Navigate this page:
- Introduction
- What is a disability?
- Disabilities and the Pandemic
- Disabilities and innovation
- Additional Information on Accessibility and Universal Design
ճ(IDPD) was proclaimedby the United Nationsin1992, “The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.”
ճlatest theme for IDPD isLeadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. With decreased access to many types of services including healthcare, the pandemichashighlighted the vulnerabilities of people who present with disabilities.As wegradually plan for a return to “normal”, it isessential that wetake this opportunity toaddress pre-existing gaps,make improvements,andcreate apost-pandemicworldaplacewherepersonswith disabilitiesare included.
What is a disability?
states “Disability is part of being human”.Animpairment is not necessarily disabling if the environment isdesigned to be fully inclusive.The Accessible Canada Actfurtherdefines disability as “any impairment…or functional limitation…that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participate in society”.As Dr. Liu, Dean of Faculty of Health notes, “By this definition, it’s clear that almost all of us canexperience a disability at any time”.By creating a world thatincludespeoplethrougha full spectrum of abilities,itwill allow all of us to consistently and equitably participate and contribute to society.
andthe Pandemic
The pandemic has shifted the way we function and live our everyday livesoverthe pasttwoyears, and barriers thatareoften experienced by personswith disabilitiesareexperienced by everyoneduring the lockdown.For example,the insurgence of videoconference tools such as Zoom has brought people togethervirtually to combat social isolation,somethingEmilyLadau, a disabilityactivistandauthor ofDemystifying Disability, expresses that many people with disabilities are already usedto“because the world is not accessible to us.”A study onfound thatpeople with disabilitiesexperience greater risk of food insecurity due to transportation, food access, and socioeconomic barriers.With physical grocery shopping not being an option during the pandemic,the recentemergence of service delivery appsto meet essential grocery and pharmaceutical needshavebridged the long-marredbarrierexperiencedby persons withdisabilitiestrying toobtain services and products fromphysical spaces that are inaccessible.
Most educational institutions adopted asynchronous learningover the past year,utilizing different technologies and platforms to deliver education. Thishas allowedfor more flexibility andability for students to consume information at their own pace.These changes have been particularly beneficialtostudents who may have cognitive or mental disabilities, or episodicdisabilities that impact theirphysicalattendance in class.Offering alternate formatsofinstructional material has helped many of the27% of graduating students in Canadawhoidentify as having a disability (2021 Graduating Student SurveyMaster Report, Canadian University Survey Consortium).
PriscilaCarrara, Student Success Officer, Science,shareshowher abilities have been impacted since the pandemic:
Disabilities and innovation
Remarkable examples of innovation have ensued from addressing disparities faced by people with disabilities, such asaudiobooks that were initially developed for people with visual impairments but are now widely used by the general population.interest in sound technology was inspired by deaf mother and wife, who were both deaf, andeventually led to the invention of the telephone!
More recentexamples include:
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which collects descriptive information on your surroundings through your device camera.Initially designed for theblind and low vision community,this research projectharnesses the power of artificialintelligencetodescribepeople, text, currency,colorand objects.Assistance inidentifying unfamiliar objectslike plants and wildlife,foreign currency,andhavingimagesdescribedaudiblyissomething everyone will find usefulinthisday and age.
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began with the intention ofmakingit easier for people with cognitive disabilitiesto use Android phones and tablets. Actions like booking a ridesharewhichgenerallyrequiresunlocking yourphone, finding the right app, andtypingin yourpickuplocation. With Action Blocks,it can be configured to dotaskswith just one tap, for example,call a loved one, share your location, watch your favorite show, and more.While thisworks toempowerpeople with cognitive disabilities and help them gainindependence, who wouldn’tbenefit froman app that can simplify the use of our smartphone?
Dr. Lili Liu,dean offaculty of Health, shares how the University of ݮƵ is in aunique positionto advanceinnovation with disabilities in mind:
The experience gained during the pandemiccaneducate us on howrecognizing and embeddingthe needs ofpersonswith disabilitiesin a post-COVID-19 world can drive innovation to build systems that are better for everybody.Dr. Liu, Dean, Faculty of Health notes,“More than ever, it’s important that persons with disabilitiesparticipate and have leadership roles to help ensure thatour campus is equitable, and in turn, future generations of students and scholars experience a more equitable society.”
At the University of ݮƵ, we are continuously seeking feedback from our disability community ensure we areproviding services with accessibility in mind.Are youInterested in representing the disability community within the University of ݮƵ? Join theAccessibility Advisory Panel.
AdditionalInformation on accessibility and universal design:
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-The World Economic Forumdiscusses how we can address and learn from accessibility gaps while highlighting the inclusive innovation for tomorrow that benefits everybody.
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– ARTiculationsreviewshowpractical accessible design solutions can improvethe experience and better access for everyone.