The implementation of Carleton’s new accessibility strategy will be delayed until December 2019. The new policy was originally set to be finalized by the end of this school year.
Suzanne Blanchard, vice-president (students and enrolment), said the longer timeline is due to wanting more feedback since an accessibility policy is new to the university.
“We’re continuing with the consultations because there’s a lot, and this is our first [policy on accessibility], so we’re going to take a little bit more time on it,” she said.
Adrian Chan, co-chair on the committee developing the strategy, said the various ways consultations are being conducted—including online forums, consultations with groups, and focus groups—ensures “the accessibility of the consultations themselves.”
Chan also said a main concern raised during the consultations was the speed at which they were being done.
“There was some expression of worry that things are going too fast and that our consultations might not be as comprehensive as desired, so we’re listening to that as well,” he said.
In addition to including groups like professors living with disabilities and students with invisible disabilities, who, Chan said, are “often missed out,” the policy will also focus on supporting accessibility in its different capacities.
Chan said there are two parts to accessibility. The first part includes creating accessible spaces, products, and services for the community, but he said accommodating this first part “doesn’t necessarily result in inclusion.”
“That inclusion part has to evolve over attitudinal barriers and systemic barriers as well,” he added.
Cameron Rose Jette, a third-year human rights and social justice student at Carleton who lives with a disability, said they were disappointed in the policy’s pushback.
“As a student with a disability, and [with] how important accessibility is on campus and the lack of accessibility that currently exists, it’s kind of disappointing that they’re putting it off again,” Jette said. “It’s definitely difficult to go to campus and not know whether or not you’re going to be able to access everything.”
“I hope we get to a point where [students living with disabilities] are thought of before decisions are made and not just as an afterthought,” Jette added.
Kimberley Chiasson, a first-year journalism student at Carleton, also opened up about her struggles with accessibility at school.
“I don’t think it’s really lived up to the standards I placed it at personally,” Chiasson said. “It comes off as really accessible, and when I was touring last year, it looked perfect. I know nothing is, but I mean there’s still a lot of buildings that I can’t comfortably access.”
Chiasson also said smaller classrooms’ doors do not have an automatic button, which has “been a barrier” in her learning experience. She added that even when entrances do have automatic buttons, they are still not always accessible, such as with the University Centre.
“To get in through the outdoor entrance, the button is lower than my chair and I know a lot of people that can’t hit the button to begin with,” she said.
“I know that Carleton broadcasts that it’s really disability-friendly, but it might not work for students’ individual needs,” she said. “I definitely think they should go by a case-by-case basis, rather than trying to fit everything in kind of an umbrella label.”
“They need to understand the issues that inaccessibility can cause for a student in day-to-day life,” Chiasson added. “I don’t think I’ve gone a week without an elevator breaking down in my student career, which isn’t very helpful.”
When asked what she thinks about the accessibility strategy being pushed to next year, Chiasson said she hopes it is worth the wait.
“There’s issues I face almost every day just going to any of my lectures, so it’ll definitely prolong the struggle for most people I’m sure,” she said.
“But hopefully it’ll be worth it in the long run and hopefully they make changes that will better the lives of students. That would be worth the wait.”
—With files from Temur Durrani
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