23 Accessibility Policies, Plans, and Committees

Biennial AODA Accessibility Environmental Scan

As 2023 is a reporting year for McMaster on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance, a data collection process was rolled-out in Spring-Summer 2023 with members of the McMaster Accessibility Advisory Council and coordinated by the AccessMac Program. These Environmental Scans were competed by all central departments on campus, providing status updates on implementing and compliance with current AODA regulations. The data will be used to complete the AODA report sent to the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility in December 2023.

Contributors: AccessMac, Equity and Inclusion Office, and McMaster’s Accessibility Advisory Council

Updating McMaster’s Accessibility Policy

The Accessibility Program staff and the McMaster Accessibility Advisory Council Chair have been diligently working to update McMaster’s Accessibility Policy, including hosting a public consultation period with faculty, staff, students, and specific employee resource groups. Additionally, a university wide survey was released, which resulted in the collection of 2467 responses (82 qualitative) from students, faculty and staff. The survey results provided significant feedback on how the policy can be strengthened. The Policy has been completed revitalized since the previously 2010 version, and will provide an important roadmap for ensuring accessibility and disability inclusion at McMaster into the future. The Policy is set to be finalized in 2024.

Contributors: AccessMac, Equity and Inclusion Office, and McMaster’s Accessibility Advisory Council