1. Committees
  2. Senior Accessibility Advisory Group

Senior Accessibility Advisory Group

Terms of Reference

Mandate

The Senior Accessibility Advisory Group (SAAG) provides oversight and leadership to a coordinated approach which underscores Queen’s commitment to facilitate the identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to persons with disabilities. The SAAG will foster integration of efforts and services across the campus to create a seamless experience for students with disabilities to assist in achieving an accessible and inclusive campus environment. The SAAG supports and oversees institutional compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its related standards, as well as institutional measures necessary to build an accessible and inclusive community.

  • Receive input and feedback from all Advisory Groups of the Accessibility Framework on necessary measures to identify and remediate accessibility barriers encountered by students, staff, faculty, and visitors on campus.

  • Provide direction, establish university priorities, and make recommendations to the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) on the university’s efforts addressing the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

  • Create a “Change Management Plan,” per recommendation 11 of the Post-secondary Standards with input from the Accessibility Framework’s advisory groups. This ‘Plan’ shall reflect the diversity and intersecting identities of students with disabilities.

  • Coordinate and provide information when necessary to the Senior Leadership Team and the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

  • Monitor the progress towards achievement of the AODA and any recommended changes to its Standards.

  • Solicit input and feedback from persons with disabilities.

  • Review and provide feedback for the Queen’s Multi-Year Plan for accessibility.

  • Review and provide feedback for the Annual Accessibility Status Report.

  • Review and provide feedback on updates to the university’s accessibility policies.

  • Oversee the filing of the required biennial accessibility reports to the Ontario government regarding the University’s compliance with AODA.

  • Be an accessibility ally.

  • Review membership to all advisory groups.

  • The SAAG will consider and review the:

Co-chairs: Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) and Dean (Faculty of Education)

  • Dean or Associate Dean, Division of Student Affairs

  • Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning

  • Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation)

  • Associate Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)

  • Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion)

  • Leads/Chairs of Accessibility Framework’s Advisory Groups

  • Manager, Accessibility Services, Human Rights and Equity Office

  • Rector

Meetings

  • Meetings will be monthly and one hour in length.
  • Virtual: MS Teams. Meetings will be recorded for members who are absent and to facilitate minutes.
  • Minutes, agendas, and meeting materials will be distributed by the HREO.