MYAP progress report

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2021 progress report

Publication Date March 2022

Progress report for the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan from March 2022

Accessibility Committee

Prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources’ Advisory Committee (membership as of December 2021):

View the 2020 progress report prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources’ Advisory Committee on Accessibility (membership as of December 2021):

Message from Marilyn

A message from the Associate Provost, Human Resources

Summary of progress

Each theme from the MYAP and their relative initiatives is included in this report. A status indicator summarizes the qualitative or quantitative completion.

Policies and Procedures

Section A

Waterloo is committed to the development of a specific policy concerning accessibility for Waterloo employees.

Customer Service

Section B

Regarding customer service, Waterloo will develop a strategy to improve communications for planned service disruptions and develop a community engagement strategy that involves active and ongoing consultation with persons experiencing disabilities

Information and Communication

Section C

Under Information and Communication, the objective is to identify the most commonly required communication formats and develop a strategy to meet those needs and to develop a sustainable strategy to ensure consistency across all publicly facing websites including open and online learning platforms.

OUR STORY

The University of Waterloo’s Visitors Centre facilitates a range of tours for prospective undergraduate students, including campus and faculty tours.

Design of Public Spaces

Section D

Develop a consistent design strategy to address those limitations or building elements where it may be feasible for Waterloo to exceed legislative requirements. Catalogue existing physical space elements on Waterloo campus, identifying spaces with accessibility considerations. Support the space and asset management strategy to embed accessible elements and integrate it with Waterloo’s standard facilities management protocol

Employment

Section E

MYAP: Waterloo will develop a centralized and standardized process for managing accommodation requests for persons with disabilities (active or prospective employees, students, and cross-over populations).

Education

Section F

Waterloo will strive to incorporate universal design principles within teaching spaces and related protocols.

Training and Tools for Employees (including instructors)

Section G

Tools and resources will be developed for instructors to increase awareness of accessibility and universal design for learning (UDL) principles in the classroom.

Next Steps

As our current MYAP nears its final year in 2022, we are excited to build on what we have learned over the past four years and to work to bring true disability inclusion to the University.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2020 progress report

Publication date March 2021

progress report for the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan from March 2021

Accessibility Committee

Prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources’ Advisory Committee on Accessibility (membership as of December 2020):

View the 2020 progress report prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources’ Advisory Committee on Accessibility (membership as of December 2020):

Message from Marilyn

A message from the Associate Provost, Human Resources

Summary of progress

Each theme from the MYAP and their relative initiatives is included in this report. A status indicator summarizes the qualitative or quantitative completion.

Policies and Procedures

Section A

Waterloo is committed to the development of a specific policy concerning accessibility for Waterloo employees.

Customer Service

Section B

Regarding customer service, Waterloo will develop a strategy to improve communications for planned service disruptions and develop a community engagement strategy that involves active and ongoing consultation with persons experiencing disabilities

Information and Communication

Section C

Under Information and Communication, the objective is to identify the most commonly required communication formats and develop a strategy to meet those needs and to develop a sustainable strategy to ensure consistency across all publicly facing websites including open and online learning platforms

OUR STORY

Design for All - Engineering Outreach

Our Faculty of Engineering’s Outreach department, Waterloo Engineering Outreach (WEO), has a goal to empower youth to be the change our world will need in the future by creating opportunities for them to increase confidence in their science, engineering and technology abilities.

Design of Public Spaces

Section D

Develop a consistent design strategy to address those limitations or building elements where it may be feasible for Waterloo to exceed legislative requirements. Catalogue existing physical space elements on Waterloo campus, identifying spaces with accessibility considerations. Support the space and asset management strategy to embed accessible elements and integrate it with Waterloo’s standard facilities management protocol

Employment

Section E

MYAP: Waterloo will develop a centralized and standardized process for managing accommodation requests for persons with disabilities (active or prospective employees, students, and cross-over populations).

Education

Section F

Waterloo will strive to incorporate universal design principles within teaching spaces and related protocols.

Training and Tools for Employees (including instructors)

Section G

For Procurement in particular, a resource guide will support the consideration of accessibility features and design when contracting with third parties to provide goods, services, and facilities on behalf of Waterloo. Tools and resources to increase awareness of accessibility, universal design for learning principles, and development of accessible information and educational materials (including tools and resources to increase capacity for digital accessibility within the online learning environment) will be developed by Waterloo for instructors of students.

OUR STORY

In March 2020, Waterloo, like all other Ontario universities, pivoted to offering all its courses remotely. Operating in a virtual environment within the middle of a school term required us to address the needs of digital accessibility at a fast pace.

Digital Education Statistics

The transition to online learning was manageable due to the Keep Learning team and all the departments who stepped in to make digital education more accessible

Next Steps

2020 has demanded a specific focus for Waterloo in campus planning.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2019 Progress report

Publication date March 2020

progress report for the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan from March 2020

Accessibility Committee

Prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources' Advisory Committee on Accessibility (membership as of March 2020).

View the Accessibility Committee members prepared by the Associate Provost, Human Resources' Advisory Committee on Accessibility (membership as of March 2018).

Message from Marilyn

A message from the Associate Provost, Human Resources

Summary of Progress

Each theme from the MYAP and their relative initiatives is included in this report. A status indicator summarizes the qualitative or quantitative completion.

Policies and Procedures

Section A

As an initial step in centralizing accessibility efforts within Waterloo, an Accessibility Committee was formed with individuals who influence or experience campus-wide accessibility issues.

Customer Service

Section B

Over the next five years, Waterloo will develop a strategy for improving communications for service disruptions, developing a consistent verification process for service animals, and developing a community engagement strategy that involves active and ongoing consultation with persons experiencing disabilities.

OUR STORY - Food Services' Mobile Ordering App

Food Services’ operations are founded on three pillars: customers, convenience and choice. Along with the opening of the new dining area in the Student Life Centre (SLC)

Information and Communication

Section C

Under the Information and Communication theme, MYAP included the objective to identify the most commonly required communication formats and develop a strategy to meet those needs, and to develop a sustainable strategy to ensure consistency across all publicly facing websites including open and online learning platforms.

Design of Public Spaces

Section D

In order for all individuals to move through and use the campus environment easier, the MYAP outlined the objective to identify the most commonly required communication formats and develop a strategy to meet those needs, and to develop a sustainable strategy to ensure consistency across all publicly facing websites including open and online learning platforms.

Employment

Section E

Waterloo will develop a centralized and standardized process for managing accommodation requests for persons with disabilities (active or prospective employees, students, and cross-over populations).

Education

Section F

Waterloo will develop standard Student Academic Accommodation Procedures. From a teaching perspective, Waterloo will strive to incorporate universal design principles within teaching spaces and related protocols.

OUR STORY - Co-op program

In 2017-2018, Co-operative Education and AccessAbility Services, with support from the Government of Ontario, engaged in a project to create toolkits and online resources for co-op students, staff and employers. The following deliverables were produced from the project

Training and tools for employees (including instructors)

Section G

Waterloo plans to update accessibility training for employees to cover all aspects of the AODA and newly created Waterloo policies and procedures related to accessibility.

Next steps

Waterloo has undertaken many initiatives this past year, covering broad areas to ensure we are addressing accessibility needs in many aspects.

Customer Service - old

Section B

Over the next five years, Waterloo will develop a strategy for the following customer service areas