Today@Dal

As Dalhousie moves closer to launching an institutional accessibility plan in April 2022, we would like to share some of the activities and accomplishments that have happened over the past year and activities that will roll out this fall, including opportunities for members of the Dal community to re-join the planning process, contributing to a richer and truly collaborative plan for Dalhousie.

Accessibility Plan development – why now?

In 2017, Nova Scotia passed the Accessibility Act, becoming the third Canadian province to adopt accessibility legislation. The act recognizes accessibility as a human right and outlines how we as a province will improve accessibility by preventing and removing barriers. The legislation sets a goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030.

Efforts to develop an accessibility plan for Dalhousie began in August 2019 with the formation of an accessibility advisory committee, steering group, core project team and six working groups organized to develop specific recommendations around Dalhousie’s priority areas: the built environment; teaching, learning & research; goods & services; information & communication; transportation; and employment.

Building out a plan for Dalhousie

In early July 2021, each of the six working groups developed a sub-plan for their priority area. These plans were developed with input from across the university, a critical step to ensuring Dal’s final plan reflects the community’s needs and is as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. The university has done so through:

•    Intentionality around working group membership. Each group includes members who have lived experiences with disabilities, as well as those who are responsible for providing service, education or research at the university
•    Consultation with people with disabilities and campus groups and committees representing people with disabilities
•    Additional cross-university consultations between October and December 2020, including focus groups and meetings with individuals and groups  
•    Working group cross-collaboration to ensure integration of consultations and sub plan content to avoid duplication and gaps
•    A March 2021 accessibility survey that was completed by 2,209 respondents (942 students, 346 faculty members and 921 staff)

A strategic priority

Creating inclusive, accessible spaces, services and communities for all of Dal students, faculty and staff are core elements of Dalhousie’s aspirations as a university. The university’s new strategic plan, Third Century Promise, explicitly lays out this commitment to inclusive excellence, recognizing that people are fundamental to everything it does and that accessibility planning is essential to achieving Dal’s goal of becoming a national leader in equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

Next steps and opportunities to re-engaging with plan development

During summer 2021, the six focus area sub-plans that have been developed are being analyzed and merged into a single comprehensive, cohesive draft plan.     

Between September and November 2021, the project team will use key elements of this draft plan to re-engage/consult with a number of internal and external stakeholder groups. There will also be a series of focus group meetings (six in total) for students, faculty and staff.
 
This will be followed by a series of reviews and presentations, which will include Dalhousie Senate, Dalhousie Board of Governors, and other groups.  A final approved Dalhousie plan will be presented to the province in 2022.

To get involved or learn more, visit Dalhousie's accessibility planning website or email DAP@dal.ca.