In previous years, we have noticed an increase in new students questions such as: how do I book my exams, or how do I access my course notes? SAS would like to be able to respond quickly to these questions. That’s where the mentors can help!

If you would like to apply to be a mentor, please fill out the application form (PDF) and drop it off at the SAS main office, 520 UMSU University Centre or email it to staccess@umanitoba.ca and set up an interview date. Please apply by September 4, 2019.

Student Counselling Centre

The Student Counselling Centre provides mental health support to students in groups, workshops and individual sessions. These services can help with virtually any mental health difficulty, from transition-based issues to cases that include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, suicidality and trauma. All services are free, confidential and private. The SCC is located at 474 UMSU University Centre on the Fort Garry Campus and S211 Basic Medical Sciences Building on Bannatyne Campus. Visit the Student Counselling web page for more information.

Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care offers a unique service to students in the form of confidential one-on-one counselling that examines a student’s ability to make meaning during times of crisis, loss and transition. Spiritual Care allows students to talk about what is important to them and helps to normalize and encourage the spiritual aspect of life. Spiritual Care is available on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. Visit the Spiritual Care web page for more information.  

 University Health Service

The University Health Service is a student only clinic for use by all students with paid tuition fees. The clinic is located at 104 UMSU University Centre and offers medical services, counselling, mental health services, physicals and access to a lab technician. Visit the University Health Service web page for more details, and information on how to book an appointment.

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness services are offered through Katie Kutryk, a registered nurse and health and wellness Educator. Katie is available to talk about health and wellness concerns, including those pertaining to sexual health, substance use, and relationships. The Health and Wellness office is located at 474 UMSU University Centre and appointments can be booked by telephone or email. Visit the Health and Wellness web page for more information.

Student Advocacy

The Student Advocacy office provides confidential services to help students resolve issues in which they feel they are not being treated fairly at the University. This can include help with making appeals, written requests about policies, and investigation into cases of both academic and non-academic misconduct. Student Advocacy also provides workshops on academic integrity. Appointments can be made at 520 UMSU University Centre or by phone. For more information, visit the Student Advocacy web page.

Services for Students at Bannatyne

Services for Students at Bannatyne is a one-stop shop for student support on Bannatyne campus offering a wide range of services including counselling, career advising, student advocacy, student accessibility services, financial aid and awards, spiritual care, academic support and more. An interdisciplinary team of clinical supports can help understand your unique situation and connect you with the appropriate support. Visit the Services for Students at Bannatyne Campus web page or stop by S211 Basic Medical Sciences Building for more information.

Taking care of yourself is an important part of your academic success and personal well-being. If you find yourself in need of support, be sure to reach out to one of the services available on campus. They are here for you and will help connect you with the care you need.  

Read More

Find your balance in the first six weeks, Educating our community on sexual violence, What is academic advising?, ‘What’s the meaning of life?’…and other questions

Students should submit proposals to the University of Manitoba by May 11. The U of M will choose a top submission and award a prize of $1,000.

Krystyl Bergen, Human Resources

The top winner, plus other contest participants, will have their names forwarded to the national Innovative Design for Accessibility (IDeA) competition, a national design competition hosted by Universities Canada.

Accessibility coordinator Krystyl Bergen, change management and project services, human resources spoke with UM Today about the student competition at the U of M.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION?

Krystyl Bergen: All students who are currently enrolled part time or full time in one of our degree programs are eligible to apply. Students in architecture, arts, business, computer science, education, engineering, medicine, nursing, political science, psychology, sociology, social work (and so forth) are welcome! We want to see a diverse range of applicants from both undergraduate and graduate programs. The competition is looking for student submissions only, but students are welcome to seek faculty support in their submissions.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS SPONSORING THE COMPETITION, INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR ACCESSIBILITY? HOW DID YOU CONNECT WITH THEM?

The Innovative Design for Accessibility (IDeA) competition is run by Universities Canada, and is funded by the Government of Canada. The intention of the competition is to inspire students to think creatively about accessibility barriers, and innovative solutions for removing barriers that practical and cost-effective. We contacted Universities Canada after discovering the competition to appoint a University of Manitoba rep, and to seek guidance on how to best engage our students. For more information about Universities Canada IDeA competition, visit their page!

CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF PAST PROJECTS IDEA HAS SPONSORED?

Past projects have been focused on removing physical barriers. This year, IDeA is looking for a range of submission categories including attitudinal barriers and systemic barriers. Some examples of past projects that were shared with us include a set of glasses using google glass to read and translate American Sign Language (ASL), and a height adjustable workstation that can move around your home to help with tasks such as cooking.

A list of past winners can be found here!

The objectives of the program are to contribute to the creation of a culture of accessibility in Canada and motivate students to think about accessibility issues.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OR OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPETITION?

The objectives of the program are to contribute to the creation of a culture of accessibility in Canada,  motivate students to think about accessibility issues and develop cost-effective, practical and innovative concepts, programs, initiatives or designs that address every day accessibility issues.

HOW DOES THIS COMPETITION TIE INTO OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR MANITOBANS ACT (AMA)?

The competition is important to us because it provides the opportunity to engage with students about the AMA and the work being done on our campus to become more accessible. We are so thankful we have such creative students who can work with us to find ways to remove barriers. This competition will help brings our communities together and further promotes the overall goal of the provincial legislation to make Manitoba accessible.

CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ON HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY?

All contest submissions and entry forms must be submitted to accessibility@umanitoba.ca by 11:59 PM on May 11, 2018. The entry forms and contest rules can be found on our accessibility hub.

WHEN WILL WE HEAR ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF THE COMPETITION?

Shortly after the deadline, we will choose the top submission and award the project with a $1,000 prize. We will also notify others who participated in the competition so that we can submit all names to IDeA.

Winners for the IDeA competition will be announced in mid-October.

Additionally, we have partnered with the Government of Manitoba’s Disability Issues Office to showcase all competition submission at the Manitoba Access Awareness Week (MAAW) event on June 12, 2018. This will allow all participants the opportunity to showcase their work and network with many of Manitoba’s disability organizations!

For more information about the competition, visit U of M’s accessibility hub.

Academic Integrity Month is an initiative of the university-wide Academic Integrity Advisory Committee (AIAC), which oversees academic staff and student-focused educational initiatives.

“The literature shows that it’s important for universities to create an institutional culture that promotes academic integrity,” says Brandy Usick, co-chair of the AIAC and director of Student Advocacy and Accessibility. “Academic Integrity Month is a way for the U of M community to learn more about academic integrity and why it matters to them.”

The U of M’s academic integrity-themed events date back to 1997 and include activities for undergraduate and graduate students, academic staff/instructors, and administrators.

This year there will be events on Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses hosted by the Libraries, Academic Learning Centre, International Centre, Student Advocacy and the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, with support from University of Manitoba Students’ Union and University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the events taking place during October:

Week 1: Citing & Referencing

Students can compete on Twitter for prizes in the Fix That Citation contest hosted by the UM Libraries and attend workshops on picking the right citation manager.

Week 2: Mental Health & Academic Success

Keep an eye out for mental health events hosted by UMSU and stop by Academic Integrity Booths in Migizii Agamik—Bald Eagle Lodge and outside Dafoe Library to win prizes and learn about campus supports for students.

Week 3: Academic Culture

New international students can attend the International Centre’s Cultural & Academic Transition sessions held for both undergrad and graduate students on October 9 and 10, while academic staff and administrators can learn about dealing with matters related to academic integrity.

Week 4: Appropriate Collaboration

Do you know when it’s permitted to work with others in a class? Follow us on Twitter for tips, and follow the U of M student Instagram account for a day-in-the-life of a writing tutor.

Week 5: Integrity in Research and Teaching

Researchers and instructors can check out this week’s events on predatory publishing, picking the right review and fostering integrity in the classroom.

For more information on events, visit the Academic Integrity Month website.

The University of Manitoba is a member of the International Centre for Academic Integrity and endorses its new Fundamental Values Project, which defines academic integrity as “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals to action.”

Find Student Advocacy on Twitter and Facebook and join the conversation using #umintegrity.

“We are really thrilled about this new, integrated, central resource,” says Jackie Gruber, human rights and conflict management office, who is one of the hub’s coordinators. “The Accessibility Hub provides support and solicits feedback, while promoting the importance and visibility of accessibility at the university. It is intended to serve the community and anyone seeking information about accessibility and accessibility resources available at the U of M.”

The newly-created hub is part of the U of M’s evolving Accessibility Plan to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility as required under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which passed into law in December 2013. A first version of the U of M’s plan was released in December 2016.

“Accessibility is an integral part of an outstanding work and learning experience for our students, faculty and staff,” says Greg Juliano, associate vice-president (human resources).

“The Accessibility Hub is one more way to promote inclusion and diversity and achieve higher levels of accessibility at the University of Manitoba. Whether you are a visitor to U of M, a student, or someone working as support staff or faculty, we want to ensure that our campuses are open and welcoming to all and that information and resources are easy to find.”

The U of M’s Accessibility Hub can be found at: http://umanitoba.ca/accessibility/. Visit the site for continually updated accessibility news, information and resources.

Disability Accommodations Checklists from the province’s Disabilities Issues Office

http://www.accessibilitymb.ca/disability-accomodations-checklist.html

***

Various checklists re: planning accessible meetings and events

Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings

• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/arc/inclusive_meetings.pdf

Planning Accessible Meetings and Events A Toolkit

• American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/mental_physical_disability/Accessible_Meetings_Toolkit.authcheckdam.pdf

Planning for Accessibility A Checklist for Inclusion

• McMaster University

https://www.mcmaster.ca/hres/Planning%20for%20Accessibility%20-%20A%20Checklist%20for%20Inclusion.pdf

Guide to Accessible Events

• Ryerson University

http://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/accessibility/resources/guide_to_accessible_events.pdf

Planning Accessible Meetings and Events

Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/com-health/healthy-aging/accessible-events.pdf

Checklist for Planning Accessible Meetings and Events

• US Dept of Transportation Disability Resource Centre

http://connectoncampus.ca/files/access.pdf

Accessible Meeting Checklist

Access & Equity – Hamilton

http://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2015-12-10/seat-accessible-meeting-checklist.pdf

Accessible Events A Guide for Meeting and Event Organisers

• Meetings and Events Australia

http://www.meetingsevents.com.au/downloads/Accessible_Events_Guide.pdf

A Planning Guide for Accessible Conferences

• Council of Ontario Universities

http://www.accessiblecampus.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/A-Planning-Guide-for-Accessible-Conferences.pdf

***

Additional Resources

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/

WebAIM and WAVE Evaluation Tool: http://webaim.org/

Office Documents: Accessible Digital Office Documents (ADOD): http://adod.idrc.ocad.ca
Mobile Apps (BBC Guidelines): http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/mobile

The Example of Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/design/inclusive

Human [dot] Rights [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

These are a few of the myths about inclusive design that need to be combatted with facts, says director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University, Jutta Treviranus. Of the facts, it’s significant that one in five of us will experience a disability at some time in our lives, she points out — which means that all of us should consider how to make our environment more accessible and inclusive.

Treviranus visited the U of M on Tuesday, March 15 to speak to Manitobans about inclusive design principles in light of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which became legislation in December 2013. The event was hosted by the Accessibility Network of Post Secondary Institutions, the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management and other partners across campus.

Five new standards are intended to achieve substantially higher levels of accessibility in Manitoba; customer service is the first standard for development. All standards created under the Act apply to the provincial government, the broader public sector, and the private and not-for-profit sectors in Manitoba.

In 2016, and every second year thereafter, the Act will require the University of Manitoba to prepare accessibility plans that address the identification, prevention, and removal of barriers.

The law, says Treviranus, is just the first step.

What comes after the law? Our choices

Now that the AMA has passed into law, the public sector is working towards implementing the new standards, the first of which (customer service) must be met by 2017.

To help with this large undertaking, the University of Manitoba, alongside other Manitoba universities and colleges, formed an Accessibility Network of Post Secondary Institutions in order to collaborate on implementation.

Recruiting the community to help and participate together, says Treviranus, allows everyone to work together towards building solutions that start as “incomplete, impermanent and imperfect,” pooling resources and even providing a public repository for data, information, knowledge and wisdom.

As she notes, “Since laws are not agile, our choices within the law are important.” She emphasizes the importance of responsive, iterative solutions that focus on collaboration among diverse perspectives.

The “fail early and often” approach also has distinct “learning advantages” — along with an approach that rewards and highlights exemplars and progressive effort,” she says.

According to Treviranus, “Designing for diversity [is] enlightened self-interest.” Assistive technologies (AT), though helpful, are not enough. They also entail an impossible technical task in trying to cover compatibility with all systems. Our design approach needs to go beyond meeting needs of the (non-existent) “average” user to become “design that considers the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference,” she says.

Instead, and unlike AT, proactive inclusive design costs less because it considers at the outset a whole range of abilities. Inclusive design improves usability, increases customer satisfaction and loyalty and competitive advantage.

And of course, she adds, inclusion is ultimately better for our communities: for our families, for those around us, for ourselves.

Integration over segregation

There are three dimensions of inclusive design Treviranus suggests: Keep the process systemic or pervasive (with “virtuous” rather than “vicious” cycles), participatory and personal — thereby supporting personalization and co-design, and emphasizing integration over segregation.

Why participatory co-design? Because “diversity trumps ability.” Participatory design is bigger, more connected, more complex — allowing for more successful planning, more accurate prediction and greater creativity than isolated approaches. She suggests a focus on the tools and systems rather than the “instance,” through authoring tools, creating and sharing templates and development tools, and changing internal processes and procurement language.

Platforms that can help support an “inclusive culture change,” she says:

• engage many stakeholders
• match demands with supply, pool resources, tools and exemplars
• provide a public repository for data, information, knowledge and wisdom
• draw on an ever-growing and diverse community of practice
• provide training for skills, competencies and expertise
• engage the community
• use bottom-up verification, recruit the community
• reward and highlight exemplars and progressive effort
• are fueled by use and collective production

She also suggests engaging compliance support tools, training, human capacity and reporting support.

The merits of accessibility and inclusion are no longer something to debate anymore, Treviranus says: “the evidence is irrefutable, it affects all of us, the health of our society depends upon it.”

It’s now time, she adds, to shift the focus from the “why” to the “how.”

Resource Links
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/

WebAIM and WAVE Evaluation Tool: http://webaim.org/

Office Documents: Accessible Digital Office Documents (ADOD): http://adod.idrc.ocad.ca
Mobile Apps (BBC Guidelines): http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/mobile

The Example of Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/design/inclusive

Contact: Human.Rights@umanitoba.ca

>> See also: “Planning for accessibility: Resources”

This standard came into effect on November 1, 2015, and it is the first of five standards released under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). The other standards include: information and communication, built environment, employment, and transportation.

The customer service accessibility standard requires all of Manitoba’s public, private and non-profit organizations to establish and implement measures, policies and practices to remove barriers to customer service. Organizations have two years to become compliant.

The University of Manitoba has long been committed to ensuring an accessible environment for all people studying, working and living on campus. In 1983, the U of M opened the office of Disabled Student Services (later renamed Disability Services), taking on the work of the student group created in 1977, Physically Handicapped Concerns on Campus. In 2011, Disability Services changed its name to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and today this office upholds the Manitoba Human Rights Code, the AMA and the U of M’s accessibility policy, while advocating for and supporting students with disabilities.

According to SAS’ latest annual report, 1,047 students registered with SAS in 2013-2014.

The U of M will work with other post-secondary institutes to share ideas on how to best introduce these new accessibilty standards. Our collaborators include Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, Canadian Mennonite University, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Red River College, University College of the North, l’Université de Saint-Boniface and University of Winnipeg.

The institutions will meet multiple times a year to share ideas and brainstorm on best practices.

“We have the same clientele — students, faculty and staff —so we want to come together, share resources and develop creative and innovative solutions,” says Jackie Gruber, human rights/conflict management officer, Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management, University of Manitoba.

To read about the province’s AMA, visit the website of the Disability Issues Office.

The full-house event took place Sept. 29 in the beautiful 205 University Centre room. Featured speakers included President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard and Vice-President (Academic) and Provost Joanne Keselman; the program was emceed by Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs) Janice Ristock, with concluding remarks by Mark Torchia, director of the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (the Centre). The Centre will lead and support faculties through the process.

There is a sense of excitement surrounding the BFAR initiative, which represents a major commitment by the university to accessible, inclusive education. The University of Manitoba is one of the first universities in Canada to implement a BFAR process, and has been commended by the Province of Manitoba’s Disabilities Issues Office for its strong action plan in support of barrier-free education.

Provost Keselman thanked academic faculty and students for their dedication to improving the campus community and for recognizing the importance of the BFAR initiative. Every academic program at the U of M, including degree, diploma and certificate programs, will undertake the process through discussion with faculty and students about core academic requirements and removing barriers to education.

The initiative has already begun, with the Faculty of Graduate Studies first to engage in the BFAR process.

President Barnard noted that discussions happening within faculties and with student involvement support the strategic pillar, “Building Community that creates an outstanding learning environment,” of the U of M’s 2015-2020 strategic plan, Taking Our Place. Part of the goal is creating a culture of accessibility on campus through collaboration and consultation.

The BFAR process is a shared venture with input and support from a number of the offices on campus, including Student Advocacy and Accessibility Services, the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management, the Office of Fair Practices and Legal Affairs, the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), and the BFAR Liaisons from each program across the university.

“The BFAR process is about inclusion, equality, and supporting human rights towards success for all learners,” added Centre for Advancement in Teaching and Learning director Mark Torchia.

Inquiries regarding the BFAR process can be directed to BFAR [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Read more about the BFAR process:

http://news.umanitoba.ca/the-university-of-manitoba-is-leading-the-way/

http://news.umanitoba.ca/creating-a-more-inclusive-and-accessible-learning-environment-for-all-students/

http://news.umanitoba.ca/launching-the-bfar-process-in-graduate-studies/

These changes facilitate the process for both students and instructors, enhancing their experience at the U of M. As of May 1, 2014, all letters of accommodation, test/exam booking information and volunteer notes will be available online through the SAS scheduler located on the right-hand side of JUMP.

Detailed instructions for all the changes can be found here. 

Letters of accommodation

Previously, instructors received an email with an attached PDF for each student registered with SAS enrolled in their course. Going forward, instructors can view an online list of all students and their accommodations for every course they teach.

Instructors will still receive email notification directing them to log in to JUMP for each student.

Test/exam bookings

Until now, students were required to schedule a test/exam with SAS and were given a test/exam particular form.

Students took the form to the instructor to have it signed; students were required to return the form to SAS prior to the test/exam. The test/exam was emailed, faxed or brought in person by the instructor to SAS before the test/exam date.

With the new online scheduler, students are no longer required to have their test/exam particular form signed by instructors, as the whole process can now be completed through JUMP.

When instructors log in to the online portal, they can view all of the accessibility tests/exams scheduled for their courses. Instructors can confirm or edit details provided by students (e.g., the student scheduled an exam for two hours, when it is actually three hours).

Instructors can indicate whether any materials are allowed during the test/exam (e.g., ruler, graphing calculator, etc.). Once instructors have confirmed the test/exam particulars for one student, it will be applied to all students writing that same test/exam with SAS.

Instructors have the option to upload an electronic version of the test/exam directly to the secure portal – a safe, quick and guaranteed method of exam delivery.

Please note that the writing time will be assumed correct if instructors do not input or edit any of the test information. In addition, default settings are a closed book test and return of all test materials by students.

For more information about the new SAS scheduler, visit the SAS website or contact 204-474-6213/sasexams@umanitoba.ca