This week is National AccessAbility Week, a week to celebrate the valuable contributions of people with disabilities in our communities and reflect on how we can all remove barriers to their full participation in our University.
The University of Guelph is deeply committed to fostering an education, working and living environment where all University community members experience an authentic sense of inclusion and belonging. To learn more, visit our Statement of Commitment to Accessibility and Our Time: 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.
Resources to improve your accessibility practices
As a faculty or staff member, you play an important role in making the U of G campus accessible. Take some time to review the resources available to help you learn and follow accessibility best practices.
Digital Accessibility Resource Centre
The Digital Accessibility Resource Centre (DARC) is made up of accessibility experts who provide campus support for digital content creation. DARC provides U of G digital content creators with education, tools, training and support to ensure that their content is accessible for all. View the DARC resources for creating accessible documents, social media, multimedia, and more.
DARC also has several upcoming webinar sessions:
- Step Zero – Finding Accessibility Resources + QnA
Have you ever wondered where you can find our accessibility resources? And what resources we have available? Do you have any digital accessibility questions you’d like to ask and have us answer? We’ll be using this time to show you DARC’s resources and answer any questions you may have regarding digital accessibility. While we’ll leave time during the presentation to answer digital accessibility questions, you can email your questions in advance to darc@uoguelph.ca for us to answer during the webinar.- Tuesday, May 28, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. (Virtual)
- Demo: Digital Accessibility Tools
This session will present different free tools you can use when assessing your content’s digital accessibility compliance. We’ll include extensions like Accessibility Insights, Wave, ANDI and other tools like TGPi colour contrast analyzer. We’ll compare the different tools and give you the pros and cons of each, so you’ll know which tool to use depending on the type of content you’re reviewing.- Tuesday, June 25, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. (Virtual)
- Demo: Screen Readers
Ever wonder how to use a screen reader or how to utilize it during accessibility testing? We’ll walk through how to use the free NVDA screen reading software and how we use it to test accessibility compliance with different content.- Tuesday, July 30, 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. (Virtual)
- Demo: SiteImprove + QnA
This session will go through how we use SiteImprove to check web accessibility compliance and audit our webpages. After the demo we’ll use the rest of the session to answer SiteImprove or web auditing questions you may have. While we’ll leave time during the meeting to answer your questions, you can email your questions in advance to darc@uoguelph.ca for us to answer during the webinar.- Tuesday, August 27, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. (Virtual)
Learning and Development Workshops
Learning and Development offers several workshops to help staff develop the skills and knowledge they need to ensure accessibility. See the full Learning and Development calendar.
Accessibility (AODA) Resources: Courses and Teaching Resource
The Accessibility (AODA) Resources: Courses and Teaching Resource provides tips in line with research and best practices in accessible teaching and learning, including: developing course; writing a syllabus; accessible lectures; and student evaluation.
Accessibility for Instructors
From Accessibility Services, a series of educational accessibility videos for instructors that provide overviews of key topics, including accommodations, concussions, captioning, mental health, online quizzes, structuring courses and more.
Open Learning and Educational Support
Open Learning is a multi-faceted support department that is committed to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning on campus. Visit OpenEd for resources on Universal Instructional Design, Accessibility and Course Materials, and Universal Design – Best Practices for Online Learning.
Web Accessibility Resources
The Web Accessibility Resources provides AODA, WCAG and Web Accessibility Resources and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), including guides for content editors and web developers.
Communications
The Communications – Guiding Principles and Resources provides principles and resources for ensuring that communications are accessible and welcoming.
Diversity & Human Rights
Learn more about U of G’s plan to increase accessibility through our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and Progress Reports. The Accessible Service Provision Module and the Making Education Accessible Module provide participants with the tools and skills needed to create accessible learning and working experiences and a university community where everyone belongs.
If you have questions about accessibility, inclusion or human rights at U of G, contact dhrinfo@uoguelph.ca.
Accessibility supports for students
Student Accessibility Services
At U of G, Student Accessibility Services (SAS) in Student Wellness Services is the hub where students with disabilities can get support.
Students can work individually with an SAS advisor to determine what academic accommodations they need to remove structural barriers.
In addition, SAS provides programs to support students, including one-on-one coaching on learning strategies and support with disability-related problem solving.
Library Accessibility Services
Students registered with SAS can access adaptive software and technology supports to help with reading, writing, note-taking and studying through Library Accessibility Services.
Experiential Learning Hub
As students with disabilities enter the workforce, they might have questions related to their disability around when to disclose their disability, what accommodations might be available, how to approach interviews, and more. The Experiential Learning Hub has resources to help students navigate the workplace, as well as one-on-one appointments with Career Advisors to discuss strategies for success.
Supports for faculty and staff with disabilities
Occupational Health and Wellness
Within Human Resources, Occupational Health and Wellness (OHW) is the main source of support for staff and faculty with disabilities. OHW supports workplace accommodations and return to work planning as well as short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) leaves.
If you need assistance during an emergency, reach out to your manager to have an individualized emergency response plan created. Be informed about how to be prepared during emergencies.
Employee and Family Assistance Plan
The Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) is available for staff, faculty and their families when they need professional counselling support. Through EFAP, access to counselling is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week through the Homewood Behavioural Health Corporation.