An interview with Jamus Dorey, senior advisor for persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ initiatives.
In the journey to make workplaces truly inclusive and accessible, actions can be mapped along a continuum that ranges from proactive to responsive. In this blog, we share how the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) is taking a proactive and collaborative approach to foster accessibility.
Being proactive involves adopting universal design principles, focusing on equity and inclusion, and creating a workplace where people feel psychologically safe. This means making sure that the workplace is accessible from the start, considering things like recruitment practices and internal policies, and addressing barriers like technology or physical structures. It also means environments where staff realize their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and are able to make a contribution.
Being responsive involves making adjustments to policies to remove barriers, providing accommodations to address barriers or manage absences, and offering extra time or specialized technology when needed. These are just a few examples of accommodations.
NSCC has formed a group called the Accessibility, Equity, and Action Team, made up of leaders from different parts of the college. They work together to understand how accessibility affects their areas and aim to make NSCC a better place for everyone.
They appointed a Senior Advisor for Accessibility to lead the charge, ensuring they have a plan in place and collaborating with different departments to achieve their goal of full accessibility by 2030. They also integrated equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism into their strategic plan, setting clear goals and actions. NSCC’s commitment extends to its Employee Resource Network (ERN), a collective of individuals with disabilities across the college ecosystem. The impact is that their lived experience is valued and included in shaping the college’s accessibility initiatives.
The college includes ASL interpretation in all correspondences from the President’s Office, acknowledging the importance of providing information in the first language of the Deaf community. This initiative, along with hiring a staff interpreter, reflects their commitment to fostering an inclusive culture.
NSCC is also making sure its buildings are accessible by conducting audits and aiming for Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification for all new constructions. This commitment extends to projects like the Sydney Waterfront campus and new student housing. This shows that NSCC is not only making changes within its walls but also setting an example for other educational institutions.
Written by Nicole Cammaert