A newly launched accessibility training suite gives the Queen’s community easy access to the training they require under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The training provides information about everyone’s responsibilities under the legislation and illustrates ways to incorporate the principles of accessibility into the services Queen’s provides.

“Queen’s is committed to building an accessible and inclusive campus community and ensuring our compliance with the AODA,” says Laeeque Daneshmend, Deputy Provost. “Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. This training suite will help us remove barriers to access so that Queen’s services and its transformative learning experience are available to all.”

The training suite was developed by the Equity Office with guidance from the Education, Training, and Awareness Working Group under the Queen’s Accessibility Framework. It consists of four modules:

• Accessible Customer Service outlines the principles of accessibility when communicating and interacting with persons with disabilities.
• Human Rights 101 outlines the university’s disability-related obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Access Forward provides an understanding of the standards in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
• Accessible Instruction for Educators communicates information about making the classroom learning experience accessible to all.

The first three modules are required for all staff, faculty, administrators, volunteers and student leaders at Queen’s, while the accessible instruction module is required for all faculty and anyone else who participates in the development or delivery of materials, activities and assessments for learning to Queen’s students.

The Accessible Instruction for Educators module is particularly customized to the university context and includes a number of videos with Queen’s faculty, staff and students talking about their experiences with accessibility.

“The AODA requires everyone who interacts with persons with disabilities on behalf of Queen’s to be trained in the principles of accessibility,” says Heidi Penning, Equity Advisor. “With a small investment of time, this training will provide valuable information and help us all think about ways to make Queen’s a more accessible university.”

For more information about the training suite and accessibility at Queen’s, please contact Ms. Penning or visit the Accessibility Hub.

Go to the accessibility training suite and begin your training now