Increase Accessibility at Ryerson University

Despite some efforts for improvement, Ryerson University has a long way to go to ensuring an universally accessible environment. This universally accessible campus includes an environment free from physical, academic and attitudinal barriers. Ryerson needs to ensure that professors, faculty, staff and students are not imposing attitudinal barriers. Ryerson needs to ensure physical barriers to accessibility are removed. The current focuses on implementing accessibility through the so called "Master Plan". While this move towards accessibility through the "Master Plan" is important, it is also important that Ryerson University embraces accessibility in the near future rather than in just a twenty year plan.

Disability is defined by the barriers put into place by society. At the same time, disability also includes: Physical and mobility disabilities in which people use mobility aides such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers and scooters.

Disabilities also include sensory disabilities, mental health disabilities and other invisible disabilities.

Concrete steps for change need to be implemented this year and into the next.

RyeACCESS is asking for this concrete goal:

1) A dedicated budget for an advertising campaign and monies for staffing to ensure a program which would establish an Accessibility Awareness Office specifically devoted to ensuring the Ryerson community knows about and implements a Accessible environment free from attitudinal barriers.

2) A dedicated budget to ensure further awareness of fire evacuation procedures for people with disabilities. Implementation should be include advertising campaigns and mandatory education seminars to be conducted each semester.