�鶹��ý

�鶹��ý’s first Accessibility Plan, released in April 2022, includes an integral focus on awareness and capacity building intended to foster a culture of accessibility and equity; encourage and facilitate the prevention and removal of barriers to participation; and build capacity in these areas among employees and students.

Measurable progress has been made over the years, through changes to policies, organizational structures, classrooms and meeting spaces, services and resources.

We are excited to share the progress of our Accessibility Plan – a testament to our commitment to creating an accessible environment for all. This report highlights the progress we've made, the work yet to come, and the innovative and person-centred solutions we've implemented to facilitate a thriving community.

Thank you for joining us as we continue this important journey towards greater accessibility and inclusivity. Your support and feedback are invaluable as we work together to build a more accessible �鶹��ý.

Quenta Adams

Assistant Vice Provost, Student Engagement and Success, Student Affairs; Co-chair, Accessibility Advisory Committee and Co-chair, African Nova Scotian Strategy

• Facilitated workshops, retreats, studios courses, and consultations focused on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with educational supports available institution-wide
• Hosted Transformative Pedagogies Retreat sessions on disability and accessible language in the classroom, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and learning outcomes/assessment, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for accessibility, accessible pedagogy and critical disability theory, assistive technologies, and student learning.
• Faculty of Health committed to in-house education on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP), setting and achieving a goal of at least 50% of faculty participation.
• Established the IDEIA (Indigeneity, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility) Collective, a group of units that deliver education including on EDIA to ensure consistent approaches. Members are from the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT), Human Rights and Equity Services (HRES), and People and Culture. An inclusive language guide is under development.
• Launched the Faculty and Staff Guide to Student Accommodations and Student Accessibility to advise on proactive strategies and tools for inclusive classrooms and identify other �鶹��ý resources to support students with accessibility needs.
• Created an Accessibility in Course Design Policy Task Force and Advisory Group.
• Launched a review of the Student Accommodation Policy. Through consultation, an environmental scan, a standards review, and an external review, we are assessing our institutional response to student accommodation requests and subsequent implementation. We are reviewing student rights and responsibilities when engaging accommodation processes and establishing how �鶹��ý reflects a broader institutional commitment to accessibility.
  
• Hosted a kick-off event for��Able after Dal, a career transition program for students entering the workforce or students seeking work-integrated learning experiences. The Accessibility and Employment panel featured employers committed to recruiting individuals with disabilities, removing barriers, and ensuring an inclusive work environment. The panel also featured Dal students sharing their experience navigating disability on their path to career readiness. Collaborators included Lime Connect, industry partners, and the Public Service Commission of Canada.
  
• Developed and adopted a resource for students, staff and faculty on accessible event practices and created a digital accessibility and accessible events guide on �鶹��ý’s SharePoint.
• Established a working group to work towards the provincial accessibility recommendations.
• Researched the process researchers use to obtain accommodations for their work environments.
  
• Created additional reporting for research centres and institutes to address disability studies.

• Held inaugural Accessibility Week in November 2022, organized by a project team of faculty, staff, and students to build awareness and capacity related to accessibility on �鶹��ý campuses. An annual event held the last week in November as a lead up to the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
• The School of Social Work provided all readings in reader-ready formats, communication in audio and text options, and larger print materials.
• Distributed communications to students and staff in �鶹��ý’s Housing and Campus Connections unit in a format that met their accommodation needs.
• Initiated a rollout of accessible features of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools to include transcription and subtitle services.
• Completed a pilot program for the use of Microsoft Co-pilot within �鶹��ý’s email, Teams, and other parts of the Microsoft suite. The Co-pilot tool brings a new level of accessibility to the faculty, students, and staff.
• Introduced alternative platforms of communication for employees with accessibility needs (e.g., in person, by phone, virtually with close captions, by email, with American Sign Language interpreters, and with braille).
• Enhanced the “Be Counted” survey with additional questions on equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility progress.
• Enhanced the “Your Voice” employee engagement survey with additional questions and data snapshots of all equity groups, including employees with disabilities.
• Improvements to Campus Tour experience, including:
  • Video of virtual guided campus tour under development with Communications, Marketing & Creative Services (CMC)
  • Circuit virtual tours of Faculties (Halifax, Truro, and Residences) are available at dal.ca/campustours
    
  • Incorporated land acknowledgement at the start of each tour
  • Offering sensory-friendly tours on Saturdays
  • Instituted the use of battery-pack microphones during tours to enhance audio
• Tour guides map out accessible routes and provide directions to accessible routes and elevators for those with mobility considerations.

• Promoted the services of �鶹��ý’s Accessibility, Accommodations, and Wellness unit in the People and Culture office through the accessible.employment@dal.ca email account.
• Migrated Employee Accommodation Policy, documentation on the employee accommodation process, and additional resources to People and Culture’s SharePoint.
• Ensured letters of employment, onboarding modules, and employee orientation materials refer to the (dis)Ability Caucus and to Accessibility, Accommodations and Wellness via the New Employee Onboarding Toolkit *1.
• ��Promoted the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) widely in new employee and new faculty orientations; onboarding modules, toolkits, and webpages; the quarterly benefits newsletter; and other wellness presentations and communications with employees.
• Delivered training sessions about accessibility, including the Accommodation Policy and the role and services of the Accessibility, Accommodations, and Wellness unit to academic units across the �鶹��ý community and to senior leadership, including at New Employee Orientation and the annual New Academic Staff Orientation.
• Added an addition of $1,500.00 of benefits coverage for mental health treatment for all employees.
• Communicated to managers and supervisors that they must allow employees to attend (dis)Ability Caucus meetings during work hours.
• Promoted accessibility through Dal News stories and acknowledged in the Legacy Awards *2
• Provided assistive technology to employees requiring it as part of an accommodation plan
  ��

*1 www.dal.ca/dept/hr/EmployeeResources/new-employees.html

*2 The Legacy Awards feature a compilation of 20 awards from across the university. These awards are selected by the Legacy Awards committee based on their alignment with �鶹��ý’s Strategic Priorities.