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Accessibility Awareness Campaign

Jan. 20, 2022
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Learning to Unlearn: Challenging Disability Stereotypes in the Media

Each year, the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) hosts an Accessibility Awareness Campaign aimed at informing everyone in the Laurier community of ways they can support accessibility and make Laurier a more inclusive and accessible learning environment.

Learning to Unlearn: Challenging Disability Stereotypes in the Media is the focus of the 2022 campaign.

The 2022 campaign kicks-off on Monday, Jan. 31 with:

Poster Presentations

View the video poster presentations prepared by the ALC's student Peer Support volunteers.

Take the Accessibility Challenge

We've identified 10 ways you can ensure or promote accessibility. Challenges incorporate using best practices in creating digital content and learning more about accessibility and the Accessible Learning Centre.

We challenge you to see how many you can complete from Jan. 31 to Feb. 11. For each challenge completed, you can enter your name in a random draw to win one of three prize packs. 

How to participate:

  • Complete one or more of the challenges (see below). While you can only earn one ballot/challenge, you are encouraged to incorporate these practices into your daily routines.
  • Visit the Accessibilty Challenge ballot page.
  • Select which challenges you have completed.
  • Answer the questions associated with each challenging, sharing what you learned.

Winners will be notified by Laurier email by Feb. 16, 2022.

Challenges

Challenge #1 View poster presentation: Inspiration Porn

The APA style guide published a set of guidelines for using bias-free language in your writing. Visit the APA style website and review the guidelines for writing about disability. You will notice they outline when to use person-first language (for example, person with a disability) versus identify-first language (for example, disabled person). On the ballot, share best practices for deciding between these two options.

Challenge #2 View poster presentation: Physical Disabilities and the Media

Laurier is committed to ensuring accessibility for the community. Review how Laurier promotes accessibility on campus and some initiatives they have in effect. Notice ways your campus and/or community has accessibility features in place. On the ballot, share two examples of what you have noticed. How do these accessibility features help everyone, not just people with disabilities? An example might include automatic doors which benefit people who are pushing a stroller or otherwise have their hands/arms full.

Challenge #3 View poster presentation: Disabilities in the Media

This video identified many mental health/psychological stereotypes perpetuated in the media. The language we use can also lead to harm, even unintentionally. Consider language, words, and phrases that are associated with mental illness (for example, crazy, insane, looney, lame) that you are familiar with. Identify one word or phrase that you can eliminate from your vocabulary. On the ballot, share your plan for eliminating that word/phrase.

Challenge #4 Use the Accessibility Checker when creating word documents.

Microsoft software has built-in accessibility features that you can utilize to ensure your documents are accessible. The next time you create a Microsoft Word document for sharing, run the Accessibility Checker to make sure the recipients can read and edit them with ease. On the ballot, share what you learned while using the accessibility checker.

Challenge #5 Use the hashtag #accessibilityisgolden in your social media posts.

In your post, identify two ways that you practice and ensure accessibility in your communication with others and/or when planning events. On the ballot, include a screen shot of your post.

Challenge #6 Add alternative text to pictures posted on your social media accounts.

Alternative text (alt text) helps people with visual impairments know what the picture/image or other graphic depicts. Adding alt text to social media is easy and ensures your posts are accessible to everyone. The next time you add a post to social media, include alt text. Try it with a variety of platforms. On the ballot, share a couple of things you learned about doing alt text.

Challenge #7 Have a conversation with a friend about a way to make online or in-person classes more accessible. On the ballot, share the outcome of that conversation.

Challenge #8 Register and attend one or more workshop in the Accessible Workshop series.

Help make the Laurier community more accessible to everyone. There are a variety of workshops from which you can choose. Register and plan to attend at least one workshop to complete this challenge. 

Challenge #9 Review Laurier's Sustainability website.

Sustainability and Accessibility go hand-in-hand. Review Laurier's Sustainability website including the Sustainable Food page. Select one thing you can do when purchasing food or preparing food that you can incorporate this week when you are shopping or cooking. On the ballot, share your experience in making this adjustment to your current practices.

Challenge #10 Visit the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) webpage

Learn about the Accessible Learning Centre or register to be a Volunteer Note Taker Learn more about the Accessible Learning Centre by visiting and reviewing our Registration and Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities. Learn how the ALC supports students. On the ballot, share what you learned and specify if you registered as a note taker (or are a current note taker).

Kahoot Trivia: Accessibility Edition

Drop in to our Kahoot Trivia challenge on Feb. 4 between 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. hosted by the ALC Peer Support Volunteers. Additional prizes to be won!

Attend Kahoot trivia via Zoom.

The Accessibility Awareness campaign and workshop series is supported by Partner’s in Excellence Student Funding.

Certificate in Accessibility Workshop Series

The ALC also offers an opportunity to earn a Certificate in Accessibility. Visit the Workshop Series page for more information on how you can help make the Laurier community more accessible.

Register today using the winter 2022 workshop registration.