Accessibility in 2020 and Beyond

Written by: Holly Morrison

@holly.morrison

Photo by: Saint Mary’s University

2020 has marked an eventful and noteworthy year for us all, but especially for the Fred Smithers Centre (FSC) at Saint Mary’s. Not only does this year mark the 35th anniversary of the FSC, formerly known as the Atlantic Centre, but it has also seen interesting and new developments regarding the services they provide, some of which are outlined in an article written by FSC manager, Jennifer Green. In particular, given the remote learning dynamic, students now need help in new and unprecedented ways. These topics, along with many others, were discussed in the SMU After Hours: Accessibility Webinar (hosted by the Alumni Association) on September 30th. Moderated by Dr. Lori Francis, Acting Dean of Science, with a panel comprising professors, students, and those who work at the FSC, this well-rounded group had some very thought-provoking points on accessibility. Their commentary extended not only just to campus, but also to the community at large.

The webinar followed a question and answer format, with Dr. Francis posing questions to the panelists, and having them each answer in turn. The panel was made up of 4 individuals: Baden Mercer, a SMU student who uses the FSC, Jennifer Green, manager of the FSC, Dr. Sailaja Krishnamurti, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies and co-chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Accessibility in the Academic Environment, and Dr. Linda Campbell, director of the School of Environment, and a professor and senior research Fellow in the Department of Environmental Science. 

One common issue with discussions on accessibility is that those who most need these accommodations are seldom included in the conversation. However, this panel remedied this by having two firsthand perspectives on accessibility, a current student who utilizes the FSC, and Dr. Linda Campbell, who identifies herself as a deaf scientist in a hearing world. 

These panelists discussed their personal experiences with accessibility in both requiring it and providing it. They also discussed the misconception that accommodations for those with a disability are meant to give these students an edge over their peers, rather than even the playing field, and the myth that accessibility  is a privilege rather than a basic right. Another important topic that was discussed was the NS Government’s Access by Design 2030 document, created with the goal of providing standards for accessibility across the province. Dr. Campbell is part of a committee to plan out these standards and what they will look like in practice.

Not only were students in attendance, but some professors were as well. For students, accessibility conversations tend to cover the accommodations they require, but it is essential that professors join these discussions as well, to learn what ways they can make their classroom and teaching style more accessible. Thinking about this side of things was just as much a surprise for me as it may be for many others; it simply wasn’t something I had ever considered before. But diving deeper into the conversation on accessibility made me realize just how many aspects of this topic I was in the dark about, such as specific policies being created, and intellectual as well as physical accessibilities.

Accessibility issues impact everyone, not just those with disabilities. For instance, if situations are not accessible for all,  many great ideas may never be voiced in a classroom, or perhaps a promising athlete won’t achieve their dreams of being a paralympian. For those with a disability, events like these are crucial in helping them feel seen and heard. However, it is equally important that the community at large is informed about issues within accessibility, to better help and advocate for those who need it. 

Though many aspects of the world have become more accessible, largely in part due to services like the FSC, or new government policies being put in place, many opportunities for accessibility are still missed or overlooked. The fact that accessibility accommodations are still considered “special circumstances” show the truth: that the world still has a long way to go in order to be completely accessible for every person at any level of ability. The end goal of accessibility is for it to be the norm, to get to a point where “special” accommodations don’t need to be used. This idea is another one that I had not previously considered, and this inclusive Webinar held by SMU certainly opened my eyes and showed me a new way of looking at these sorts of discussions. 

While the world has changed considerably over the past several months in this pandemic, some of these changes have actually worked to benefit the lives of those who live with disabilities. For example, the ability to work remotely, is something many people have been asking for for years. Another issue brought up at the Webinar was the fact that the demand for better online captioning services and ASL interpreters has been high, but with remote operations, the need for these services have become more obvious. Ironically, thanks to Covid-19, these things have become a reality, and what’s more, a necessity. Though it may seem strange, this worldwide pandemic is, in some ways, working to further accessibility in the world.

Until we get the world to a place that’s 100% accessible, with policies in place to build necessary physical accommodations, teachers presenting their material in a manner all can understand, and regular captioning and ASL interpreters available, these conversations should continue to happen, for the benefit of both those with and without a disability. If you are interested in more information about this webinar and learning more about accessibility at SMU, it is available to watch through the Saint Mary’s Alumni Facebook page.