Session Description:
How do we build communities that are connected, caring, and supportive? As we work towards One Waterloo approaches and strive to collaborate across institutional silos, meaningful community-building is essential to honouring our shared humanity and authentic selves. This panel discussion will bring together different affinity groups and community networks across our campuses to explore practical strategies for fostering connection, sharing knowledge, learning from others, and supporting each other. With a focus on building safer spaces for equity-denied communities, the conversation will explore mechanisms for building safer spaces, promoting accessible engagement, and designing inclusive environments – both in-person and virtual.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will:
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Develop an understanding of the impact of accessibility barriers
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Recognize common accessibility barriers and needs
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Recognize that accessibility is about progress and processes, not a specific or finite goal
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Leave with specific examples of actions they can take to improve accessibility in their role.
Session Structure:
Panel discussion
Presenters:
Samantha Fowler (she/her), Disability Inclusion Coordinator, Campus Accessibility
Jazz Fitzgerald (they/them), Manager, Student Equity, Community and Leadership, Student Success Office
Kunal Sanjiv Karkhanis (he/him), International Student Supports Coordinator, International Experience
Stacey Jacobs (she/her), Education Coordinator, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Prevention; Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office
Emma Smith (she/they), Indigenous Student Experience Manager, Office of Indigenous Relations