Accessible Learning Services and Social Inc. encourage you to participate in National AccessAbility Week with us!
National AccessAbility Week is an annual event, and this year it begins on May 31, 2020. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities, to promote accessibility and inclusion across Canada, and to recognize the efforts of communities and workplaces who are removing barriers for individuals with disabilities.
Learn more about National AccessAbility Week
Red Shirt Day is June 3
As part of National AccessAbility Week, we encourage you to wear red on Red Shirt Day to show your support for individuals living with disabilities, and to express your commitment to supporting accessibility and inclusion efforts in Canada. This year, Red Shirt Day is June 3, 2020. We encourage you to share a picture of yourself in red and use the hashtags #RedShirtDay #RedForAccessAbility
Learn more about Red Shirt Day
What is Mohawk's Commitment to Accessibility?
At Mohawk College, we are dedicated to providing inclusive environments that are accessible and welcoming for students, employees, and visitors. We ascribe to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the Human Rights Code to ensure that dignity, integration, and equal opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the College culture.
Mohawk has a proud history of promoting equity and inclusion. Several academic programs are delivered with an equity lens including Community Integration through Co-operative Education, Career Pathways, and the Accessible Media Production Programs.
AODA initiatives are guided by a Steering Committee comprised of members of the Senior Leadership Team, co-chaired by the Director & Special Advisor Equity and Inclusion and the Chief Human Resources Officer. Annually, funds are dedicated to priority projects and address access, safety, and enhancements to the building and to our learning environments. Historically, dedicated physical and virtual spaces have existed to celebrate and promote student diversity from International, Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Recent examples of College-wide initiatives include:
The Indigenous Gathering Space, an outdoor theatre, which honours Indigenous traditions and promotes First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture. It welcomes people of all backgrounds, beliefs and ages into an inclusive circle to celebrate Mohawk College’s diverse population for promote Indigenous learning.
The Tactile Map of the Fennell campus which began as an inspiration by a student to leave a legacy for others who, like herself, have vision loss and want to learn how to traverse the campus independently.
One of our strategic priorities is to ensure a high performing, effective workforce and quality work environment. The College’s Centre for Teaching and Learning supports faculty to incorporate Universal Design for Learning into curriculum design, development, and delivery frameworks to create accessible and inclusive learning environments.
Since March 23, 2020, the College continues to evaluate and make adaptions to be able to continue to fulfill our commitment to students by moving to online courses, with the supports and services they were receiving prior to social distancing requirements.
Learn more about Mohawk’s commitment to accessibility.
Contact us by emailing accessibility [at] mohawkcollege.ca (accessibility[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca) or calling 905-575-1212 ext. 4768.
Community and Online Resources
Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO)
Based out of Hamilton, DJNO aims to build a just and accessible Ontario, wherein people with disabilities:
- Have personal and political agency;
- Can thrive and foster community;
- Build the power, capacity, and skills needed to hold people, communities, and institutions responsible for the spaces they create.
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/djnontario/
Website: https://www.djno.ca/about
CareMongering Hamilton
This Facebook page is run by the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, and works to redistribute resources (food, facemasks, information, etc.) throughout the Hamilton community, and to provide a sense of community during social distancing and COVID-19. This is a public Facebook page.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hamont.Response.COVID19/
DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN)
DAWN holds online information session and webinars for women and girls with disabilities.
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/DawnRafhCanada
Website: https://www.dawncanada.net/
Webinar: Moving at the Speed of Trust: Disability Justice and Transformative Justice
This webinar features a conversation with Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha and Elliott Fukui on the intersections of disability justice and transformative justice.
Follow this link to watch the recorded live stream and to access tons of great resources: https://bcrw.barnard.edu/event/moving-at-the-speed-of-trust-disability-and-transformative-justice
