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The 2016 Accessibility Conference, University of Guelph - Call for Presentations

The goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) is stated simply: the development and enforcement of accessibility standards in order to, “achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025.” Yet, there is a growing realization that this goal cannot be achieved solely through compliance with the AODA standards.

It will also require additional measures, such as addressing attitudinal barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, and encouraging inclusive thinking in organizations. As Mayo Moran noted in her Second Legislative Review of the AODA, organizations may need to treat the current AODA standards as “the floor, not the ceiling” of their efforts to create an inclusive environment. Despite the desire of individuals who work in the field of accessibility to move beyond simple compliance with the AODA, institutions often focus on meeting the minimum requirements of the Standards, citing logistical and other challenges.

The need to both comply with the AODA standards and to move beyond them could potentially be reconciled through developing a shared vision of the goals of the legislation. The Organizing Committee for the 2016 University of Guelph Accessibility Conference is therefore interested in presentations that address the issue of vision and the AODA:

• What is your organization's vision of the AODA and how are you realizing it? • How important is having a shared vision in moving forward on accessibility targets? • How do you create 'buy-in' for a shared vision of accessibility?

• Is there a tension in your organization between the pursuit of simple compliance versus a desire to move beyond the stated requirements of the AODA in removing barriers and promoting inclusion? How are you seeking to resolve it?

• If organizations move beyond a simple focus on the ‘letter’ of the AODA, how can they measure their success? As in the past, the Organizing Committee is also interested in presentations related to:

• the AODA Standards • Web, document, and media accessibility

• adaptive technology

• disability research and accommodation

• inclusive design

• accessible teaching and learning

• national and international accessibility issues.

Priority will be given to presentations that provide attendees with a framework to move from ideas to action. The Organizing Committee welcomes persons with disabilities both as presenters and participants. Submission Deadline: Friday, January 22, 2016 Presentation Days: Tuesday or Wednesday, May 31 or June 1, 2016. Successful presenters will be contacted in March, 2016.

Complete the form on the conference website and submit to Pat Shaver, Open Learning and Educational Support, University of Guelph.

Pat Shaver, Open Learning and Educational Support, University of Guelph Email: pshaver@uoguelph.ca

Accessibility Conference on AMI-TV

AMI INSIDE attended the 2015 Accessibility Conference, taping sessions and interviewing speakers and participants. Two sessions are posted on AMI INSIDE. AMI INSIDE Season 1, Episode 7 The Guelph Accessibility Conference AMI INSIDE Season 1, Episode 8 Web Extra: The Guelph Accessibility Conference - Jeffrey Preston

Open Learning and Educational Support| University of Guelph 519-767-5000 | Info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca | www.OpenEd.uoguelph.ca