The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992, “to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.”
At the University of Waterloo, our commitment to developing communities that are accessible, equitable, and sustainable is a core part of our vision that guides our Waterloo at 100 Strategic Vision and Plan.
What is disability?
The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as “any impairment…or functional limitation…that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participate in society”. As this definition highlights, disability is not something that resides solely within an individual – disability emerges as the result of the interaction between the individual and their environment. As Dr. Liu, Dean of Faculty of Health notes, “By this definition, it’s clear that almost all of us can experience a disability at any time”.
Creating a world that includes people through a full spectrum of abilities, allows all of us to consistently and equitably participate and contribute to society.
In this video, Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Committee on Access & Disability member, Wren Alden, suggests ways to act against ableist beliefs that impact students.
Disability Statistics
Source: Statistics Canada, 2022
Source: Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC) 2023 Middle-Years Student Survey
Disabilities & Innovation
Remarkable examples of innovation have ensued from addressing disparities faced by people with disabilities, such as audiobooks that were initially developed for people with visual impairments but are now widely used by the general population. Alexander Graham Bell’s interest in sound technology was inspired by his mother and wife, who were both deaf, and eventually led to the invention of the telephone!
More recent examples include:
- Seeing AI by Microsoft which collects descriptive information on your surroundings through your device camera. Initially designed for the blind and low vision community, this research project harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to describe people, text, currency, colour and objects. Assistance in identifying unfamiliar objects like plants and wildlife, foreign currency, and having images described audibly is something everyone will find useful today.
- Google Action Blocks began intending to make it easier for people with cognitive disabilities to use Android phones and tablets. Actions like booking a rideshare which generally requires unlocking your phone, finding the right app, and typing in your pickup location. With Action Blocks, it can be configured to do tasks with just one tap, for example, call a loved one, share your location, watch your favourite show, and more. While this works to empower people with cognitive disabilities and help them gain independence, who wouldn’t benefit from an app that can simplify the use of our smartphone?
Persons with disabilities are also leaders in innovation. From audiobooks to closed captioning, and automated doors to text-to-speech software, persons with disabilities are designing new tools used throughout our communities. Learn more about 4 everyday innovations you probably didn’t know came from the disability community.
Dr. Lili Liu, dean, Faculty of Health, shares how Waterloo is in a unique position to advance innovation with disabilities in mind. The experience gained during the pandemic can educate us on how recognizing and embedding the needs of persons with disabilities in a post-COVID-19 world can drive innovation to build systems that are better for everybody. Dr. Liu notes, “More than ever, it’s important that persons with disabilities participate and have leadership roles to help ensure that our campus is equitable, and in turn, future generations of students and scholars experience a more equitable society.”
Past Observances of IDPD
Learn more about past observances of IDPD at the University of Waterloo.
Keynote Address with Chris Downey
IDPD 2021 was observed with a keynote address from Chris Downey, an award winning architect who, in 2008, unexpectedly lost his sight. Chris teaches accessibility and Universal Design at the University of California, Berkeley, serves on the Board of Directors for the LightHouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired and has a gubernatorial appointment to the California Commission on Disability Access. This keynote celebrated the innovation and progress people with disabilities have bought to many different fields. Chris provided his unique perspective in the design of new Waterloo Eye Institute at the School of Optometry & Vision Science as a consultant with the HOK architecture design team to ensure the project is accessible for patients, visitors, employees and our students.
Learn more about Chris Downey in his TED Talk, Design with the blind in mind.
Sitting Volleyball Event
IDPD 2022 was observed in collaboration with Waterloo Athletics and Recreation with a sitting volleyball event. Staff, students, and faculty were invited to watch a sitting volleyball exhibition game and try out this sport alongside Jim Rush, Vice-President Academic and Provost, alongside other members of the University leadership team.
Read the Waterloo News article, Waterloo celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 Day features sitting volleyball event open to students, faculty and staff.
Keynote Address with Dr. Rheanna Robinson
IDPD 2023 was observed with the keynote address from Dr. Rheanna Robinson titled "Disability Decolonized: Lived Experiences, Indigenous Knowledges, and Teachings from Txeemsim". Dr. Robinson drew on her lived experience as a Métis woman with a disability, her work as a disability advocate, and her research as an Indigenous scholar at the University of Northern British Columbia in this presentation.
Read Dr. Rheanna Robinson's research in the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies: Decolonizing disability: Teachings from Tx̱ eemsim and voices from the lands of the Nisg ̱ a’a Nation
Panel Discussion on Campus Accessibility
IDPD 2024 hosted a panel discussion on the importance and impact of campus accessibility. University of Waterloo community members Dr. Carol Hulls, Emily Brant, and Urja Henry Nandivada discussed the importance of campus accessibility, how campus accessibility impacts them, and how they integrate accessibility into their own work.
Watch Party: Making our Digital Spaces More Accessible
IDPD 2025 was observed with a collaborative watch party with McGill University's Equity Team and Digital Communications to host an online event featuring a discussion with Lucy Greco, web accessibility expert, advocate, and icon. Participants learned from Lucy's reflections on her decades of work in accessibility in higher education, stories from the field, and answers to questions about what’s changed, what still needs changing, and what comes next.
Read Lucy Greco's blog, The Access Aces.