(May 18, 2016) Global Accessibility Awareness Day Event, BBQ & Bake Sale
Please join us in celebrating the annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday May 18th!
Date: Thursday May 18, 2017
Time: 12 p.m – 2 p.m
Cost: $2 minimum donation for a burger/hotdog and coleslaw (vegetarian, gluten free and halal options available)
Bake Sale - Want dessert? Renison’s School of Social Work will also be selling sweet treats.
Donations will go to the Renison Accessibility Fund.
Location: Renison Great Hall Extension
Details:
- Interact with accessibility experts
- Learn about visible and invisible disabilities
- Get hands-on experience with assistive technology
- Celebrate the improvements we’ve made at Renison
- Share your ideas for making Renison’s spaces more inclusive
We hope to see you all there! View PDF poster

(December 3, 2016) United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3, 2016 marks the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. To honour the occasion, we helped sponsor a special lunch at the Tannery, hosted by the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region. Catered by Bingeman’s , the event featured a presentation by Dr. Jay Dolmage, a passionate speaker and campus champion of accessibility and universal design. It was an inspiring talk—and the audience was captivated by Jay`s stories, especially the reference to Greek mythology!
To recognize the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on campus, the Daily Bulletin released the last of the five videos produced by the Imprint to raise awareness of invisible disabilities. We are pleased to feature all five of these short vignettes here:
(October 16, 2016) Invisible Disabilities Week - October 16-22
What is an Invisible Disability?
Hand in hand with AccessAbility Services on campus, our Accessibility Matters at Renison Working Group is getting ready to observe Invisible Disabilities Week from October 16 to October 22.
The goal is to raise awareness across campus of the incredible number of conditions, ailments, and injuries that are not physically obvious—the Invisible Disabilities Association tells us that symptoms include “debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, learning differences and mental disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.”
Our message is that there is support on campus for anyone living with a disability, visible or invisible. IDW offers us the opportunity to raise awareness and promote understanding.
With the expert skills of staff from Imprint, we have created five short video clips to dispel some of the myths surrounding invisible disabilities. We’ll be launching one of these each day from Oct. 17 to 21. Plan to watch each one! Then share the link with your colleagues, your family, and your friends.
Day 1 – Monday, Oct. 17 - Invisible Disabilities 101
Watch video on YouTube
Some disabilities may be invisible, but they are very real and very common. Monday’s clip looks at the myths, realities, challenges, and experiences of living with an invisible disability.
Day 2 – Tuesday, Oct. 18 - AccessAbility Services 101
Watch video on YouTube
Students with invisible disabilities may qualify for academic accommodations. Tuesday’s clip describes the help and support that students can receive when registered with AccessAbility Services.
Day 3 – Wednesday, Oct. 19 - Disclosure and Privacy
Watch video on YouTube
Your medical information is private and should be protected. Wednesday’s clip explains your rights and responsibilities as they relate to medical documentation pertaining to an invisible disability.
Day 4 – Thursday, Oct. 20 - Preparing for the Unexpected
Watch video on YouTube
When unexpected challenges arise, there is always hope and help. Thursday’s clip explores the options available to students when life does not go according to plan.
Day 5 – Friday, Oct. 21 - The Supportive Campus Community
Watch video on YouTube
The University of Waterloo is a community packed with resources and support. Friday’s clip discusses how the University gives students more than an education. It is a community rich with on-campus support services that are eager to help students not only get by, but thrive.
The more people who get the message about invisible disabilities, the better!
Original Article from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
(June 23, 2016) Ottawa – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Canadians who are visually impaired or print disabled will have better access to books and other copyrighted materials. The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, today announced that the Act to Amend the Copyright Act (access to copyrighted works or other subject-matter for persons with perceptual disabilities) has received royal assent.
The amendments to the Copyright Act enable Canada to be among the first countries in the world to accede to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.
By bringing the country's copyright law in line with the Treaty, Canada has shown leadership in ensuring a wider availability of books and other materials for Canadians with visual impairments and print disabilities. Legislation will improve access to copyrighted materials for visually impaired and print-disabled Canadians
(June 16, 2016) Two visible projects will start tomorrow which are expected to take two weeks to complete; they are: reworking the entrances to the men’s and women’s washrooms on either side of the Great Hall and reconfiguring the entrances to the washrooms on the first and second floor of the Academic Centre. The purpose of these projects is to enhance barrier free access. Accessibility projects underway
(May 19, 2016) Thanks to Waterloo`s Federation of Students Student Life Endowment Fund, Renison will soon feature two new accessible water fountains with bottle filling stations! Renison Academic Student Council (RASC) president Kayla Wright applied for the funds last winter to replace the outdated fountain next to Renison`s Welcome Centre and supply one to Renison`s newest academic building. The cost of installation will be covered by RASC and the Renisix Residence Council.
The mandate of the Feds` Student Life Endowment Fund is to help students who want to improve lounges, student space, and accessibility on campus. RASC secures funding from FEDS to install two accessible water fountains