Project Goals/Deliverables
Support the creation of a teaching and learning environment in which innovative, accessible education practices are valued and supported, and so are tried, assessed, and improved over time.
Position accessible education as a road to better teaching and learning for everyone, not merely a regulatory approval matter.
Rethink how we do things so that accessibility is part of the development process, rather than an “add on” to practice.
Promote long-lasting change in program, instructor, and student mindset with respect to accessible education.
Recognize that the disability community contributes to our diversity and re-imagining our teaching and learning approaches is required to fully include all identities.
Project Team
Joyce Barlow, Associate Director, Disability Inclusion (Human Resources)
Aldo Caputo, Director (Centre for Extended Learning)
Jennifer Coghlin, Associate Registrar, Enrolment Services & Academic Policy (Registrar's Office)
David DeVidi, Associate Professor (Philosophy) | Associate Vice-President, Academic
Donna Ellis, Director (Centre for Teaching Excellence)
Rob Hill, Associate Professor (Physics and Astronomy) | Teaching Fellow (Faculty of Science)
Diana Skrzydlo, Continuing Lecturer (Statistics and Actuarial Science) | Teaching Fellow (Faculty of Math)
Project Resources
Website for Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISCo)
List of Accessibility Initiatives at Waterloo
Open Call for Accessible Education User Testing Groups
Accessible Education User Testing Groups - Terms of Reference
Open Call for Instructional Programs and Practices project team members (now closed)
Connect with the AEP team!
Inquiries about the AEP can be directed to tii@uwaterloo.ca
Project Summary
Based on the principle that accessible education is better education, UW envisions a post-secondary education experience for learners where accessibility is at the forefront of what we do. Leveraging the AODA's post-secondary education standard recommendations that were written by experts with disability lived experience in post-secondary education sector, the Teaching Innovation Incubator is supporting the Accessible Education project to ensure that the University of Waterloo is a leader in promoting accessibility in our teaching and learning.
Project Background
The Accessible Education Project team comprises of three sub-project teams who are working collaboratively with the support of the Teaching Innovation Incubator to think through (1) instructional programs and practices, (2) learning tools and materials, and (3) policies and guidelines related to our delivery of education. Our goal is to improve accessibility for everyone while refining and expanding on the ways we approach disability inclusion.
Project Updates
Session offering in January: Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series #1
Join Christine Zaza for the Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series! This online webinar series explore how faculty and staff are supporting and using practices for accessible teaching to benefit all students at the University of Waterloo. No registration is required! Please access this Webinar link on the day of the event.
Accessible Education Day: Session Recordings and Materials Available!
The recordings for all of the sessions offered as part of Accessible Education Day(s), including the opening and closing remarks, and the Keynote from Dr. Jay Dolmage are now available online! View this post for information on how to access the documents.
Integrated Accessibility Retreat
The Integrated Accessibility Retreat is available to all instructors at UWaterloo. This is a one-day retreat where you'll learn how to incorporate accessible education practices into your course. Please register!
Just launched: The Accessible Education Hub
The Accessible Education Project is proud to announce the launch of the Accessible Education Hub - a one-stop shop webpage for information on educational guidelines and resources as they become available and identified by the project teams: https://uwaterloo.ca/accessible-education
Register to attend: Accessible Education Day
The Teaching Innovation Incubator, in collaboration with the Associate Academic Vice President is hosting a two half-day Accessible Education Day on October 16th and October 17th. Topics to be covered include legislation governing Accessibility, Post-Secondary Course Accessibility Guide, Navigating Accommodations, Universal Design for Learning, available assistive technologies, among others. Be sure to register to attend!
Instructional Programs & Practices Team
Donna Ellis (Co-Lead), Director (Centre for Teaching Excellence)
Diana Skrzydlo (Co-Lead), Continuing Lecturer (Statistics and Actuarial Science) | Teaching Fellow (Faculty of Math)
Katherine Acheson, Professor (English) | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies (Arts)
Christine Barbeau, Continuing Lecturer (School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability) | Associate Dean, Teaching (Environment)
Hilary Bergsieker, Associate Professor (Psychology)
Mike Chee, Librarian, Information Services and Resources (Library)
Angela Christelis, Director (Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement)
Victoria Feth, Educational Developer, Curriculum: Accessibility and Inclusion (Centre for Teaching Excellence)
Carol Hulls, Associate Dean, Teaching (Engineering) | Continuing Lecturer (Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering)
Laura Ingram, Lecturer (Chemistry) | Chemistry Undergraduate Advisor
Zille Huma Kamal, Lecturer (Computer Science)
Jennifer O'Brien, Learning Strategist (AccessAbility Services)
Pia Zeni, Senior Manager, Strategic Projects (Centre for Extended Learning)
Learning Tools & Materials
Aldo Caputo (Co-Lead), Director (Centre for Extended Learning)
Rob Hill (Co-Lead), Associate Professor (Physics and Astronomy) | Teaching Fellow (Faculty of Science)
Michael Clark, Coordinator, Accessibility and Information Resources (Library)
Daspina Fefekos, Computing Consultant, Learning Environment Specialist (Instructional Technologies and Media Services)
Leeann Ferries, Continuing Lecturer (Recreation and Leisure Studies) | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies (Health)
Matt Justice, Associate Director, Digital Learning Production (Centre for Extended Learning)
Jason Thompson, Liaison, Faculty of Science (Centre for Teaching Excellence)
David Vanderhorst, Adaptive Educational Technologist (AccessAbility Services)
Christine Zaza, Workplace Accessibility Specialist (Human Resources)
Policy & Guidelines Team
Jennifer Coghlin (Co-Lead), Associate Registrar, Enrolment Services & Academic Policy (Registrar's Office)
David DeVidi (Co-Lead), Associate Professor (Philosophy) | Associate Vice-President, Academic
Graham Brown, Associate University Secretary (Policy and Special Projects) (Secretariat)
Jay Dolmage, Professor & Chair (English Language and Literature)
Jennifer Gillies, Associate Provost, Campus Support and Accessibility
Jason Grove, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies (Engineering) | Graduate Attributes Lecturer (Chemical Engineering)
Geoffrey Shifflett, Interim Director (AccessAbility Services)
Nadia Singh, Director, Policy Planning and Decision Support (Associate Vice-President, Faculty Planning and Policy)
Kari Weaver, Learning, Teaching, and Instructional Design Librarian (Library)
Tim Weber-Kraljevski, Governance Officer (Secretariat)