxis and ridesharing needs to be reconceptualized, shifting the focus from demand to the actual needs of individuals. Researchers hope the recommendations generated by the study will encourage knowledge exchange between the provinces and territories of any successes in programs and policies to remove barriers and promote increased accessibility in transportation. Prioritizing the needs of people with disabilities and developing a comprehensive understanding of how multi-modal transportation systems operate can initiate a nationwide conversation on accessible transportation.

Read and download the final report on the project webpage.

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The multi-year study aimed to impact and improve the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies and inform standards so that AAC guidelines for accessibility can be developed. AAC technologies assist individuals with speech, language, or communication impairments to express their thoughts, needs, feelings, and ideas, and are used in conjunction with a device, such as a tablet or laptop, to generate speech or text.

By addressing the lack of standardization for AAC technologies and devices, researchers at Queen’s University’s, in collaboration with the CAN and the Canadian chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), hope to inform future accessibility guidelines that will produce more inclusive, universal, and effective AAC devices and increase the employment potential of persons with disabilities.

The project’s findings revealed that despite the availability of AAC supports, there is great variability in service delivery, professional resources, and access to funding across Canada. The study produced several recommendations regarding AAC technology design and use, access to services and funding for devices, using a collaborative interdisciplinary approach, and providing increased training across healthcare, education, and employment settings so medical professionals, teachers, and employers are better equipped to support, assist, provide accommodations, interact and work with individuals who use alternative methods of communication.

This project was funded by Accessibility Standards Canada.

Visit the Accessibility Standards Canada Augmentative and Alternative Communications Project webpage to access the full report.

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