This is National AccessAbility Week, a week-long celebration of the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities, as well as a recognition of the efforts of individuals, communities and workplaces actively working to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion.

In this spirit of celebration, the Equity and Inclusion Office, with support from the McMaster Accessibility Council, is  releasing the full, 40+-page Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Update 2019-2020.

With more than 70 submissions from across faculties, administrative units and student communities, the full version of the 2019-2020 Update shines a light on the incredible efforts of McMaster community members in driving accessibility and disability-centred scholarship, service, administrative, community, and advocacy-related work forward within the University.

Preceded by the Annual Highlights Newsletter, (released to the campus on December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities), the full version of the Update offers holistic glimpses into the stellar efforts of contributors to the publication, as well as pathways for reaching out to and connecting with those championing accessibility work in the areas of teaching and learning, employment, student advocacy, technology and communications, community engagement, and more.

Find the full version of the update here

In addition to the release of the full Update, the Equity and Inclusion Office is elevating an accessibility-centric focus within the office’s Human Rights, Equity, Accessibility, Anti-Racism Toolkit (H.E.A.A.R.T) workshop series, running June 1–10.

The following workshops are available for McMaster community members to deepen their understanding and practice of adopting an accessibility lens to integrate into their relative areas of responsibility:

• Accessibility 101 – June 2, 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Enhance your understanding of accessibility and develop beginner skills to advance accessibility within the McMaster context
• Digital Accessibility 101 – June 2, 1:20pm-3:30pm
  • Learn 7 core skills for creating accessible digital content.
• Accessible Presentation Techniques – June 3, 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Learn about accessible presentation practices and techniques in online settings.
• Accessibility in online and tech-enabled teaching and learning – June 4, 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Work through principles and pedagogical approaches to accessibility in online and tech-enhanced teaching and learning settings.

Register for or be added to the waitlist for all H.E.A.A.R.T workshops here