Live Event Recording

Read the full timestamped transcript below.

Introduction

00:00:02 Okay. Are we good to go team.
00:00:07 Awesome. Welcome.
00:00:12 Official Welcome to Elements of Inclusion. My name is Teresa.
00:00:17 And I’m Melissa, and we’re the course of directors of Inclusive Art, Design and Communication course which is part of the Masters of Design and Inclusive Design Program, and Elements of Inclusion was put together by our amazing, creative, resilient students
00:00:35 whom you will meet shortly, and this exhibition is a combination of their learning from the course this summer, where we explored how the fields of art, design communications inform and contribute to inclusive design, especially in the space of exhibition
00:00:49 design. We wanted to get to know you a little bit before we get started so you might see the poll asking whether you’re familiar with inclusive design we’ll keep it on for another– a minute.
00:01:04 So please feel free to join in and share with us how familiar with inclusive design, but we would like to get started by acknowledging the physical indigenous lands that connect us all while we are engaging in a virtual space.
00:01:20 So we are all joining from different parts but OCAD University– that unites us all, as well as many of our cohort are located and Ontario and Toronto is located on the ancestral and the traditional territories of Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee,
00:01:38 the Anishinaabe and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which they said, and Ottawa, is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation.
00:01:54 Durham Region is located on the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. And these lands are covered under Williams Treaties and the traditional territory of the Mississauga, a branch of the great Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin,
00:02:10 Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomi and Edmonton, Alberta, is located on indigenous land in Treaty 6 territory land occupied traveled and cared for by indigenous peoples since time immemorial.
00:02:26 This place Amiskwaciy Waskahikan, Edmonton is a traditional meeting ground gathering, place and traveling route for the Nehiyawak (Cree), Anishinaabe/Saulteaux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. On the West Coast, we would like to
00:02:45 acknowledge the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the traditional Land of the Coast Salish people around Seattle, Washington.
00:02:57 We would also like to recognize the indigenous lands and peoples in which the digital platforms facilitating this exhibition specifically impact. Pressbooks is headquartered in Tiohtià:ke, Montreal on the unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka, Mohawk Nation,
00:03:14 and Zoom is headquartered in San Jose, California on the traditional lands of the Ohlone and Tamyen peoples. YouTube is headquartered in San Mateo, California, on the traditional lands of the Ohlone and Ramaytush people’s.
00:03:30 If you would like to learn more about land acknowledgments or the history and present context of indigenous peoples in Canada. I’m just about to share some links in the chat, where you can explore more about land acknowledgments Truth and Reconciliation
00:03:44 Commission of Canada and the calls for action, and the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
00:03:56 So we’re actually really so excited today that we’re able to come together and to join and learn and see all of these wonderful ideas that these fabulous students have put together, and we’re going to hand it over so that you can enjoy all of the panels
00:04:11 and just listen to all of this great notions of future and inclusion.
00:04:19 Hello, everybody. Thank you, Melissa and Teresa.
00:04:25 I believe it’s my time still, yay, awesome. Hello everybody, on behalf of my teammates, I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time out to join us today.
00:04:35 We are so excited to share with you what we have been working on, very hard, for the last few months.
00:04:42 The theme of our exhibit is called Elements of Inclusion: A journey through inclusive design in practice. This is an interactive exhibition that features preliminary research, reflecting the diverse and inclusive practices of our cohort.
00:04:57 Today, we have invited you to join our live panels, as we explore inclusive practices, ranging from spaces and communities to workplaces and systems. Our individual exhibits have been classified into five categories, inspired by the five elements in Taoism.
00:05:14 The belief is that everything in the universe is made up of five elements, namely: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These elements are interconnected and fluid.
00:05:28 The focus is on energy and process, and how all things can be inclusive and unified.
00:05:34 In many ways, the journey to inclusion is reflective of this interconnectedness. So a quick overview of what today’s program entails is as follows, the session will consist of three live panels.
00:05:47 The first panel will be the metal group.
00:05:50 The second panel consists of water and earth group. And the final panel will be the fire and wood group.
00:05:57 Each panel will be hosted by a new moderator who will introduce the respective groups and set the stage for that panel.
00:06:05 Each panel will begin by playing a short, introductory video by each of our panelists to give you a glimpse into their own projects. Don’t worry, at the end of the video, panelists will answer a question from the moderator about that work, about their work.
00:06:20 Excuse me.
00:06:21 At the end of each session, we invite you to either use the raise hand feature in Zoom or ask– to ask a question verbally or you can type your questions in the chat.
00:06:31 There will be a five minute intermission between panel sessions to transition to the next set where we invite you to answer feedback questions in the polls, like the one you see on your screen, or any other questions that might pop up.
00:06:45 But at the end of these three sessions we invite you to please stay on for an activity hosted by Japjot, one of– one of tonights panelists.
00:06:55 Sorry. Thank you. That’s it.
00:06:57 Welcome. I hope you guys have a great time, and all of our effort–
00:07:03 The team has been working really hard so we’re very excited to share this with you.
00:07:07 Welcome.

Metal Theme

00:07:10 [Screen displays Metal]
00:07:15 Alright. Thank you, Sharon, for that wonderful introduction. Wow.
00:07:20 So welcome everyone to our first panel. My name is Adam and I will be your moderator for this panel devoted to metal, along with Josephine, who will be monitoring the chat and looking after any technical issues.
00:07:35 So as I mentioned, this panel is organized around the element metal and focus on designing better products and experiences. The element of metal has an inherent shaping energy. It is typically seen as the element that can be used to shape objects for everyday
00:07:50 life.
00:07:51 In this theme, you’ll see how students are using inclusive design as the tool to shape better products and experiences for people.
00:07:58 As Sharon mentioned, we’ll now play a series of short introductory videos to give you a sense of the breadth of the exciting topics covered by our panelists.
00:08:24 I am Shivani Gulati, pursuing to be Inclusive Designer.
00:08:28 As we all know, cosmetics have played a historic role as a means of self-reinvention and transformation and allowed all to articulate different aspects of their selves.
00:08:40 However, cosmetic packaging for blind and visually impaired consumers is reported very less under the assumption that their loss of visibility does not allow them to use for their benefit and transformation, or beautification for themselves.
00:08:55 Realizing the need for inclusive packaging design, my research focus is accessible cosmetic packaging that will help provide an equitable shopping experience and make-up application for blind and visually impaired consumers.
00:09:11 The exhibition aims to create awareness of the need for inclusive cosmetic packaging design for everyday use for blind and visually impaired consumers.
00:09:20 My future research objectives would include investigative methods for producing products with multi-sensory experience to differentiate cosmetic packaging and their colours. As well as offering assistive technology to help users while applying cosmetics.
00:09:37 I hope you gain valuable insights and looking forward to a great panel talk.
00:09:42 Thank you.
00:09:52 Hi everyone, my name is Cindy and my topic focuses on designing a sensory yoga playkit that promotes yoga activities for hypersensitive children with a sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD.
00:10:03 Did you know that we have eight sensory senses and our sensory nervous system instead of five? There is sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, proprioception, which is for body awareness, vestibular which is for body movement, and interoception, which is for internal
00:10:15 organs sense. SPD is a neurological disorder that causes complexities in processing information from these eight senses. During the research I’ve noticed a lack of consideration and promotional of sensory yoga and its benefits for SPD even though yoga
00:10:27 is promoted as an accessible self-care practice. So the question arises that shouldn’t we all deserve to feel safe and have an enjoyable time while self-caring?
00:10:34 Most importantly, how come sensory yoga activities are not implemented as part of the children with sensory issues daily routine at a very young age, with all the yoga benefits promoted for the rest of us.
00:10:45 So the problem statement of my research is that there is a lack of research directed by children with SPD for the SPD children that accommodate yoga as a therapeutic tool that promoted enjoyable, fun experience while benefits their well-being.
00:10:59 The two main objectives of this research are to identify ways to design a sensory yoga playkit, that encourages sensory yoga that works as an enjoyable experience for children with SPD, and it is also to create enjoyable yoga activities supporting children
00:11:12 with SPD by determining the relationship between critical design factors and the existing fitness environment and sensory issues.
00:11:19 For this research study’s purpose inclusion is understood as creating an enjoyable sensory yoga for children my SPD and how a genuinely inclusive sensory yoga playkit and the sensory yoga activities should be as everyone deserves to feel safe and good while
00:11:32 self-caring.
00:11:35 The proposed research will be conducted using participatory action research and qualitative research methods and uncovering common things and exploring the factors and challenges hypersensitive children my SPD face in their everyday experiences.
00:11:49 That is all for my presentation. Thank you for your time.
00:12:03 Hello everyone. Ny name is Nuzhat, and the topic for my MRP is regarding creating a guideline for User Interface designers to help them to be able to design accessible shopping websites online.
00:12:17 As more and more users move online for shopping needs, providing an accessible digital shopping experience has never been more important. Failing to incorporate web accessibility hurts E-commerce businesses themselves.
00:12:30 So, there are issues like failing to support screen readers that blind users need to navigate online. Along with really confusing layouts that lead users with cognitive decline
00:12:42 bewildered and lost. There are hard-to-read displays with
00:12:45 low contrast ratios, poor colour choices, and very tiny text. And sometimes they even present vital information such as price and product description in an image without descriptive alt tags, so screen readers can’t pick it up and hiding crucial
00:13:04 details about delivery and returns in fine print that is almost impossible to find on the site. There is a lack of empirical evidence and existing accessibility guidelines regarding specifications for information architecture.
00:13:21 How content is arranged in an interface matters greatly.
00:13:25 And because it is easier for sighted users to figure out the incorrect positioning of a CTA button, compared to a visually impaired user. So for my MRP, I would like to propose that simple interface solutions can easily improve the users experience on
00:13:41 the web. My aim is to develop a theoretical design guideline, specifically for brands that would make the online shopping experience much easier for everyone.
00:13:52 blind users should be viewed as potential customers and it doesn’t matter what the disability type is, it is about equal access. It does not mean treating everyone the same, it means giving everyone the same opportunity.
00:14:04 And in this case, it means to purchase a piece of clothing of their choice.
00:14:24 Hello everyone, my name is Sharon Sequeria, and welcome to my project
00:14:27 at OCAD U. As an aromatherapist, I know that personal care befalls us all as one ages. Overall strength is lost and seeing my mom go through two surgeries on her wrists, due to carpal tunnel syndrome, it got me thinking during the course of the program of how it
00:14:45 might a product or bottle design, enable her to go about her showering and or self care routine unaided and added hidden component to consider was the thought of dignity. Most seniors do not want to be assisted in personal matters of care, as they feel it robs them of their independence.
00:15:04 The journey I aim to take my project on is as follows. One, explore avenues to ensure that the product I take great care to create can live in a container that takes into account ease of use, because no matter how amazing a product is it serves no
00:15:19 one if it can’t actually be used.
00:15:22 Then, I hope to design the portal that affords the continuance of dignity and independence in the private and self care matters of the shower.
00:15:30 Ultimately, I’d like to design an end to end experience that not only sparks delight from a product experience, but also increase awareness and get the conversation going in my aromatherapy practice around ensuring, we’re talking about designs that
00:15:44 can especially impact the elderly.
00:15:46 Thank you very much, and I hope you enjoyed the exhibition.
00:16:01 Hi everyone, my name is Siheng Wang, I’m an international student from China. I didn’t want to act like that, but we do have some awkward moment caused by the language barrier.
00:16:10 So we are always worried about saying the wrong thing or something weird.
00:16:15 Excuse me! Do you have some paper? No, I don’t want to write anything, just you know…
00:16:20 Yes, yes, napkin, I guess. Yes, yes. Nap..nap..napkin, yes.
00:16:27 What kind of eggs do I want?
00:16:31 maybe hen’s?
00:16:35 a course called residency, what does it actually mean?
00:16:41 Thank you Jose, I still don’t get it. Culture, huh, it used to be a beautiful word to me.
00:16:52 But now, it means something I don’t understand something that drives me crazy. I know this, this, and this, but what is this? What? I like money, it used to be my good friend. But who are Toonie?Loonie? Dime? Quarter? and Nickel?
00:17:12 Where am I from? I’m from Bijie! No, not near Beijing neither Shanghai. Do we have territory acknowledgement. What is that China has an area of 9.6 million square kilometers.
00:17:27 So in my exhibit you will see more challenges and struggles for international students from my MRP, we need to identify them and face them, because the world is so big, and yet I owe it to visit.
00:17:38 Welcome to my exhibit.
00:17:51 Hi everyone, I’m very glad to introduce my MRP topic here. I am Jianqi Yin.
00:18:01 The research direction of my MRP is online group therapy for Chinese teenagers mental health care. This project, mainly focuses on two aspects group therapy is the first aspect.
00:18:18 According to my research, the method of group therapy is an excellent way to help people to solve their mental health problems, but in China, this method is uncommon.
00:18:29 Therefore, this project attempts to show how an online app combined with the group treatment of fraternity, to provide a spiritual relief treatment for Chinese teenagers and how they can use their fragmented time and low cost to relieve their mental stress.
00:18:49 The influence of culture is the second aspect. Depression is stigmatized in some Asian countries. And a big part of Chinese teenagers, a lack of the cultivate of emotional expression, due to the cultural background, they are not good at release their
00:19:05 mental pressure face to face, reckon for this aspect. I’m trying to use the method of an online platform to give these teenagers, a hand to open their hearts gradually and find their sense belongings.
00:19:17 This is the brief introduction of my MRP topic. Thank you for listening.
00:19:28 Adam, you’re muted.
00:19:33 Thank you very much, just as a little bit of levity, I actually made a note of myself to unmute my mic, and I ignored it.
00:19:42 All right, thanks everyone for those great videos, and now we’re going to move into another section of our next section of our program where we ask each of our panelists to answer a question, and they’ve prepared an answer to it.
00:19:54 So the question is this and I’ll say it once, just so that we don’t have to repeat it across panelists, in two minutes or less, please tell us about the connections that you see between your topic and the theme for this panel.
00:20:07 And so we’re going to go in the order that our panelists appeared in the video. And so, Shivani, can I ask you for your response, please.
00:20:15 Hey, Adam. Yes, sure.
00:20:17 So, as you all know my topic is all about accessible cosmetic packaging for the visually impaired and blind.
00:20:28 So, as you mentioned that shaping energy experiences is the main theme for u, our MRP. So I feel the same way cosmetic allows consumers to transform and shape their personality, their appearance and confidence.
00:20:43 So it is very less reported on the struggles of visually impaired and blind users using cosmetic because of the stigmatized notions. They equally want to be presented their best selves in front of all with all the confidence.
00:20:57 So, to allow every consumer for the best experience I aim to shape and create an accessible cosmetic packaging and that’s how I relate to the team metal.
00:21:09 Great, thank you so much, Shivani.
00:21:11 Alright, our next panelist is Cindy. Cindy, can I ask you to answer that question for us?
00:21:19 Thank you, Adam.
00:21:21 So, I’m also in the metal theme, and I believe I’m in the right theme because, as I mentioned the presentation I’m trying to decide a sensory yoga playkit for hypersensitive children with sensory processing disorder, and the end goal is to create
00:21:36 an enjoyable sensory friendly yoga products that will elevate their everyday fitness experiences while it is benefiting them also. So yeah, that’s why I’m in the metal theme, thank you.
00:21:52 Thank you, Cindy thanks very much. All right. Nuzhat, were next to you.
00:21:59 Thank you, Adam. Yeah.
00:22:00 So hi, my name is Nuzhat, and my MRP comes under the element metal. It signifies that how we’re going to be using inclusive design to make production experiences better for people because of which for my MRP I would like to propose that possibly interface,
00:22:20 your solutions can easily improve the users experience on the web, by aiming to developer theoretical design guidelines specifically for brands, Ecommerce brands, that would make the online shopping experience much easier for everyone.
00:22:34 That’s because blind users should be viewed as potential customers, and it doesn’t matter what the disability type is, it’s about equal access. It does not mean treating everyone the same, it means giving everyone the same opportunity.
00:22:46 And that’s all. Thank you.
00:22:50 Great, thank you so much. All right. Next, I believe we’re over to Sharon.
00:22:56 Hello again everybody
00:23:02 okay I’m going to unmute myself. Thanks Adam, so I have a two fold response so I took a philosophical route based off of Taoism and metal in Taoism is associated with the season of autumn when nature begins to cool down.
00:23:14 So here life begins to condense just holding on to what’s absolutely necessary to reduce energy. So this is related to the elderly, as strength weakens, there isn’t really much energy to waste.
00:23:27 So just as in our relationship to the world around us, metal tends to be hidden. And I juxtapose that to the research that I’ve uncovered so far, seniors are the fastest growing purchasing demographic globally, and also regrettably the demographic that
00:23:41 tends to be overlooked in product design.
00:23:44 Three, the elements of metal governs our skin, body, hair, respiratory system with its sensory organ being the nose. So this is exciting for me to uncover because that fits in with my aroma therapy practice where not only build a product that’s natural
00:23:59 and one, and I want to enhance the user’s olfactory experience, but using elements found in nature two or the second factor, practical, so when you think of metal in its literal sense, one thinks of words like durable, long-lasting and especially for me,
00:24:15 sustainable and recyclable. So it’s not about having to reinvent the wheel. I want to take what’s familiar and elevate it. So my main theme will focus on evolution, with the direct path to more senior center designs.
00:24:28 Thank you.
00:24:30 Great, thanks so much Sharon.
00:24:32 Alright. Next, I believe oh, Siheng, are you there?
00:24:38 Yeah sure I’m here.
00:24:42 Okay, the connection for me is simple metal is the material for tools so I’m trying to create tools to help Asian so international students, and trying to identify their typical challenges and create guidelines for institutions, instructors, and students.
00:25:05 So, I’m also looking for materials as reliable as metal to make the tools. So, yeah, that’s a connection. Thank you.
00:25:16 Thank you.
00:25:17 And our last panelist to share their response with is Jianqi, are you there?
00:25:24 I am there. Great.
00:25:26 Hi everyone, my topic is about the online group therapy for Chinese teenagers’ healthcare. And I categorize my exhibit into the metal group, according to this specific of metal element as because it’s represent that using the shaping energy to make better products
00:25:47 or experience for others. And I think in my project to use the same concept to build up an online platform, which complied with the request of Chinese teenagers mental healthcare, and also tried I tried to background their daily experience,
00:26:04 through a friendly method. Furthermore I also want to use the shaping energy to get this teenagers with depression more courage to face to struggles in their future life.
00:26:15 And you can see more materials and the research about about mental healthcare group treatment, and some online platform prototype in my chapter, hope you can enjoy this exhibition.
00:26:26 Thank you.
00:26:31 Thank you so much, Jianqi. So great, we’re moving right along here on this metal panel, and we have now time to turn it over to our broader panel discussion.
00:26:45 And so, as Sharon mentioned from the outset, we have just a couple of a couple of things to keep in mind. First up, if you’d like to ask a question in real time.
00:26:56 Using the audio feature, please by all means use the raise hand function in Teams. If you’d like to drop us a text based question, that’s great. Josephine, I believe you are keeping an eye on that for us and before we go to our live questions for this
00:27:14 panel.
00:27:15 I also want to mention that if you are posing a question, please, specify whether it is for one specific panelist, or several panelists, or the whole panel, just so that we can be sure that we get the correct scope for your response.
00:27:35 Josephine, do we have anything in the chat?
00:27:40 I don’t think we have anything in the chat yet, but if people don’t feel like going on mic feel free to add any comments or questions to the chat, and I’ll read them out loud.
00:27:54 Great.
00:27:55 Okay.
00:27:58 I think we’ve got our, our panel. Now, one thing I will mention just about the spotlighting is that if you for panelists if you’re not using your camera that’s fine but we can’t spotlight if your cameras off.
00:28:11 But again, no pressure let’s chat.
00:28:20 Well, I have a question to get us started.
00:28:24 So, I might as well just put it to this fabulous group. So I’m wondering, in your respect and this is for the entire panel.
00:28:35 And so panelists, please feel free to just use the raise hand function as something comes to mind here.
00:28:43 But actually, let me scratch that Julianna, do you mind if I ask your question here.
00:28:53 Absolutely. Go ahead. Alright so this is a question for Sharon.
00:28:49 So Sharon has your research into bottle design lead you to other unexpected users who might have chronic conditions.
00:29:09 Yes, absolutely thanks, Julianna. That’s that’s a really good question, and you’re absolutely right. It doesn’t have to be the elderly, although I focused on that demographic, A because I’m using my mom is my muse.
00:29:20 Thanks, Mom. And also because the elderly, just in general are overlooked, as I mentioned, but it could be anyone.
00:29:27 I’ll just go off on a tangent and say, I’m picturing a mom who’s got three kids, like, you know, you don’t have the time to fumble with different things so you got to get that shampoo like boom boom boom production line.
00:29:41 You got, you know salon users who are constantly on their feet and using their hands for different type of dexterity interactions so I’m thinking of them.
00:29:50 I’m thinking of, you know, someone who might have had a fall or injured, one of their hands, so they don’t have two hands now to interact with, with a bottle or device.
00:30:00 So it could extend with the beauty about working with them. Thinking inclusively is if you start to work on the perimeter of something in a, in a design sense then imagine you’re covering all these people and all of these ranges from the outside
00:30:17 in. So, but my research has a long way to go. And I’m very excited to get this kickstarted. Does that answer your question?
00:30:30 It does, thanks Sharon.
00:30:33 My pleasure. Adam, you didn’t say what the time limit was for panelist to answer.
00:30:36 Oh, well I’ll tell you we’re, I tell you, Sharon, we are in our big grand discussion time right now.
00:30:43 So I’ll just say to our panelists, whatever you need to provide an effective answer to the question posed, be my guest.
00:30:53 Okay, any other questions for our panelists, either individual or or as a broader group.
00:31:04 Oh, I see. Here I have one
00:31:08 do I just speak or do I raise my hand. Please, Peter, go right ahead.
00:31:12 All right, so, um, I was looking through the website because I don’t want to get the names, what was it, who was the one who was looking at these cultural misunderstandings with international students from China was that, Siheng, who was that?
00:31:30 Yes, that’s me Peter.
00:31:33 Okay yeah, so thank you for that presentation and I’m wondering if you had any thoughts about course content right so one of the things that we talked about a lot in the foundational seminar is, you know, where are these ideas about
00:31:51 the foundations for inclusive design, where are they sort of reflect a specific like Western cultural view like sort of this enlightenment idea of human rights and everything that came out of it versus like other traditions like I like like you know there’s
00:32:07 These different ideas of how it works across cultural boundaries, you know I’ve been just reading on the side about Confusionism and the history of China.
00:32:16 Just as an outsider right do you have any thoughts on on that and how maybe the curriculum could be could be made richer with other perspectives, or something like that?
00:32:30 I haven’t focused on the course content yet.
00:32:37 I pay more attention on the delivering approach.
00:32:42 For now, what I have noticed, it’s maybe something about the teacher centered class, the class style.
00:32:52 Because students from Asian countries such as Korea, Japan also China.
00:33:01 They may get used to the teacher centered class more like the teacher tell students when and what we do in the class, and maybe assigned specific students to answer questions.
00:33:14 So, in western centered, in the western style classes,
00:33:21 it’s more like
00:33:25 topic, or same leaded classes, and people start to discussing in some classes, and we for example we will notice that even some students talk more than the teacher.
00:33:41 So, our self we’ll be a bit nervous, we don’t know when and how to participate in those conversations.
00:33:54 So, we may need some helps in such situation may that may the instructor or the teacher could notice that situation, and give us some guide. Oh, and I sometimes we also got anxiety before the class because we don’t know what will be going on in the class.
00:34:18 So sometimes if the instructors could give us something like maybe a to do list for the class, which will relieve our anxiety a bit. Yeah, that’s what I’m working on now.
00:34:33 No, that’s interesting. I mean there’s even differences across disciplinary boundaries or professors who are used to teaching in graduate versus undergraduate right so so for example in my style.
00:34:48 I try and facilitate the group discussion as much as possible and what and then I weigh in as the professor at the end in the more the students have covered the topic, the better it is in this style of teaching, right, because that reflects more like
00:35:03 what you’ll be doing as an inclusive designer out in the world, professor won’t be there right you know but but I’ve even, you know, gotten comments like well what is this professor doing right? Well, like if so, if the student did students didn’t talk
00:35:18 about it,
00:35:19 then I will, I will weigh in and cover it at the end, right. But as much as possible, I’m trying to facilitate like spark of discussion among the group, and if the students naturally steer there then I just check that off the list of stuff I’m going to
00:35:34 cover right so it’s like and I’ve noticed when I’m co teaching, and if it’s like a professor who’s like taught primarily undergrad large lecture they’ll just immediately way in give their opinion.
00:35:47 There isn’t much class discussion and, and I’m sort of like, well actually let’s facilitate the student conversation weigh in at the end and cover anything that was missed or something so, so I think that those are some interesting insights and I mean it’d
00:35:59 be, it’s a I don’t want to take up too much time but it’s a very interesting topic, and I think something that is fascinating and could be incredibly useful.
00:36:09 Yeah.
00:36:10 I think what you did would help also. Yeah, thank you.
00:36:16 Okay, thanks Peter thanks Siheng.
00:36:19 Josephine, do we have some action in the chat happening?
00:36:22 Yeah.
00:36:24 Hi, this Josephine here. I did want to add to Siheng’s topic and bring up that the themes that the inspiration for the themes for the exhibit, actually was Siheng’s idea and it kind of brought like some of the Eastern philosophy into our exhibit as
00:36:44 well so I just wanted to highlight that because it was a nice collaboration between all of our students. And looking in the chat, Lynn has a question for Siheng as well, your video was spot on
00:36:58 as an international student, I completely relate. Have you explored how your topic intersects with the difficulties of online or remote learning?
00:37:11 Yeah, in my exhibit I do provide example as I just mentioned. Like, when and where should we talk in an online class as well. So, I just showed some struggle, some struggles and obstacles in my video, and, and, and also some, some difficulties.
00:37:41 And I think they remain the same, no matter is online or offline class, such as language barriers, when we step into a language environment different from our mother tongue, we became like I’m doing now think slower, and react slower.
00:38:06 And so, it will impact our confidence and our appearance in the class as well. So, some.
00:38:20 So some.
00:38:23 I would say some challenges remain the same, and both online class and offline class. And some of them like to join the group discussion and maybe we will feel harder in the online class, more because we couldn’t tell people’s reaction directly,
00:38:48 and we will doubt whether they understand us or not more.
00:38:54 Yeah, that’s my answer. I hope I made it clear. Thank you.
00:38:59 Thanks, Siheng. So I’m going to read the next one, from this is from Jack for the entire group so panelists get ready. This is a three parter.
00:39:10 So, what do you see as the biggest block to inclusive design in general and adoption of inclusive elements in the design process and what path, do you see as a way to overcome them.
00:39:22 So, panelists, over to you.
00:39:32 Wow.
00:39:40 Well if the group knows me they know that I jumped in when there’s awkward silence.
00:39:44 Come on in, Sharon.
00:39:46 So, for me, the biggest block to inclusive design is just the lack of consideration the lack of thinking. I think we’re in such an ablest mindset that, if any, if testing even gets done great but if not, it’s just push to market and speaking specifically
00:40:09 from a product perspective. And, as a researcher I’ll be completely biased and say that we don’t speak to enough people, we don’t go out and acquire feedback from people outside of, you know, your little checkbox. Have you tested with blind people?
00:40:25 Great. Okay, move on.
00:40:27 And so I think having a diverse testing group or just, just even start by having a conversation and see what people want. I think we need to shift our mindset from telling people what they need to asking them what they want.
00:40:42 So that’s my take on inclusiveness.
00:40:48 Thank you so much, Sharon. It looks like Shivani, a hand from you.
00:40:53 Yeah, so to add on, I would just say that to overcome I think the day when we stop designing products for a specific group, and when we say that this product suffices everybody will be the day when we overcome inclusivity I feel, so I think it’s a long
00:41:12 way to go there, but I’m sure we all are at the right spot for it.
00:41:20 and creating an awareness is a very big thing right now, but I see that it’s happening and people have been starting considering various different aspects and
00:41:30 everything.
00:41:35 Thanks, Shivani. Oh, there is a there is a couple of different hands up here but I’m just going to give other panelists, an opportunity to respond to that broader question
00:41:49 that Jack had posed for us.
00:41:57 Otherwise we’ll, we’ll jump in, we’ll jump back in with questions.
00:42:01 I have a response on that. Oh, sorry. Thank you Peter. Yeah, so, so, so I was actually talking to Teresa about this, we were just reviewing some policy document that she had to provide feedback on and and built into the document was this idea that the
00:42:20 problem is like attitudes basically ableism right and stuff right and and we sort of as we were talking about it we said okay let’s do a thought experiment like suppose, let’s just use a hypothetical example like every teacher in Canada is suddenly not
00:42:39 ableist, right? They’re like totally get it, and they try and be completely inclusive but then you know they’re teaching a full course load so it’s like five classes, and they’ve got like an average number of students who have various types
00:42:56 of disabilities or other individual differences language differences and so you got like two students who are blind students who’s deaf or hard of hearing, and it’s like a biology class where maybe there’s like an anatomical structure like an eyeball
00:43:11 and so okay so they’re the perfectly not ableist professor but how in the world are they supposed to solve this problem first of all they have to know what to do.
00:43:21 Right. And a lot of this isn’t known, right, like, like, a lot of the research we’ve done is, if it’s like a concrete structure like the shape of a leaf versus an abstract concept like human autonomy and agency, you might need to use a writing system for
00:43:38 one, which is sort of not that difficult.
00:43:43 Well, within a certain domain, but obviously as we’ve been demonstrated earlier, a big issue in a cultural, linguistic context.
00:43:54 So, so it’s like, even in the perfect scenario where you don’t have these attitudes and perceptions, you would have to actually have the support to actually support the professor to solve to serve those diverse needs right and that knowledge within have
00:44:13 to be documented somehow, because, because you could be the most enthusiastic biology teacher in the world, but how, how are you going to know what type of representation to make, are you supposed to go to the craft store and carve it out of Styrofoam
00:44:28 and FedEx it to them like what are you supposed to do, right. So I think that, um, I think that I guess like what I’m trying to say is that there’s a gap in terms of, even if you were the perfect enthusiastic person, you would have to know what to do.
00:44:45 Okay, which often means in the absence of knowing what to do, you would need to co-design it with the person who needs it. And then you would need to support an infrastructure to do that.
00:44:58 So I think that sort of like just a recent thought in this area. I think I guess what I’m saying is, I think it’s more than just attitudes, I think that that so just when you’re facing inclusive design problem like, what would be the case if everyone had the most
00:45:13 ideal attitude possible would the problem be solved? And I would say in the majority of cases, it wouldn’t be solved because there wouldn’t be the knowledge in society to solve the problem, or if it were in society, it wouldn’t necessarily be communicated
00:45:26 in that specific domain area and then to actually enact the solution, you would have to have the time and resources to do it.
00:45:38 I think it’s bigger is what I’m saying.
00:45:41 No thank you Peter yeah there’s definitely that doesn’t seem like that would be the one magic solution.
00:45:50 Josephine, did you have, I think you had some, some things to drop in. Yes, I’m reading all the questions in the chat, I’m going to group, a few together just because they’re around the same kind of topic and then kind of pose it to the larger panel group.
00:46:06 So I do encourage you if you have individual questions, feel free to visit the exhibit link that I just sent out in the chat earlier.
00:46:16 There, you’ll have everyone’s contact info and you can go deeper into the each project. But for now, since we have everyone here we’re just going to pose group questions.
00:46:27 So, Imroze and Sureen I’ll your questions together it’s about creating inclusive products, there needs to be some sort of exclusion criteria. So, what was your process to create that kind of criteria, because you are all designing for specific groups, and
00:46:44 if you can kind of take us through your thinking around that process.
00:47:06 If it’s okay to start with, Jianqi. I know your platform was designed for Chinese youth specifically, what was your thinking behind that.
00:47:20 Oh, yeah.
00:47:26 For now, is just the.
00:47:28 I just picked the Chinese teenagers as my target users. Because the reason why I choose Chinese teenagers is because I’m very familiar with them and because I live in China for almost 20 years.
00:47:45 And, and I studied at Korea for one year for about one year and I found that even even between Korea and China they also have different cultural background and also education systems.
00:48:01 So I think the.
00:48:03 So I think the teenagers in the two countries have different, different stress in their life and they may face different mental health problems so that’s the reason why I choose the Chinese teenagers as my target users.
00:48:20 But, of course, in the future, if the method I have is proved successful or it become more mature that that could be, I could be broaden my target users for the Asian teenagers and the involved, and the app will invoking more cultural background about their
00:48:39 cultures. Yeah.
00:48:48 Great, thanks Jianqi. I wonder if any other panelists have a response to the, the idea of exclusion criteria.
00:48:57 Oh, I can go. So for me, why it was visually impaired and blind I can say because I do realize that cosmetic is a very heavily reliant thing on colours, and it has always been in our study like in my research that it is very difficult for visually impaired
00:49:16 blind users to recognize and differentiate colours and it seems to me, there are like multiple shades and cosmetic like enormous amount of shades. So, that’s when I realized that, Okay, what about them, how are they working on it and then I started finding
00:49:34 about it and that’s when I noted that okay this is a big deal for them it’s a difficult task for them, not only with colors but also when differentiating the products, and that’s how I created my criteria for my project.
00:49:54 Thanks, Shivani. Any the other panelists who have a specific population that they’re designing for and how they arrived at that population?
00:50:18 Okay. Well, in that case we may as well take some more questions from the, from the chat.
00:50:25 I believe there was one, I’m gonna have to go a little bit further back here and actually Shivani while we have you. This one was this one’s directed for you.
00:50:35 From Christine, do you have any plans yet for your packaging prototyping? Methods, materials, sustainability considerations?
00:50:43 She says I know you have a background industrial design so curious how this has shaped your thinking around prototyping. Um, yes so for prototyping, I have learned to co-design and prototyping together it’s a longitudinal co-design sessions in that I
00:50:58 will be initially having a conversation with my participants, where they will be asked to share their experience with their existing packaging. Once they share that I would like them to answer the questions around how would they want an ideal packaging
00:51:16 to be. And I am planning, if I get to
00:51:20 I don’t know if COVID allows me but if I get to do it in person, I might take around some prototyping material, along with me with them like some play-doh or twigs and such things as them to make their own is they’re able to, if not they can give the entire
00:51:38 explanation of their imagined ideal packaging.
00:51:43 Taking that note, I would be making 3D CAD model for myself to like imagine the entire packaging. Once that is done, I am very well aware about 3D printing.
00:51:57 So, I will go with that. Or even quick DIY models with paper models or dough models, and and then test it with them. Once I have testing feedback from them,
00:52:10 I will reiterate it, and I will keep doing this process until I read the mark which the consumers are looking for. With, in terms of sustainability,
00:52:22 Yes, that’s given to my consideration, but that was my, that might come into the later stage. There are different plastics which are biodegradable and all, but that’s another big area to research ahead so that is something, a secondary thing in my project.
00:52:44 Thanks, Shivani, you have a lot of really exciting work ahead.
00:52:47 Thank you.
00:52:48 So, we are now into our last 15 minutes the panel. And so, I wondered if there. So two things, if there were any other panelists who had a response to some of the broader group questions that we’ve posed at any point.
00:53:02 And also if there were any remaining questions from our wonderful audience.
00:53:14 It looks like Peter’s hand is up I’m not sure if that’s an old hand or a new hand?
00:53:20 Old hand but I did, I was getting ready to type in.
00:53:23 Okay.
00:53:24 While we’ve got you, Peter.
00:53:26 So so yeah I think I think there’s a lot of great opportunities to do co-design over distance like we’ve really developed a lot of techniques and we’ve, we’ve using metaphorical language using household objects like even food like grapefruit, with a garlic,
00:53:45 representing the brainstem and you fit it right underneath into the grapefruit and it sort of, it’s almost like an exact replica of like the brain, right, stuff like that.
00:53:55 And, and, like with one student we were talking about like who’s, you know, doing something focused on multisensory stuff in food like how could you use like food delivery, like you send someone like the food and then they draw a picture.
00:54:14 Okay, or, or you send them a picture and then they order the food or something right and then you sort of track that. And so when I think of your project which I don’t know a lot about but what are the opportunities with video conferencing right like there’s
00:54:30 a lot you can do because, like I can see you.
00:54:35 And so, so, so for example when one of our co-design sessions. One of the blind participants sculpted like we described, like the brain is shaped like a great fruit with a piece of garlic carved to fit and nestle in right beneath it in a sculpted
00:54:57 their mental image of that and they held it up to the Zoom camera like the camera and we were able to provide feedback and go make the brainstem slightly thinner and
00:55:09 by, the way, it was almost perfect. Okay, so, so I think that there’s a lot of opportunities to to do co-design over a distance, it’s like, like, I think it has it’s an interesting set of affordances to explore in this in this environment.
00:55:26 And I mean you could follow up and we can brainstorm if you want.
00:55:30 I think you sent me an email, I’m still waiting to, I need to respond to something, but Teams chat is a little bit faster.
00:55:41 Okay. Good to know. Thank you Peter.
00:55:45 Okay, we do have a question from Mohsen in the chat.
00:55:52 And I’m just going to pose it to the entire group, and this actually sounds like a fabulous question to kind of round us out here in our final 10 minutes.
00:56:01 So, metal theme group, what is inclusive design to you in one sentence or three or four words?
00:56:12 and Josephine, this is where we should have planned music.
00:56:16 I would say empowering each and every user.
00:56:23 For me it’s leave no one behind
00:56:28 I’m glad we’re recording this.
00:56:35 Right, other team members. Sorry, in the metal team.
00:56:43 Luke has put in the chat barrier free science, hearing more from him later.
00:57:01 Alright.
00:57:03 Well,
00:57:07 JJ, recognizing exclusion.
00:57:20 And I wonder.
00:57:23 Oh, Julianna designing with not for really important one that we see often
00:57:33 in our work in the program.
00:57:36 I think even if you’re not one of the panelists, feel free to chime in, because it’s a good question.
00:57:40 Oh yes.
00:57:53 Siheng an emphasis on the individual needs.
00:58:02 From Masooma, simple, intuitive, low-force.
00:58:11 I have a question for the people running Zoom, all the co-hosts.
00:58:18 Have we shared the results from our first poll yet?
00:58:24 Our entrance poll?
00:58:25 I think we have.
00:58:26 I think this might be a good time to share it.
00:58:33 So our question was are you familiar with inclusive design.
00:58:38 Most of you said yes. Some said no and some said not sure yet. We hope by the end of this that you’ll take away a little bit of something or as you go through the online exhibit
00:58:50 you’ll learn something new.
00:58:56 Some more in the chat.
00:58:59 Jianqi says, empathy with others, Chloe, more than a box to check and Lynn has a definition of sonder.
00:59:11 That’s beautiful.
00:59:15 Nuzhat says equal access for everyone based on their needs.
00:59:26 Victor design for belonging.
00:59:38 I think we’re, we’re pretty, we’re getting closer to the to the end of our panel here, I think. Now, Josephine I will just check in with you you had shared the link to our press book earlier on, is that correct?
00:59:49 Yes and that is just for the metal theme.
00:59:54 I’ll send it at the end again
00:59:57 so you just have the link to kind of visit through during the break, but in the next few themes they’ll be sending the links to each, each of those respective themes later on.
01:00:10 I want to pick up on something that you had said earlier Josephine that I thought was an excellent point that you know all of our contact information is in our individual exhibits and so if there’s something that came up that was really specific
01:00:22 to an individual panelists that you wanted to talk more either asynchronously or in a separate live chat, then by all means use that use that contact information found in our individual profiles associated with our exhibits in this fabulous Pressbook.
01:00:41 So from Sandra, we’ve got designing for margins scaling up if feasible. From Peter inclusive design it’s easier to talk about it than it is to pull off requires careful interactions and analysis with constituents to get down to specific designs that can be realised.
01:00:56 Not just described at a high level.
01:01:00 And that’s, I think that’s an important point that we all realize as we’re moving on with our projects that we can talk, great flowery words all we want but there’s really important work to be done with stakeholders that doing with not for piece.
01:01:23 Adam there’s a couple of more in the chat. Oh, am I in my chat stop moving quickly enough.
01:01:29 Oh yes, from Ayumi, caring with and because of on its unexpected others.
01:01:37 Ayumi, I don’t want to put you on the spot but can you tell us a little bit more about what you mean when you say unexpected others.
01:01:46 If you’re there.
01:01:51 Sure.
01:01:52 I’m sorry I’m not gonna put on my video because it’s a bit spotty right now.
01:01:57 It’s juts great to hear your voice.
01:01:59 Yeah, I’m looking forward to the other presentations and what is happening so far makes me smile.
01:02:06 I love how you’re working together. It’s really phenomenal development of the thesis that I saw happening in the previous term with unexpected others, I think that sometimes we get really locked into what we need to do, and we centralize a certain topic
01:02:24 or certain subjectivity, but unexpected others are those who are in the periphery, and you didn’t think to take notice. But then when you did it was like, oh it’s life changing because they, they have been there all along we just we just got so focused
01:02:41 on the I or the We or the centralization of our own life stories that we didn’t pay attention to those who were always around. So unexpected others are those who don’t have a main like roll or they’re not a protagonist of your current story, but they
01:02:58 might be in about five years time or something like that if you open up your hearts. So, and there are so many people like that. That’s what I mean by unexpected others.
01:03:06 Can I add to that point?
01:03:08 Yeah, please.
01:03:10 I don’t know who that was because it’s not showing your name. But, but it was a very good point. And so if you, if you want to see an example of this if you just go and download the Ontario Human Rights Code right so they’re
01:03:22 amending it like every year and they’re adding new targeted groups to it every year. And what is obvious is that, so that those groups get targeted because they have to advocate to get added to be covered by the code.
01:03:38 Right.
01:03:40 And so what is obvious then is then for many years, you have people who are actually not being, not getting served like they’re not being included right.
01:03:52 And what about the people who don’t have the resources or whatever connections or knowledge or capabilities to be heard. Right. And so I think that’s something that is really true I think, I think that it’s a mistake to think we understand what the problem
01:04:12 is before we go in and start working with people to understand what it is. So I think that’s like a really great point and I think that the Ontario Human Rights codes itself and looking at the dates where various groups are added is very powerful evidence
01:04:26 that supports this insight you brought in each know whoever that was.
01:04:30 Thank you. It’s Ayumi, Peter.
01:04:34 Hi.
01:04:36 Okay, thank you.
01:04:40 Thank you, thank you both incredibly well stated.
01:04:43 And so, Teresa’s added being curious and vulnerable.
01:04:49 And we’ve got
01:04:53 some kind of longer reactions to that point they’re recognizing that we are in our last two minutes, I just want to wrap up by saying thank you to our incredible panelists for sharing your, your exciting work, and for engaging with us in this first panel
01:05:09 this metal theme.
01:05:11 Now we are going to take a five, about a six minute transition into the next panel. And so I’m going to hand things off to Sharon, who will be hosting the water and earth themes.
01:05:28 And so we’ve got some, a poll just went up. So if you wouldn’t mind just please responding to that so we can get some feedback as we head into our next, our next panel.
01:05:41 Thank you panelists and thank you audience. What a wonderful discussion. See you at, see you at, I guess that would be 7:15 Eastern Standard Time.
01:05:59 7:15 or 7:50
01:06:02 One five, 7:15
01:06:04 Okay, are you like a library or something or are you at home with metal show-
01:06:06 This is just a very good Zoom background, my office does not look like this in real life trust me
01:06:14 You’re green screened.
01:06:15 Yes, this is a green screen I, I don’t, you all don’t need to see my mountains of Triscuit boxes.
01:06:22 All right, great. Okay. All right, I was like dude he’s at the library. I was like okay.
01:06:26 All right, so you guys a little while.

Water & Earth Panel

01:06:30 [Screen displays Water]
01:06:35 [Screen displays Earth]
01:06:40 Welcome back everybody.
01:06:43 I’d like to be.
01:06:44 I was going to introduce myself but you know me.
01:06:49 Do we have everyone coming back slowly from a little break, perhaps?
01:06:58 I’ll give it a couple minutes.
01:07:11 Awesome. So some thumbs up thank you very much. Alright, so welcome to our second panel, everybody.
01:07:17 You know my name by now it’s Sharon, and I will be your moderator for this panel, along with Japjot, who will be monitoring the chat and looking after any technical issues on my behalf, which I am super grateful for.
01:07:29 So, what is this panel about? This panel is around elements, as, as Adam mentioned, water and earth. So the first one was metal, this one will have two. So, this panel is focused on shifting practices and affecting systemic change.
01:07:47 So water has reflective energy. It acts as a mirror for us to be introspective.
01:07:53 It is also transparent; when we’re able to see through the distractions, our core needs become more crystal clear to us. In inclusive design, there is a need to constantly be self reflective.
01:08:06 In this theme we’ll see students who are working to shift practices and change guidelines within an industry. Earth’s energy is stable. Designs that stem from the earth represent ideas with a solid base.
01:08:19 So work in inclusive design may need to be sustained over a longer time period in order to make sure everyone’s voices are considered and things are processed thoughtfully.
01:08:30 Some things that we saw in the previous panel discussion.
01:08:33 So, in this theme, you’ll see students who are working to affect systemic change by developing frameworks for organizations. Just like the first panel we’ll play a series of short introductory videos to give you a sense of the breadth of exciting topics
01:08:47 covered by our panelists.
01:08:50 I believe this is where Adam might assist me with the video if I’m not mistaken.
01:09:00 Absolutely Sharon, I’m just having a quick technical thing but I’ll be.
01:09:03 Yeah.
01:09:04 I’m on it.
01:09:05 Oh, excellent.
01:09:08 Take your time. I’m just glad it’s not me.
01:09:28 Hello, my name is Lynn, and my project is about pet ownership and pet adoption barriers affecting older women living alone. Pet ownership for older adults can improve physical health, mental health, and even provide companionship that can substitute
01:09:40 for human relationships in some cases, I have chosen to conduct research on pet adoption and pet ownership barriers for older women above the age of 75, who are living alone.
01:09:50 Nowadays, more and more older women are reported to be living alone. This is due to increased divorce rates, and the fact that women often outlive their male partners.
01:09:59 This is why I’m looking to investigate my topic with an intersectional perspective of age and gender. When looking to adopt a pet, senior people are often faced with ageism lack of information and inequitable adoption processes.
01:10:12 It is also reported that many older people refrain from adopting pets because they worry about what might happen to their pets, in case of emergencies or even in case of their death.
01:10:21 On the other hand, senior pet owners may struggle with pet care tasks that require physical effort. They also have to deal with increasingly higher renters pet deposits, pet medical expenses and living environments that are not well adapted for senior
01:10:34 pet owners. The goal of my research is to work with older women to design solutions for the barriers I just talked about. So for example, designing pet adoption processes that are equitable and informative for older women, providing solutions for current
01:10:48 and future senior pet owners, where they can pre-plan emergency situations and make sure that their pets are taking care of and finally, investigating pet ownership expenses and exploring pet care assistance solutions. Growing older does not mean that
01:11:02 one has to give up certain joys in life. It is unjust that a person may have to give up their pet or refrain from adopting a pet completely only due to old age. Pet ownership can be a very rewarding and beneficial relationship, and it should be accessible
01:11:15 to everyone. Thank you.
01:11:21 My name is Sandra Law my big idea focuses on creating more inclusive postsecondary learning environments for autistic women who face unique challenges in those environments. Women often don’t conform to stereotypes the general public has of autism, and they
01:11:34 may not have a diagnosis of autism.
01:11:36 The title of this video ‘You don’t look autistic’ hints at women’s ability to hide out autistic traits from others. Autistic women engage in behaviour called masking. Masking involves suppression of autistic behaviours.
01:11:48 The goal of this project is to develop a tool kit that can be used by post secondary educators or students, support personnel who work with autistic women, as well as those who have autistic traits but don’t have a diagnosis.
01:12:03 Many women do not receive a diagnosis of autism until they reach their mid 30s, even into their 40s, 50s, or older. This means that they miss out on school-based opportunities that are provided to people with an early diagnosis.
01:12:14 It also means they might be more vulnerable to developing co-morbidities like depression and anxiety, which might complicate their successful transition to post secondary educational environments.
01:12:24 The persistence levels of autistic individuals and post secondary education are amongst the lowest in all categories of individuals with disabilities registered and post secondary education. The needs of autistic people are quite diverse.
01:12:37 According to one autistic researcher, if you have met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.
01:12:42 Another commentator has described autism as a kaleidoscope of traits and behaviours rather than a spectrum. Well the assumption might be that individuals who are able to pursue post secondary education or high functioning, that doesn’t necessarily mean
01:12:55 that their autism symptoms are mild.
01:12:58 I’d like to leave you with reflections of Carrie Beckwith-Fellows, an autistic woman from the United Kingdom who experienced decades of misdiagnosis, was medicated with drugs that had no efficacy for the treatment of autism, and even underwent electroshock
01:13:13 therapy due to the repeated misdiagnoses.
01:13:17 And here I’m just paraphrasing what she said:
01:13:20 High-functioning means that a person has an IQ greater than 70 and can speak, someone with a low IQ may have minimal impacts in their life due to autism, well, someone who is high functioning like me has severe symptoms related to anxiety, intense emotions that
01:13:33 I cannot name, and I need to control everything about my environment.
01:13:38 I’m hoping my project will lead to greater understanding of women’s experience and expression of autism specifically in the post secondary context, and that my tool kit will have value for educators.
01:13:47 Thank you.
01:13:54 My name is Matt May, and my research project is a case study in bringing equity to inequitable working relationships.
01:14:02 The term diversity came along in the 1960s as a part of the civil rights movement in the United States.
01:14:08 The idea at the time was that if you simply added employees of different races and genders to the workforce, that would solve the problem.
01:14:15 It didn’t solve the problem.
01:14:17 Employees were commonly excluded along the same racist and sexist lines as before, only in the context of work. Soon came Diversity and Inclusion, or D&I.
01:14:26 The idea being that businesses would couple diverse hiring efforts with policies on discrimination.
01:14:31 Still progress came slowly, as the diversity built up in the lower ranks of organizations and discriminatory behaviour remained rampant and unaddressed.
01:14:40 The concept of equity has changed D&I to DEI in many organizations. An equitable workforce is one where employees value self representation, tackle tough issues around identity and bias effectively,
01:14:53 embrace diverse leadership and respond to critical issues, no matter who brings them up.
01:14:59 The question is this: can you intentionally build equity into the working environment over time? And if so, how? I’ve identified a team at a large software company that’s going to give it a shot.
01:15:09 I’ve surveyed the landscape for DEI in teams and will work with experts in the field to create a playbook that enables employees at all levels to raise issues of inequity in their work, and then the products they’re building. We’ll see what works, how that impacts their output, and whether it has an effect on the employees themselves, their wellbeing, and the sense that they are getting what they want out of their careers.
01:15:34 Hi, my name is Julianna Rowsell and I am a student in the Inclusive Design masters program.
01:15:41 I’m also a 38 year old mother of three and a long term public servant.
01:15:47 My major research project is actually looking at disabled futures in the public service. And one of the aspects of that is considering ableism, and my exhibit is going to walk through how I, as a disabled person, the child of a disabled man, the sister
01:16:05 of a disabled person, the mother of a disabled child, have experienced them seeing ableism and how it is negatively impacted myself in society as well as those around me.
01:16:17 And so when we think of what ableism is, it’s a belief system that sees a person with disabilities as being less worthy of respect and consideration, or less able to contribute and participate, or to be of less inherent value than someone else, and it may
01:16:31 be embedded in institution systems or the broader culture and society, and it can limit the opportunities of a person with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in life and in their communities. We often see that when we hear how people talk about people with
01:16:46 disabilities. You experience things like micro aggressions. Oh, you look pretty for someone who’s disabled. You don’t look sick, you were fine yesterday, or that you’re lazy or aggressive for advocating for your needs. That you’re not disabled it’s just
01:17:01 your attitude that’s disabled. And then there’s the inspirational side of, oh my god that’s so amazing a disabled person could do that. The aspects of inspirational porn, if you will, where people are getting excited, or pushing forward for something, because
01:17:18 a disabled person did it, it must be remarkable. Which therefore means disabled people must be exceptional.
01:17:24 And the North Star for a lot of what this exhibit intends to show is, what does intentional inclusion look like in practice? And how do we identify ableism in our lives?
01:17:35 And can we then use that lived experience, those power dynamics and privilege to have a better understanding of identity and context, so that we can reconsider how we engage people with disabilities.
01:17:48 So one of the key things you might do in that regard is to consider prompts that you may ask yourself, and we’re going to go through that in the exhibit and I hope you enjoy.
01:17:57 Thanks so much.
01:18:02 Hello everyone, welcome to my page on the exhibit. The title of my research is Guide to Designing Inclusive User Interfaces for People with Visual Impairments.
01:18:12 The big idea is to make interfaces more accessible and inclusive for visually impaired individuals.
01:18:18 Almost every person around the world owns a smartphone today, which needs to be inclusive of all its users, including those who are differently abled. The interfaces today they’re advancing rapidly along with technology and with the screen.
01:18:32 So it gets difficult for people to use all these devices.
01:18:37 My target audience for this research study is people between the ages of 18 to 35, since they are affected more by the use of these devices, and the smartphone is something that almost everyone uses.
01:18:51 But people with disabilities might not be able to use it in the exact same way as others. We as designers need to be more empathetic while designing interfaces
01:19:02 so it benefits the population at large.
01:19:07 While conducting research on this topic,
01:19:13 I observed that visually impaired individuals are great at tactile reception, and that could be a good starting point for this study.
01:19:20 I also understood that inclusivity often focuses on optimization for accessibility without compromising the experience of users, although there are some notable differences between mobile devices and desktops, and it includes the lack of tactile feedback,
01:19:34 ubiquity, limited screen size, small virtual keys, and high demand of visual attention. And these differences have cased unprecedented challenges to users.
01:19:47 So the methodology that I’m planning to use for this research study is design thinking.
01:19:52 It helps in finding solutions that actually work.
01:19:56 So basically design thinking is an iterative process and it involves five steps, that is empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test.
01:20:04 So the main objective behind choosing this is design for all. While working on a product that will be accessible to all, it is important to incorporate the feedback received after each step.
01:20:15 And no user should feel excluded by using any product or service because that’s what inclusivity is all about.
01:20:23 Thank you so much for watching this, I hope you enjoy the rest of the exhibit.
01:20:34 Hello, my name is Chloe Typert-Morrison. For the past year, I have been focused on the question of how to bring web content accessibility guidelines to the general public.
01:20:45 Though these guidelines are becoming more well known, they are still generally developed for and promoted to web designers, developers, and accessibility tool creators.
01:20:54 Now that anyone with an internet connection can create web content, it is prudent that we shift our focus to ensure that these creators understand the purpose of accessibility guidelines and how to apply them to their own content. In my exhibit,
01:21:08 I explore the potential ways that the WCAG can be broken down and reformatted for the everyday person.
01:21:14 I’ve also designed one of the possible products that may come from a MRP where I will be co-designing with self-taught web content creators to help them integrate accessibility practices into their content creation process.
01:21:27 This exhibit displays a redesigned Squarespace interface that integrates checking for accessibility compliance into each design aspect. The redesign also includes explanations for each one of these elements to help the person working with it understand
01:21:41 what they need to do to make something accessible, and why it is important. This toolkit is something that could be promoted to existing content management systems to help them blend accessible design practices into the websites created using their platforms.
01:21:56 I hope this exhibition may help you think about how accessible the content you create is, and possibly learn a few things too. Thank you for watching, and I hope that you enjoy our exhibition.
01:22:12 Hi, my name is Adam Wilton. My research is interested in knowledge translation in digital accessibility for blind and low vision students in inclusive settings within the kindergarten through grade 12 education system.
01:22:24 Specifically, I’m interested in understanding how to effectively communicate the rationale and practice of digital accessibility for blind and low vision students to classroom teachers responsible for creating and collecting learning materials. In this
01:22:38 exhibit I focus on one of the most salient access features for this group of learners: image descriptions of visual media.
01:22:44 There are many guidelines for creating effective image descriptions, and these broadly emphasize the importance of objectivity and context, however, arts-based programming within K to 12 curriculum may require educators to think outside of these guidelines,
01:22:59 especially where digital representations of visual art must be interpreted. For example, this piece of visual art may be described as follows: an abstract painting, featuring long brushstrokes of white, orange, and a variety of shades of blue paint. Or
01:23:17 it may be described as a piece of abstract art painted in acrylics on canvas with multiple vertical brush strokes of shades of light blue in the background, and two wide vibrant vertical brushstrokes and orange in the foreground.
01:23:31 In summary, this exhibit is an exploration of the unique considerations in describing visual media in arts-based programming and implications for meaningful and equitable access for blind and low vision learners.
01:23:49 Hi there, my name is Christine Woolley I’m a student at OCAD University, part of the 2022 Masters of Inclusive Design cohort.
01:23:57 I’m here to talk about my major research project: Equitable access to public information, and the role of the graphic designer.
01:24:04 The objective of my research is to investigate how we might shift mindsets and motivations towards inclusion and accessibility within print-based graphic design. As our world becomes increasingly digital, almost all communication materials end up on the
01:24:19 web. So it’s vitally important for graphic designers, and specifically those who work with print media to be knowledgeable in applying steps to make their materials accessible and inclusive online.
01:24:32 On June 17th 2021, the BC legislature passed the Accessible British Columbia Act into law. This new Act will remove barriers and create accessibility standards throughout the province.
01:24:44 Accessibility legislation is a fundamental step in bringing about a culture shift towards inclusion, but studies have shown a lack of consideration has been given to visual accessibility in print-based graphic design, and many designers don’t have the
01:24:58 knowledge or experience to implement accessibility into their design solutions.
01:25:04 This research will be an initial step in investigating capacity, as well as preparing the graphic design industry in BC to meet the new requirements.
01:25:13 If we can build awareness, capacity, and motivation among graphic designers, then we can ultimately increase inclusive and equitable access to public information.
01:25:33 Thank you, Adam for looking after the technical aspect, you can rest now.
01:25:41 So the audience, wasn’t that amazing having to listen to the second panel and, and, and what they’ve been working very hard on? So I’ll pass it over to them, great job everyone was really nice to sit back and watch your introductions.
01:26:00 So, just like Adam did for the first panel. What I’ll do is now pose the question and before I do, I didn’t ask for a secondary moderator, but I do have my German Shepherd in the room.
01:26:12 And if he decides to join in,
01:26:15 just bare with me but he’s here I don’t know if you can see him. Do you wanna say hi?
01:26:19 Okay. I’m sorry. Back to this great panel.
01:26:24 So I do invite all of the panelists to sort of get ready. And I’ll pose the question I’m going to cheat and borrow what Adam did so the question for everyone that just presented was, please tell about, tell us about the connections that you see between
01:26:40 your topic and the theme for this panel. Just as a gentle reminder you have two minutes to answer that question, and I will prompt you when it’s your turn, because no one’s going to remember, I don’t remember. But just to reiterate, and I’ll call
01:26:55 out your theme because I know for this panel we have Water and Earth, so get ready Lynn, Water.
01:27:04 Hi Sharon, thank you for the introduction. I’m joining you guys from Lebanon so excuse me if my internet is a bit annoying.
01:27:13 But to answer the question that Adam asked first.
01:27:17 So, the reasoning behind my chosen topic is that the responsibility of finding solutions for pet adoption and pet ownership barriers, does not fall on my stakeholders who are older women.
01:27:29 So a serious change in practices and policies must happen to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all.
01:27:35 If you’ve seen my Pressbook exhibit,
01:27:38 throughout my pages I showcase a number of possible issues, older women may face when looking to adopt a pet or when being a pet owner already.
01:27:46 In contrast, I propose how some of these issues may be approached from inclusive mindset. So to give you a simple example, the process of adopting a pet from an animal shelter can be very unfair for an older person or an older woman.
01:27:59 Most shelter websites, don’t offer any kind of information targeted towards elderly adopters and when screening adoption applications, older people are often rejected due to the assumption that this person would outlive their pet, leaving the animal homeless
01:28:14 once again. So, in such cases systemic change is indeed required.
01:28:19 A good example of a solution would be a program that would pair senior adopters with senior pets. So on one hand, you have a senior adopter who is being treated with equity, on another hand you have the shelter, the shelter is now able to find a home
01:28:34 for a senior animal that’s probably been there for years. Another example would be creating a fostering program specifically tailored for older people. This way an older person can foster an animal for as long as they can would zero time commitments, as opposed
01:28:48 to adoption.
01:28:50 In other words, I want to modify current practices to make space for equity and I think that’s how my project relates to the overall theme of Water.
01:28:59 Thank you.
01:29:03 Awesome, thank you for sharing Lynn, and if you want to borrow Caesar anytime you’re welcome.
01:29:08 For sure I’m so happy he’s there with you.
01:29:11 Thank you. Thanks Lynn.
01:29:13 All right, next up is Sandra, and the theme for Sandra’s topic is also Water.
01:29:20 Hi. Okay.
01:29:22 The connection between the theme of Water and my topic, supporting autistic women transitioning to higher education is around the idea of shifting beliefs and practices, specifically around societal preconceptions of what autism looks like and how it’s expressed.
01:29:35 The experience of females with autism can be quite different than males, given their delayed diagnosis which can translate into no or limited access to services during their primary and secondary schooling.
01:29:45 Another consideration is on women’s of masking to fit in with their peers and I have been told that behaviour has on their psychological and physical well being.
01:29:55 Due to their later diagnosis, lack of supports women may develop co-morbid conditions like anxiety, eating disorders or depression, conditions that may complicate their successful transition to post secondary education.
01:30:07 Once autistic students reach the post secondary level, they receive, very few or no supports and generally the supports they do receive are not targeted to their unique needs.
01:30:15 I think a good analogy to undiagnosed autism is untreated asthma, which can lead to remodelled airways, which really means more reactive airways. So potentially more severe illness. You want to prevent that outcome, as you would want to prevent
01:30:28 autistic women from having more complex problems and that’s more difficult lives and reduce likelihood of attending or completing higher education. So increased awareness of the complex needs of autistic women is important, as well as providing people who will
01:30:41 be working with and supporting them in that environment with the tools and skills they need. Thanks.
01:30:48 Well Sandra, thank you very much for that.
01:30:51 Great to hear a theme already building.
01:30:54 Next up is Matt and your theme was Earth.
01:31:00 It was Earth huh?
01:31:04 Sorry. Did I get that wrong?
01:31:06 I’m going to cheat because I actually went with the other with the other women in the theme here. I actually went with water, because water is everywhere that that life is right. We look on other planets and the sign that we can even look to see if life is there is even water there to begin with.
01:31:25 When we start thinking about a system, which is what our workplace is, which is what every social activity that we have is. A lot of the problems that we that we have when we start thinking about the, about how to create a harmonious working environment,
01:31:44 have been attempted to be solved by “Let’s just fix this one or two things” without ever actually getting to the lower level problems of exclusion and the, you know, marginalization and oppression that has preceded it. Right so, if we just say, here’s a
01:32:03 glass of water.
01:32:12 Without realizing that there’s a drought. You know that we have to understand that this, this exclusion flows through an entire system. Then we don’t ever actually get to solving those deeper problems, and when we have a systemic problem we, we
01:32:22 need to actually start to look at the symptoms of it, rather than try to find a quick fix, that works for everybody.
01:32:29 That is consistent to me with the, with the principles of inclusive design and it’s something that I think needs some, some deeper introspection in the workplace.
01:32:42 Thank you for keeping on us, I will make that edit.
01:32:47 So that was Matt with Water. All right, Julianna. Earth.
01:32:55 Yes, I actually did stick with Earth. And a lot of that comes around the fact that my topic looks at how to have sustained systemic change. How do we scale systemic change. What does it mean for people to go to work and feel like they belong there every day.
01:33:13 And one of the things that comes from that when I look at like guard rails for disabled futures as the framework in the public service is a shift in mindset and about things being a looking at accessible and inclusive practices in all aspects of our life.
01:33:28 Because we hear often about dichotomies between move fast and break things or fix root causes, or move at the speed of need, versus move at the speed of trust.
01:33:38 And how do we build those environments and actually deliver as institutions structurally or otherwise on equity without considering all the various actors, people, policies process, tools and technology kind of working in tandem in order to achieve connectorship. And a lot of that comes from addressing root problems that we might see in something like ableism. And taking the time to notice, pause and reflect, to build new reflexes and question exclusion. So that we’re able to
01:34:07 be intentional in what we choose to do, and reflecting on prompts like why are we making these changes? Where does the need for the change come from, whose needs are now met that we’re not met before and do we know why?
01:34:20 So is that something that we can then repeat.
01:34:27 Which is why I think Earth really reflects that strongly, because we need to embrace curious mindsets, consider multiple perspectives, and be able to prompt and experiment.
01:34:38 And there was a question earlier that actually really addresses part of this and they are like asking about what we consider when we think about criteria for exclusion.
01:34:48 And I put it on its head and say, do we know when we’re designing something when we’re creating something, have we excluded some one, are we treating people equitably, do we have heuristics around our designs for fairness and inclusion? For agency and
01:35:02 autonomy, openness and transparency, respect and dignity, or accountability and governance? And at the end of that do we know what growth looks like? And can we remove or change systems that uphold oppression by actually bringing that back to the mindsets
01:35:19 and the ways that we address problems within our own organizations to move forward so that people truly belong and are in nurturing environments where they can thrive. Thank you.
01:35:34 That was brilliant thank you for sharing Julianna, appreciate that.
01:35:38 So we have our next panelist is Monika, and her theme is Water.
01:35:44 Thanks Sharon. So my topic basically focuses on shifting practices, and my main intention in this research study is to design guidelines to make interfaces more accessible and inclusive.
01:35:55 So how it relates to my theme is just like the transparency of water, I want interfaces to be clear less complicated and easy to use for people with visual impairments.
01:36:05 And water has a lot of different purposes and uses just like an interface. And just like water both web and mobile interfaces have a lot of importance today.
01:36:14 And our world revolves around it. So basically water is life. But in today’s world so is an interface. Now whether it is web or mobile and I think everyone, irrespective of their ability should be able to use it without any restrictions.
01:36:29 That’s all, thank you.
01:36:33 That’s brilliant. Thank you, Monika.
01:36:35 Alright Chloe. Up next, and her theme is also Water.
01:36:40 Thanks Sharon. Like Monika, my topic largely focuses on how to make content more accessible to a larger audience of people.
01:36:50 I felt that I fit into the Water category quite nicely because everything I’ve been working on is about shifting, and shifting how people interact with web accessibility guidelines to be specific.
01:37:03 So, right now, the way that a lot of people with disabilities have to interact with web content is that the onus is on them to make this content accessible because the large majority people who create web content, don’t know about accessibility guidelines
01:37:19 and they don’t know how to apply them to their work. So the main focus on my topic for the exhibition and for my larger MRP, is how do we bring these guidelines and shift the way that people interact with them into a way that it’s easy for them to integrate
01:37:34 this into their process, easy for them to understand the purpose of it and how to work with it.
01:37:41 Yeah, eventually systemically changing how web accessibility guidelines are given toward the general public, so that we can all work toward creating a more accessible digital space.
01:37:56 I can’t wait for that.
01:37:59 All right, thank you Chloe.
01:38:00 Okay so moving along, this is great love hearing from you guys so next up is Adam, Adam long time no see with Water.
01:38:08 Hey I’m back. Alright, so the Water theme in our focus on shifting practice is actually a great fit with the topic of digital accessibility
01:38:17 for blind and low vision learners in kindergarten through grade 12 education.
01:38:21 So from a systems perspective, accessibility for these learners has traditionally been viewed as the responsibility of specialists or resource staff, and not classroom based educators, or school based teams.
01:38:37 And so, for example a classroom teacher who will be sharing a digital worksheet might send that worksheet to a Braille transcriber, so that that material can be retrofitted, made accessible for the student who’s blind or has low vision.
01:38:53 And then shared directly with the student.
01:38:56 However, with the growing implementation of instructional frameworks such as Universal Design for Learning accessibility is increasingly viewed as a shared responsibility, so that locus of accessibility is shifting within the system and digital learning,
01:39:14 Sorry, digital format learning materials are created or collected with a range of student access profiles in mind, not simply for one typical learner, and then retrofitted for these other, I’ll use air quotes, “other” learner profile.
01:39:28 So my MRP research really seeks to build a new approach to accessibility education for kindergarten through grade 12 classroom teachers who are designing for blind and low vision students, one that’s critically informed with co-design with the students
01:39:42 themselves.
01:39:44 And also in keeping with the Water theme, my exhibit’s an opportunity for reflection, the reflective quality, and by looking at the implications of authoring image descriptions for visual media in arts focused K to 12 programming,
01:39:58 educators can reflect on the basic guidelines for image description, and how these may need to be rethought for arts context.
01:40:04 Now while my broader MRP is not arts focused itself, in the context in the rich arts focus that we had this summer, this was a great opportunity to focus on a particular area of that curriculum.
01:40:15 Thanks.
01:40:19 I think already have a question for you when it’s question time.
01:40:23 Alright so last but not least, we have Christine and your theme is also Water.
01:40:30 Thanks Sharon, so my theme is Water, shifting practices.
01:40:34 So water has a reflective energy and a large component of my research is really about reflection. It’s about graphic designers, design educators, the design industry, reflecting on their processes and considering how we might better address access and
01:40:50 inclusion in our work. It’s about shifting practices and also shifting mindsets and motivations towards inclusion.
01:40:58 Graphic Design by nature can be exclusionary. It conveys critical information in visual form. So as designers we really need to reflect on our priorities and consider how our designs can be accessed and used by everyone.
01:41:15 There’s a lot of reflection within graphic design around visual elements, so readability of certain fonts text point size, colour contrast, but there needs to be more reflection around how graphic designers, or how their designs are being interpreted online.
01:41:32 So ensuring things like web accessibility guidelines are being considered, providing multiple modes of delivery, and even multi sensory experiences, ensuring InDesign documents are tagged and formatted properly for accessibility, including meaningful image
01:41:48 descriptions, like Adam’s been talking about, and integrating user testing and feedback within the design process.
01:41:56 So graphic designers can really produce materials that are creative and innovative as well as accessible and inclusive, but it does take a mindset of considering accessibility and inclusion at the onset of every project.
01:42:10 And it also takes knowing what to do. So going back to what we were discussing in the first panel around, you know, a need for education and need for advocation, promotion of resources, tools and methods.
01:42:24 Thank you.
01:42:27 Thanks Christine.
01:42:29 Awesome. So that is our panelists. For the audience, before we move into the opportunity for asking questions I’d like I’d like the audience to just give this fabulous panel of honour of applause. I know we can clap, but use the emojis.
01:42:45 And while while I have your attention and using these emojis
01:42:50 Before I bounce because I’ve been with you from the start I think I feel like I’m going to stay with you but I do leave, I promise.
01:42:58 I just wanted to take a moment to say that every single individual in the cohort had a massive role to play to put this together, not just our own exhibits, but learning a new tool, a platform.
01:43:12 So please just give a shout out to everybody, we’ve all worked really, really hard, so I just wanted to not forget that. I didn’t want to save it for the end, just mixing it up.
01:43:23 Awesome.
01:43:25 Yeah, well done team, well done.
01:43:29 Okay, so, yes let the celebrations keep coming. It’s, It’s been a long ride, but a great one.
01:43:37 And we’re glad you’re here with us. So thank you to the audience as well. Give yourselves a round of applause, just everybody.
01:43:46 Yeah, exactly.
01:43:50 Awesome. So, I’m just as we did with the Metal panel.
01:43:54 I do ask, I know Japjot’s been monitoring the chat very diligently so if you have any questions, you have the option to go off mic, but if you don’t wish to go on mic
01:44:07 Sorry. If you don’t want to go on mic please put your chat in type it up, and I’ll get to that right away.
01:44:16 But yes, just opening it up for questions.
01:44:21 If there’s something wasn’t clear you want one of the panelists to expand on something because you’re just found it intriguing, I know they’re all intriguing.
01:44:29 But let me know.
01:44:41 I think Peter’s got his hand up. Oh, sorry. Thank you.
01:44:45 So, yes, Peter.
01:44:47 So, I was sort of in and out on that last, it was very good. So my questions are sort of focused on the most recent things.
01:44:57 And so Christine Woolley.
01:45:01 So she started talking about this
01:45:05 graphic design perspective so
01:45:09 I’ve actually put some thought into this issue, and I think that there’s actually a way to teach graphic design in a cross sensory way like, like if you think of a lot of the concepts like balance and, like, a lot of these Gestalt principles are used to teach
01:45:27 graphic design I think it depends on the program you’re in, but but one of our former students, sort of talked a lot about this. And there’s actually an auditory and tactile version of that and so there’s a possible future where graphic design could
01:45:43 actually be cross sensory or multi sensory design. So does this Christine does your topic relate to that? Or, could you respond to that based on your topic area and your expertise.
01:46:01 Yeah, thanks Peter, I agree I think education plays a large component into my research and I’m hoping to connect with a lot of design educators within the interviews and co-design sessions and I’m going to be planning to kind of get a better
01:46:20 sense of how graphic design is being taught currently, and what types of accessibility and inclusion
01:46:28 content and and curriculum is already existing, and then kind of looking at as a component of that how we can kind of build on,
01:46:40 and include multi sensory experiences within graphic design curriculum, and also graphic design practice.
01:46:49 And I think education definitely plays a large role in that. And I think as well with the upcoming accessibility legislation rolling out in BC, It’s really going to be important to connect with practicing designers as well, in the design industry who
01:47:05 are currently practicing and producing works and kind of, you know, getting to a future where multi sensory experiences and multi sensory design is kind of the norm in graphic design.
01:47:20 I guess, so that sounds good, but some thoughts. Okay so, one obstacle is that if you’re talking to graphic design educators, they won’t necessarily know about cross sensory right? You know, I mean they might have some intuitions, okay.
01:47:39 So, so part of the big problem is a knowledge is just not known. Like I mean in terms of.
01:47:46 It has to be discovered. Okay, like I mean there are small research groups that have come up with it we’ve come up with some stuff some other groups have come up with it.
01:47:54 Okay. Um, and, and I also think that involving people who don’t have access right so for example talking to graphic design instructors would be like talking to architects who are able, to never had to get into a building in a wheelchair right, you know,
01:48:14 and so they’re not going to really have the insight. So, so I mean, so I think that, I mean I don’t know we could brainstorm about it at some point, I mean I think that there’s been some prior work in this area.
01:48:27 No one’s really solved it. Okay. But, but, but just to use an example so there’s this thing called auditory scene analysis, which is sort of in the sort of in this auditory display world. But it’s based on the same principles that visual graphic design is based upon.
01:48:44 Right. And so, there’s actually a scenario where it’s. Well, the relations between like an auditory Gestalt principle could be correlated with like a visual Gestalt principle.
01:49:02 And so when you’re teaching graphic design you’re, you’re actually teaching it across the senses. You see,
01:49:11 I don’t know if that made any sense but I can follow up. No, it does, and it’s really interesting to consider so I will connect with you, and perhaps we can chat further.
01:49:22 I mean it’s an extreme.
01:49:24 I mean what you’ve identified is an extreme problem, right because it’s like when you see a lot of the rhetoric and discourse about equity and inclusion, it’s like, we need, we need like a faculty compliment that represents society. We all agree with that.
01:49:44 But also, if you’re a design university that spitting out people into society and they’re getting hired by government agencies in banks, and nonprofits, and for profit companies, and they are designing in a visually oriented way that doesn’t include the other
01:50:03 senses, you’re literally amplifying discrimination throughout society and the more people you’re putting out there, the more you are literally just exploding that exclusion into the world, you know, so I think that this is like a what you’ve identified
01:50:21 is a situation where where with the right theories, and the right curriculum and right, and even, and also the right targeted hires like a few people with visual disabilities, people with other abilities.
01:50:35 Okay. into into some of these programs it could revolutionize society. Because without that we’re literally like cascading exclusion broadly like some ray beam from a gun, you know, not to overdo it.
01:50:52 But anyway, that’s my thoughts. So thank you for identifying this topic and please feel free to follow up.
01:51:00 Yeah, thank you and thank you for your comments it’s making me even more excited about my research so I appreciate that,
01:51:10 Thanks Christine, thank you Peter. Connections we made. This is nice.
01:51:14 Any other questions in the chat Japjot?
01:51:18 Yes. So, there are lots of specific questions but one of the questions that Josephine raised is for everyone. That is what have you found to be helpful methods for shifting practices?
01:51:30 So long quiet processes or something more loud and urgent. And if everyone can answer one by one.
01:51:38 And for the personal questions I would say, we try covering those questions but if they aren’t covered you can approach the panelists directly, the contact information is in the Pressbook exhibit.
01:51:58 I can take a shot at that one first. I would say for my project specifically, I found the long quiet shift to be a little bit more beneficial.
01:52:11 Specifically in the exhibit that I have on my Pressbook. It’s really finding small ways to integrate the accessibility practices into pre-existing interfaces.
01:52:24 So if anybody takes a look at the website, you’ll see that I’ve kind of redesigned the Squarespace interface, which for those who don’t know it’s a website builder, that helps anybody who doesn’t have a web background to be able to create websites for themselves,
01:52:39 and changed it just slightly enough that it ensures that the content created on it will be accessible without having to change the way that people create the content.
01:52:52 So instead of it being this big loud shift of, you know, this is all the content that all these people need to find out right now, or else they can’t make anything on the website it’s actually saying, Hey, this is how you’re working.
01:53:05 This is how we can make it almost an intuitive shift into. You really don’t have to change anything, you just need to follow these few extra steps. And that’s personally how I see the shift, working the best.
01:53:30 OK, go Matt. I was just thinking, I would say, I take a little combination of that, it’s kind of loud, long process.
01:53:43 It’s the that when you’re trying to change things, it’s it’s really, you know, if you use an analogy of like sort of teaching a child right there are certain things that you that you have to say no like let’s get you away from the, from the bad
01:53:57 thing here’s the good thing that you can that you can be doing.
01:54:01 But there is reinforcement that needs to happen, and correction that needs to happen.
01:54:06 And if you’re not explicit about the things that you’re doing and the intent because one of the things that you that you have when you’re dealing with grownups is that you can actually start talking about shared intentions.
01:54:17 Then people just think that, oh this is a little side project and we’re going to do this, but really you need to make sure that the intentionality is throughout the system.
01:54:26 In order for people to work, in order for for people to to collaborate around it.
01:54:31 So I think that you have to be clear, for a very long time, that this is something that matters and, you know, I would say that sort of just it,
01:54:42 the civil rights movement that has sprung up around the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, etc. have have all, you know, in some, in some ways, quieted down over time, and people are always concerned that the noise level will go
01:55:03 down and then we can ignore things that go on with the way things were. And so it’s just how do you keep you keep saying like, no this isn’t just one specific moment in time but this is something that needs to keep progressing.
01:55:21 Excellent point about momentum, Matt. Thank you.
01:55:25 I just want to call out that we are 8:02 Eastern Standard Time, and I believe we have until 8:10. So there is time for questions. If, as Japjot said if you have this question for specific panelists.
01:55:38 Let us know if not we’ll go to. Yes, sorry,
01:55:42 There’s another question by Sam to everyone that is: governments can be very slow moving and often hesitant to making significant changes to policies and laws.
01:55:54 So, what do the panelists think are some important factors to seeing some of these important changes gaining widespread support, and ultimately being adopted by government entities.
01:56:10 So I can answer this one a little bit in terms of the fact that government is very much feels like you’re moving mountains, when you’re trying to actually shift change.
01:56:20 And so when we’re looking at the important factors of gaining that support, is actually part attitude, part awareness, part reflection on the importance, but also where support is coming from.
01:56:34 And one of the things that I’ve actually been doing as a public servant is asking areas to measure where they’re excluding.
01:56:43 So if you say you’re doing user research,
01:56:45 and I say have you done user research with people with disabilities and the answer is no. Have you done research with Indigenous populations and the answer is no.
01:56:52 Have you done research with people who are Black or people of colour, and the answer is no, we can start to see where there’s real gaps. And then part of the problem with policy and legislation is that they get partly tied to who’s in power when, and how
01:57:08 long they’re in power. Like we have accessibility regulations that are going through right now that are supposed to be read into parliament in September.
01:57:15 But if there’s an election call, that means that those regulations will be put on hold, and that’s where we see this like slowed pattern all the time.
01:57:23 So I think fundamentally it’s are there are people advocating for it? Is there opportunity to intervene, what hooks exist in other policies that can leverage that change, but government because like the government in Canada, that has almost 400,000 employees,
01:57:40 it’s a very big ship to kind of steer and change, and policies affect significant amount of organizations, so there’s really what is the governance, what’s the accountability framework.
01:57:51 Do we have the workforce capacity to do it. And then all the other pieces kind of play into that.
01:58:01 Just, just to add on to that there’s there’s also the possibility of revanchism, right, the party takes over, the momentum is lost and the momentum swings entirely in the other direction.
01:58:15 And so there’s, there’s this risk of if you ask too much. If you don’t have people that understand what’s going on, then they use that as a way to actually completely turn the game around, and you can end up losing more than, than you gain and so that’s
01:58:30 another reason for there to be consensus and stability since Julianna was just saying the word destabilized there needs to be some continuity to that process of that it’s not just kind of a toy being bandied about between two
01:58:46 rival parties.
01:58:25 Sharon can I add something just quickly?
01:58:55 Yes, absolutely. And it is actually connected. This is quite a thread we’re weaving here everyone, but you know this idea as well of collaboration, you know, within, within government across different branches.
01:59:07 Because I’ve often heard of the value of the whole of government approaches.
01:59:14 And so looking for those opportunities where other branches, other ministries, other departments might have a similar vested interest in, in driving change.
01:59:29 Then, you know, the more coordination and collaboration there is, you know, from the ground up.
01:59:35 The, the easier it is to put support behind these types of initiatives.
01:59:43 Good point, Adam. Thank you for continuing to weave this little tapestry that we’re building, I love it.
01:59:50 So I just want to call out again. Out of respect for the next panel we are at three minutes. Coming up on our allocated time, I believe.
02:00:00 Anything else, Japjot, that we haven’t covered or can cover in a quick second? Yes, there is another question which, which is what do you think the unintended beneficial effects you see your research might have?
02:00:15 So if someone wants to take that on.
02:00:21 I can start.
02:00:23 One of the things that I hope will become an unintended beneficial impact is an increased number of people with disabilities who are employed by the public service.
02:00:33 This is something that was said earlier in the presentations was about needing more diversity in like, who we engage with, but also who are making decisions at tables, and that there’s more opportunity for that diversity to really be like leveraged out.
02:00:49 So I would hope that addressing ableism and looking at what disabled futures look like in the public service is an opportunity to increase the diversity, equity, and inclusion in the public service as well as addressing accessibility considerations
02:01:01 earlier and more often because they’re actually in evidence in practice because we change the ways we work, we change the ways we hire. So I hope that that becomes an unintended aspect of looking at how do we make disable futures more realistic within
02:01:18 the government.
02:01:23 Thanks so much for taking on Julianna.
02:01:26 Okay folks, so we appreciate all the questions in the chat.
02:01:30 I just want to take a moment to properly thank our experts in this panel,
02:01:37 Earth and Water for taking questions for answering them and going over a little bit more in detail what their research topics are, and I am sure Japjot has put in the chat, the link to the Pressbook where you can please take your time to peruse and go through
02:01:53 each and every one of our, our sections, some of us might have feedback forms that you might want to leave feedback for, hint hint.
02:02:00 Please leave us feedback.
02:02:03 With that, I’d like to pass the baton over to the next moderator. And the last but not least, the third and final panel features elements of Wood and Fire.
02:02:15 So with that, I thank you for your time, so far, hang in there there’s still lots more good stuff to come. And with that, we’ll give it a couple minutes before we rejoin.
02:02:25 So thank you everybody. Well done.

Fire & Wood Panel

02:02:30 [Screen displays Fire]
02:02:35 [Screen displays Wood]
02:02:42 Perfect, Hi Matt.
02:02:45 Hello.
02:02:46 Oh, hey, perfect. I didn’t want to just leave. So I will like I said pass the baton over to you. So thank you very much, and all the very best I can’t wait to sit back, relax, and now be part of the audience.
02:02:59 So everybody Matt and Sandra are gonna take over.
02:03:02 Great. Thank you, Sharon.
02:03:04 Great work also Japjot for doing the chat moderation and questionnaire duties.
02:03:13 So, welcome to our third panel. My name is Matt and I’ll be your moderator for this panel along with Sandra who will be monitoring the chat and looking after any technical issues.
02:03:22 This panel is organized around the elements wood and fire and is focused on creating better spaces and educating others. The element of wood is vibrant and has emerging energy. Animals and humans alike use wood as shelter.
02:03:36 It grows out of the natural environment and into a living being’s context where it gets its vitality. An inclusive space should be designed with nature in mind, and meet the user’s needs.
02:03:46 In the following section, you will see students working to make physical and virtual worlds more welcoming. The element of fire has outwards energy, meaning that its effect reaches outside of itself. Fire lights up hope and sparks dialogue to create an inclusive future.
02:04:00 In the following section you’ll see students who are working to educate others through spreading awareness, advocating and sharing lived experience.
02:04:07 We will now play a series of short introductory videos to give you a sense of the breadth of exciting topics covered by our panellists.
02:04:35 Hi there, I’m Leslie Esponosa. I’m a student from the 2022 cohort of the Inclusive Design master’s program at OCAD U. Since I moved to Toronto, I became interested in equity for design as a way to address exclusion and inequities that exist today with
02:04:52 different communities, especially BIPOC women and LGBTQ+. My major research proposal focuses on the gender gap in social entrepreneurship and the challenges for women innovators in Toronto’s startup ecosystem. The majority of studies around this topic,
02:05:10 only consider male and females.
02:05:13 I will approach the project by exploring gender disparities in entrepreneurial ecosystem and its intersectionality with the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
02:05:24 Women are currently underrepresented in training and mentoring programs across Canada, due to gender barriers.
02:05:32 Women starting and sustaining new businesses also face more challenges while trying to access financial, human and social capital, which plays a significant role in the overall gender gap that still exists today.
02:05:46 I’m interested in co-creating a toolkit, with entrepreneurs who self-identify as women, to help them become the changemakers and inclusive leaders they aspire to be.
02:05:56 In my exhibition, I want to create awareness about the importance of inclusive leadership and human skills, for women entrepreneurs to improve their businesses.
02:06:08 I invite you to join me in exploring and learning more about this topic. At the end you will be able to download a resource guide with external links, so you can explore them at your own pace.
02:06:26 Hello. I am Morteza Farhoudi,
02:06:28 a behavioural designer based in Tehran. The issue that I am interested in exploring originates from a personal observation as a long-term public transport user.
02:06:40 I notice that in daily commuting by subway, those who get earlier on the train, tend to have or develop a sense of ownership of their seating and space.
02:06:50 As a result, others who take the train in its midway stations have to stand most of the time. Meaning that from an inclusivity perspective, the interior space of subway cars is unintentionally exclusionary towards a considerable number of commuters.
02:07:10 The colour-coded subway map on the screen represents this phenomenon; those who take the train in the green areas tend to have the privilege of sitting and occupying the most desired spaces.
02:07:25 So my MRP aims to investigate the awareness of commuters of the exclusionary aspects of their behaviour in subway;
02:07:34 explore the attitudes of commuters towards social responsibility and citizenship behaviour in using subway; and design behaviour-driven interventions that encourage commuters to engage in citizenship behaviour.
02:07:51 The outcomes of my MRP is expected to not only elevate the commuting experience of a wider range of commuters, but increase awareness around social responsibility and unintentional exclusionary behaviours.
02:08:13 Hi, I’m Josephine Guan, I’m a Chinese Canadian artist based in Toronto. I’m currently in my home studio so behind me are some prints, and it’s kind of messy.
02:08:27 My exhibit’s called mapping brain injury and my research focuses on the emotional and social aspects of healing from brain injury.
02:08:37 It’s inspired by my own recovery after a bike accident a few years ago, where I found this long process of ‘getting back to normal’ in air quotes to be really confusing and isolating.
02:08:52 And I also found that young adults don’t really talk about chronic illness and disability so I wanted to bring that forward a bit more. In my exhibit you’ll be able to find the research that I’ve collected so far.
02:09:07 So, a bit of scientific journals, but a lot of more artistic and personal work, some created by myself to kind of process my own injury, but other artists as well.
02:09:21 And in the next year I want to invite more brain injury survivors in talking about their experience of healing and communicating that to others through creative methods like drawing and writing.
02:09:36 And I also invite you to think about what the term ‘returning to normal’ means, especially when a lot of people living with brain injury never fully heal.
02:09:53 Hi, my name is Dongxu Guo and my MRP topic is on the mental health of AAPI Queer teens.
02:10:08 So just a little background about my topic. In North America, LGBTQ AAPI youth experience unique challenges from being a part of multiple minority groups.
02:10:21 The traditional Asian culture values are often at odds with positive and healthy expression of LGBTQ identities. On top of that, they also have to deal with the racism within the queer community, these all cause significant distress to their
02:10:40 mental health.
02:10:44 Some insights from my research are, number one, for many first and second-generation Asian youth in North America, they already feel alienated for their Asianness.
02:10:58 Second, the culture and family pressure will cause queer teens to experience mental distress that may lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse issue and etc.
02:11:13 Number three, the racial stereotype that exists in the queer community will further alienate these teens.
02:11:25 And so the goal and the big idea for my MRP.
02:11:36 Hi everyone, my name is Nneka Nnagbo, and I’m a Nigerian Canadian designer based in Ottawa and a student in OCAD University’s 2022 Masters of Inclusive Design Cohort.
02:11:46 So conversation is the most important and recurrent social activity of human beings, and it has been described as our cultural building blocks and the primary means by which we learn and share our culture. One’s ability to converse effectively, especially
02:11:58 within social contexts, greatly impacts their quality of life, interpersonal relationships, and participation in society.
02:12:04 Dysarthria is the most common acquired motor speech disorder affecting speech production and individuals who have dysarthria experience conversational barriers due to the full or partial loss of their speech. Dysarthric speakers often rely on communication
02:12:16 aids and embodied modes of communication, collectively referred to as augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, to either augment, supplement, or replace their speech.
02:12:26 However, interpersonal interaction is difficult for dysarthric speakers who use AAC devices, as these devices don’t provide access to interactional forums of conversation like telling stories, jokes, and sharing personal experiences.
02:12:38 So my research is focused on co-creating a model of dysarthric conversation with the intention of applying that model to AAC systems so they can better support interactional forms of conversation for individuals who have dysarthria.
02:12:51 Such a model has important implications for AAC research, clinical assessment and intervention, and technology design, as it could help people in the AAC field to envision and analyze the process that an AAC system must go through as dysarthric conversation
02:13:05 unfolds.
02:13:06 Ultimately, providing access to interactional conversation within AAC devices would help alleviate the interpersonal problems that emerge for dysarthric speakers as they can better engage in interactional forms of conversation.
02:13:18 This in turn will help them maintain social relationships, enable them to more fully participate in society, and by extension, enhance their quality of life.
02:13:25 So, in my exhibit, we’ll be exploring key concepts from my research, and I’ll invite you to reflect on what interactional conversation means to you through interactive activities that showcase the experience and the potential difficulties that one might have
02:13:38 when engaging in interactional conversation using AAC systems.
02:13:54 Hi everyone.
02:13:55 My name is Luke, welcome to my exhibit. Going into the inclusive design program provided me with many opportunities to test and research ideas and concepts that I would never have considered. With a talented cohort pool, the enriched learning knowledge
02:14:10 further positioned my MRP to a higher-level one. One of those ideas allows me to focus on STEM programs for post-secondary and the motivation or lack thereof for visually impaired kids to get interested.
02:14:25 My research will look at what activates and inspires these kids internally and physically
02:14:31 to see themselves as science majors in my research as astronomers. Thank you.
02:14:40 We live in a sighted world where we dictate how disability should be judged at, which is incapable of learning, achieving and aspiring to bigger life goals. Thanks to technology we are now at the forefront of an education revolution from 3d printing, assistive
02:14:55 technologies and reform. We have the opportunity to change and improve our understanding of lived experiences by listening.
02:15:04 Take a moment in the exhibit to listen to how sonification helps to visualize space and learn to listen inside ourselves to be able to inspire the dreams of all who are disabled into education that makes an impact without judgment.
02:15:19 Enjoy.
02:15:40 When was the last time you visited a public park? They provide us with various physical, mental, and emotional benefits by offering a safe space for community members to come together.
02:15:53 The importance of inclusive public parks goes beyond adding a green space to beautify the community spaces, as everyone should feel welcomed, included and not discriminated by their gender, age, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, cultural background,
02:16:10 socioeconomic status, or personal values. In present time, even the best designed parks go to waste if no one uses them.
02:16:20 Understanding how different cultural and ethnic groups value and use urban parks is crucial in developing appropriate design and management strategies for urban green spaces.
02:16:31 It is important that urban parks respond to the needs of visitors from diverse cultural groups and be designed and managed with various user groups from different social and cultural backgrounds.
02:16:44 Hence, my research proposal deals with designing a toolkit to create inclusive public parks for culturally diverse communities around Thorncliffe in Toronto, Canada, which increases the opportunities for cross-cultural community participation and peaceful
02:17:01 coexistence with marginalized groups.
02:17:20 Hi everyone, welcome to the exhibit of my major research project.
02:17:25 My topic focuses on the multi-sensory design by using the sense of taste to interpret the traditional Chinese ink paintings and I would like to name my exhibit ‘a bite of museum’ to offer a different way for museum-goers to understand and access Chinese art
02:17:39 and culture.
02:17:41 Have you ever seen or heard about Chinese ink paintings? What do they depict like the four gentlemen or the three friends of winter? But who are they? In Chinese culture, the four gentlemen refers to four plants
02:17:54 as plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, which implies beauty and noble characters, and the three friends of winter refers to pine, bamboo and plum as symbols representing the resilience and the perseverance to survive in the harsh winter.
02:18:12 These symbols have been rooted in Chinese artistic and literary creation since ancient times.
02:18:18 More importantly, do you know those plants are also very common as ingredients on the Chinese table?
02:18:24 In this multi-sensory exhibit, I’m going to show you the cuisine hidden behind the Chinese ink painting and invite you to perceive artwork with your taste buds. Welcome to my exhibit and hope you could enjoy it.
02:18:42 Great. And thank you to all of the panellists for this session.
02:18:51 Lots of territory being covered I think in this segment. I’d like to go through to each of you on this panel and ask you in two minutes or less,
02:19:04 to please tell us about the connections that you see between your topic and the theme for this panel. So, I will give you the names and your elements, since at least one of the panellists so far has gotten it wrong.
02:19:16 I will start with Leslie, and your element was fire.
02:19:23 Hi everyone.
02:19:26 Well, I believe all the elements are interconnected and influence one another and earth for example can release the power of fire and fire can release the power of wood.
02:19:40 So, without having an open dialogue about current social issues and the challenges many people and communities face every day, it would be hard to envision and design a better future where we can see systemic change.
02:19:54 That said, the purpose of my exhibit is to create awareness, and open up the conversation around the importance of inclusive leadership and soft skills, not only for women entrepreneurs, but for everyone.
02:20:10 I also want people to reflect on the fact that due to COVID-19 the instability has contributed to high levels of stress and anxiety and made it even harder for people to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
02:20:27 And also, unemployment has had more severe impact for women, which on the bright side, it has fuelled the rise of more female entrepreneurs but people of colour have gone through the same experience as well.
02:20:41 And for this reason I want to highlight the importance of inclusive leadership, a leadership style that ensures team members feel valued, confident and inspired. That can also help create an environment where people feel treated respectfully, fairly,
02:20:59 and that they belong. And I believe all of these thought-provoking conversations around inclusion and diversity that will come up from this exhibition today will help us design a better future.
02:21:12 Thank you.
02:21:15 Thank you, Leslie. Morteza your element was wood.
02:21:23 Yes, thank you, Matt.
02:21:26 Hello everyone, my MRP topic could relate to the theme of this panel which is represented by the element of wood in a number of ways, but I decided to use the notion of convenience to explain the connection. Wood in its different forms as tree, timber, burning wood, etc.,
02:21:48 provides convenience for people by its pleasant shadow, security, warmth, heat, and the like.
02:21:56 And by my MRP I’m trying to make the interior of public transit cars more convenient and welcoming to a wider range of citizens.
02:22:07 Because according to a number of studies and reports, inconveniences of the public transit is among the reasons that public transit users switch to commuting by car.
02:22:22 That’s all.
02:22:24 Thank you.
02:22:26 Great, thank you Morteza.
02:22:28 Next up is Josephine whose element is fire.
02:22:34 Thanks, Matt.
02:22:36 I just want to say sorry that it’s so dark. The sun’s been setting over here and throughout this whole panel I’ve just been changing my light setup constantly.
02:22:48 So it’s a bit ambient right now.
02:22:51 I’m under the element of fire which is about educating others, and I think inclusive storytelling is a part of inclusive design, because we use stories to share knowledge and explain why things matter.
02:23:05 But we need to examine the way we capture and tell those stories, and who we’re usually featuring in order to be truly inclusive.
02:23:13 I want to break out of this traditional view of this person who is an extrovert, the one who is an academic or high rank professional or good at public speaking and writing good essays, as the only person who should be listened to and holds all the knowledge
02:23:29 and power. People with lived experience have valuable knowledge from actually living through the experience, and there are other ways to communicate especially through creative methods.
02:23:42 So for me it’s about letting people tell their own stories and allowing them to communicate in a way that’s most natural for them.
02:23:48 And that’s what I’m starting to explore having personal experience with brain injury and also being an artist. Anyone with a chronic illness or disability might know that this feeling of navigating the healthcare system is really confusing, full of numbers
02:24:03 and just feels cold, overall, and you’re given very close-ended questions, not a lot of time, and it’s rare to find someone that will just look at things holistically and ask you, how are you feeling, not physically but just mentally about the whole experience.
02:24:19 So I just want to give space for people, especially young adults facing a new disability or illness, space to process and talk about it with other people going through the same thing.
02:24:32 Great. Thank you.
02:24:34 Next up we have Dongxu whose theme is wood.
02:24:46 I don’t see. He’s in the chat, but I don’t know, have we unmuted him, he’s under Victor in the list here.
02:25:10 Let’s see if we can come back.
02:25:14 He might have dropped off. Yeah, I think I might have dropped, so we’ll see if he can rejoin.
02:25:19 Next up would be Nneka, whose element is fire.
02:25:24 Hi everyone.
02:25:26 Awesome. So I’m going to answer this in three parts. So my first point is on the nature of fire. The fire element, and its outward movement and flow of energy which represents the effects of fire reaching beyond itself and in that same way, my research
02:25:40 project has implications beyond people who have dysarthria, and that people who have other impairments and use AAC devices could benefit from the potential findings and solutions of my research which will ultimately benefit all ACC device users whose
02:25:54 interpersonal interactions are limited by the effectiveness of this assistive communication technology. And my second point is on the fact that fire sparks dialogue as a means of creating inclusive futures.
02:26:07 So dialogue is a central theme in my research which is focused on providing access to international forums of conversation with AAC devices for people who have dysarthria, and although they may not be able to rely on their speech fully to engage in
02:26:20 conversation, which is a social and dialogic act, I’m interested in deemphasizing the role that speech plays on a dialogic conversation and instead shedding light on the other multiple modalities that they use to participate in interactional conversation.
02:26:35 And in many ways I view fire as a catalyst for change, and in my research that catalyst, or that fire, is the model of dysarthric conversation that I’ll be looking to co-create with people who have dysarthria, and the model of dysarthric conversation is the catalyst
02:26:50 to creating a more inclusive future for people who have dysarthria and use these devices to participate in interactional conversations like telling stories and sharing personal experiences from their lives. Which ties into my third point, which
02:27:03 is the model can be used as a tool to initiate a dialogue between myself the researcher and participant researchers, as well as other researchers and experts and clinicians and technology designers, so the model will also help spark dialogue through spreading
02:27:19 awareness and understanding about the nature of dysarthric conversation and the lived conversational experiences of people living with the speech disorder.
02:27:29 I love a good three-point plan. Thank you Nneka.
02:27:33 Luke is next, and his element is fire.
02:27:37 Hi everyone.
02:27:39 So my research and exhibit hopes to inspire and ignite of fiery passion for visually impaired kids in Middle School, who have interest in astronomy and STEM programs.
02:27:50 The reason I chose astronomy is because I have a love for astronomy. I have for like 10 years. I couldn’t get into science programs because I was, you know, not the smartest kid on the block but those people with visual impairments are often shut out from
02:28:06 careers in STEM fields.
02:28:08 And there are many reasons. One of the main reasons is science is mostly a visual medium. The experiments, I hope, in my research will look at motivational factors that foster inspiration for kids, using toolkits, 3D modeling, mentoring perhaps
02:28:26 in a co-design setting, to help them realize that they can be scientists, astronomers, physicists right. A disability does not mean incapable. Since we should have in mind,
02:28:38 while we are able to revolutionize self-driving cars, AI in homes and mobile devices, I’m sure we can spark interest by innovating means to assist with various disability groups to bigger aspirations.
02:28:51 However, we need to listen and not assume, as Josephine mentioned, lived experience is very important when we deal with disabilities. My exhibit, through the lens of inclusive design, recognizes that we are unique learners and have different levels of capability.
02:29:09 What we design must be usable, flexible, customizable, among other qualities to be truly inclusive, from education to policies. As students, we must learn to accommodate as we forge a fiery path to inclusive future. As quoted by Stephen Hawking, as I end,
02:29:27 “Don’t be disabled in spirit, as well as physically. The mind is a very powerful thing.” So, that’s it.
02:29:35 Great, thank you, Luke.
02:29:38 Next up is Japjot, and his element is wood.
02:29:42 Hi everyone, so my element is wood and my research is about creating inclusive public parks. So why wood? We have been creating our shelters with wood, we have been living in homes made out of wood, so the idea behind this is that home is not just a location,
02:29:59 it’s a feeling. So my research is about bringing that sense of belongingness to the public realm, so that whenever we design public spaces everyone is incorporated in the design process so that they are culturally rooted into that public space so that
02:30:15 they can own the space, they feel a sense of ownership in their space, and they have the right to actually designed it, and to live it and they get the whole sense of belongingness around it.
02:30:28 So that’s the whole idea of why wood is related with my research. Thank you.
02:30:35 Great, thank you.
02:30:37 We have two more speakers left in this segment and I wanted to remind you that we’ll be moving on to questions so if you have any to ask you can start filling those into the chat, and we will get to them, right after this.
02:30:52 So, we have Mingyan next, and her element is fire.
02:30:58 Thank you Matt. Hi everyone.
02:31:00 As one of the five elements, fire has outward energy, burning and intense. Fire is both inventive and destructive. There’s an old saying in China that without destruction, there’s no construction. Without destroying the old, one cannot build a new, and innovation,
02:31:21 and development will go through the process of destruction, and then creation, just like the force behind the advancement of human civilization is the process of overthrowing, and reshaping the human cognition of the world, time and time again.
02:31:38 I believe, inclusive design is not a process of creating from nothing. Inclusive design represents thinking, to look at the established social system, traditional concepts and ideology, and then uses the means of design to change
02:31:53 and optimize. It is just like the fire, burning away existing discrimination, prejudice and intolerance, and then presenting an inclusive future for humankind through design and innovation. In response to my MRP topic, a project of multi-sensory design based on
02:32:11 the educational purpose, I would like to say toward Chinese culture and art, please burn off what you you have seen and heard and fill it with your sense of taste.
02:32:22 And please, burn off the prejudice and stereotypes in mind, and recognize it with your inclusive thinking. And thank you, and another point I want to mention here is that my MRP is to use food to interpret artworks
02:32:36 and we need fire to cook food. So that’s a coincidence connection. Yeah, that’s it, thank you and welcome to our wonder fire land. Thank you.
02:32:47 Mingyan, every time you talk about your MRP I get hungry, and it’s dinner time here.
02:32:55 So we can get to the questions after Dongxu’s turn here, but Dongxu’s up,
02:33:03 the last person and your element was wood.
02:33:08 Yeah hi everyone, so my element is wood because the wood element focus on creating a better space. And I think the idea of space can go beyond the physical and geographical constraint.
02:33:20 So my topic fit into this element by fostering a safer space for my target audience. So when we talk about LGBTQ+ rights it oftentimes lacks the intersectionality of race, culture and class, and most queer spaces favour whiteness, and
02:33:38 for many Asian and Pacific Islander queer youth, their experience can be very different from their white counterparts.
02:33:47 Queerness has been historically ostracized by many societies across the world. However, in many East Asian and Southeast Asian culture which focus on the collectiveness rather than individuality, being a sexual and gender minority can be even more
02:34:05 challenging. On top of that, like, one of my other classmates said in their presentation, mental health is still very stigmatized in this culture, due to the influence of Confucianism, and the lack of representation in the queer space and the traditional
02:34:19 Asian values will make many Asian and Pacific Islander queer youth feel excluded from both groups that they feel like they should be a part of. My project is aimed to create a platform that helps my target audience navigate the intersectionality
02:34:37 of identity and cultural values that will provide a safer space that will help them,
02:34:45 teens and young adults to develop the proper skill to express their nuanced experience and emotions and also provide the mental health resources, ultimately, I hope to design a space that they can finally belong to.
02:35:00 Thank you.
02:35:04 Great, thank you. That’s a great one to end on. So we are ready for the Q and A. So, Sandra, have you gotten any of the questions queued up so far.
02:35:19 I don’t see any. Unless I’m missing some, I don’t see any thus far.
02:35:25 Anyone want to speak out their question?
02:35:33 Let’s open it up and I’ll leave it to you Matt to facilitate that.
02:35:36 Yeah, I have one to kick off actually just since Dongxu you mentioned the intersectionality and looking at the talks, especially in this segment I see a lot of different approaches
02:35:51 to this where maybe you’re focusing on one particular identity, but then I hear the applicability to others, or people that are doing broad things all at once so I wanted to get some of your perspectives on where you think a good starting
02:36:11 point is, and how inclusive design can help people to understand the concept of intersectionality.
02:36:22 Okay, so I think a really good starting point is really to talk to the people from this community who are oftentimes feel ostracized because I feel like the ultimate goal for, there’s also like an emotional aspect of inclusive design there’s
02:36:37 often not talked about is really to design for this idea of belonging. So, I feel like by talking to the people who are from this community you will understand their experience and the emotional needs for those people.
02:36:52 And so if you can create a corresponding design elements to fulfill their needs.
02:37:04 Anybody else want to take a stab.
02:37:14 There is a question for Morteza.
02:37:17 I don’t want to interrupt your flow here.
02:37:20 Oh no go ahead.
02:37:21 Okay, it’s around, the question is from Siheng around who is going to benefit the most from an inclusive transportation system.
02:37:34 Thank you for your question Siheng. Actually, I elaborated more on the target group on my MRP, but to shortly address that,
02:37:48 I’m particularly focused on the geographic condition of people who are
02:37:57 left out from the current public transit system.
02:38:02 As I mentioned those who are located in midway stations of public transport, who use public transportation to commute between home and work on a regular basis,
02:38:20 and they find it very inconvenient.
02:38:25 Because those who are living near the first stations of the line get to benefit most from the services offered by public transportation.
02:38:43 And first, another point. First, I decided to focus on the Toronto subway.
02:38:53 But since I have not been successful in getting my visa. I think I’m going to focus on the
02:39:03 Tehran subway as a case study.
02:39:10 So, Japjot, can we ask you the same question? There’s a lot of overlap I think between your concept and Morteza’s except yours is above ground and not moving, right.
02:39:23 So, but still a place of public accommodation.
02:39:30 So, how do you think that expands the space, how do you distribute that resource more equitably.
02:39:41 I feel, especially when you’re dealing with cultures in terms of public space,
02:39:48 it has to expand over the period of time because people, the neighbourhood keeps changing right and the place needs to modify accordingly. Basically, space is really structural, strong, and standing but I think the fluidity in terms
02:40:06 of designing and management has to be incorporated so that it adapts to the people who are using it on day to day basis. And I’m currently working around Thorncilffe region but in the future that area might have a different set of population or one culture or different
02:40:27 cultures keep coming and then the geographical area changes a bit. So the space should incorporate it, and that’s what actually brings the connector to the space, it responds to the needs of its surroundings.
02:40:42 Right. And that’s what I think we need to do, that fluidity needs to be there.
02:40:50 Thank you.
02:40:52 So Josephine you said you wanted to go back to that last question about intersectionality so do you want to take a shot.
02:41:00 Yeah, do you mind just re-asking that question again just so I make sure I’m answering it.
02:41:06 It was all kind of like ‘intersexuality’ go, but
02:41:10 there’s, starting with one community and then the applicability of the practice of inclusive design to continue to expand that inclusivity to reach more identities and intersections of identities, I think that’s the gist of it.
02:41:30 Yeah, I guess, there isn’t a kind of framework to apply that applies to one group that will also apply to another group, and I had to think about the question a bit more but like thinking on it a bit more I realized it’s kind of like
02:41:51 when you meet someone for the first time and they ask you what your job is and you tell them I’m a graphic designer or something. And that only says a little bit about who you actually are, there’s so much more to you than just a graphic designer
02:42:04 but it takes time to kind of reveal. And I think, in order to do inclusive design well with communities that you work with, you need to spend time and get to know these people and have conversations,
02:42:17 in order for these things to reveal like the same way that I’ve gotten to know this class too over the past few semesters, it’s just by talking and being in class with you guys so, tear.
02:42:30 But yeah, I think that’s my general answer to that question.
02:42:37 It’s funny you mentioned the ‘what you do?’ I’ve been warned like that’s the worst question that you can lead with just because it puts people into this little kind of box if you’re like, you want to ask like, what are you? you know.
02:42:49 Yeah.
02:42:50 to get the whole thing. Tell me something that is interesting about you.
02:42:54 It’s so hard to write a bio.
02:42:57 Oh,
02:43:00 I wrote one once and it just kind of stuck and I just copy and paste it so that I don’t have to keep doing it.
02:43:07 So there’s a question for Mingyan.
02:43:13 from Chloe, I’m so excited about your project I’m interested to hear about
02:43:19 if you have an idea for what your final project may look like as an editable art experience,
02:43:24 especially if we are still in a digital format.
02:43:28 Thank you, Chloe. Basically, I’m planning to interpret a series of Chinese ink paintings. And of course, there’s lots of elements as ingredients for food.
02:43:43 And I want to decide on some poets poems, and to integrate that into the interpretation of the artworks and to finally relate it to food, and probably the poem is quite some situation, some
02:44:01 attitude and, and there’s a poem that related to food. So I wanted to make a scenario and you feel the culture.
02:44:09 You eat what the poet used to eat and to feel what
02:44:15 the poet used to feel. That’s kind of a prototype. And also I want to transform the
02:44:26 painting into a digital one and connect the digital painting with some food. And when you eat the food you can activate some animation in the painting. Probably the description about the painting and about poems related to the painting, and some background
02:44:46 knowledge, and you feel it, go into the painting. Yeah, probably like this.
02:44:56 Am I making the answer clear?
02:44:58 I’m, sorry? Oh yeah.
02:45:01 I’m still fascinated by this project, as a cultural touchpoint and, you know, I really hope that, I wish that somewhere during this program we could have had a potluck sometime or something just bring everybody
02:45:19 everybody bring their things that I think we watched a few food-related things that I, you know, get to the end of this session and I’m already starving just because it’s dinner time.
02:45:33 So, I don’t see any questions, but I have more while you’re all in one place.
02:45:40 Nneka, for example, I want to ask you about the AAC discussion because, I think, of all the people in this group, yours I think is pretty close to the core of human communication. Right, there’s a barrier at a very low level.
02:46:01 And, you know, as you’ve researched this, what has that taught you about communication? Has it change your own style or, you know, are you understanding what it’s all about better? And can you teach us?
02:46:16 Yeah, so, I think one of the most important things I’ve learned is that people are so complex and the things that they need during a conversation are very different and very layered too.
02:46:31 So, something that I found very interesting is that people who have dysarthria during a conversation they use multiple modalities to convey what they’re trying to get across, so they rely on these devices to help them communicate with their
02:46:46 conversational partner, but at the same time they’re also using their hands like their gestures to also express themselves, because they can’t fully rely on their speech channel to get their message across.
02:46:58 So I just find it so interesting how in situational conversations especially, the ones that are in person, the different methods that people use to get meaning across to the person that they’re communicating with.
02:47:11 So that’s been, I think probably like one of the most interesting things for me and my research and something I want to definitely try and conceptualize so that people in the field who create these devices, these communication devices, they can understand
02:47:27 the breadth of complexity that someone who has a speech disorder, how they basically communicate in a conversation so they can design for that better.
02:47:40 Yeah, I think it’s just that
02:47:45 fact of, like, there have been these tools, the AAC devices, for so long.
02:47:51 And I think that when you think about that as a medical model like a medical artifact, a tool for this that simply teaching the technique is one part of it, but then you have, then people want to be more expressive with it, you know
02:48:08 they want to modulate the voice, they want to connect all of these other pieces of human communication and it’s, it’s almost by stripping it down to the most basic like a text conversation that you get, you know that that you understand all of
02:48:26 the things that you’re missing about this and so if you ever if you just leave it there. Then you’re leaving out a lot of the ways that we connect with other people so I mean I think that’s that’s really, you know, that’s a really important aspect of it.
02:48:39 Definitely. Thank you for that question by the way.
02:48:43 I mean to connect that, you know, I think, actually, Luke, you know your work about the astronomy and the auditory interfaces, is another thing that has, there are a couple things going on there, because
02:49:07 the sound isn’t really a common interface for communicating data right like to recontextualize a visual interface. So, you know, what are you learning about that.
02:49:24 Well, the whole idea of what I was doing my research on astronomy and sciences, I noticed that it’s the new trend, where, when you look at space you cannot see anything unless you do radio waves, and how you analyze radio waves is through sound.
02:49:43 So, we have a lot of blind astronomers and scientists who have created devices that can help sonify these sounds and these graphs. So on my research exhibit
02:49:59 I actually posted a very interesting talk by one of these scientists who talks about she had sight and she lost sight right in the middle of her life, and can you imagine that happening, how would you go on with your life, with your research when you just lose sight because she kind of developed this sonofication method. And it shows that your spirit is not broken,
02:50:23 you still have a mind, and you should continue doing it right. Disability, as I said, doesn’t mean that you cannot, regardless of the disability, you cannot kind of move forward, you still have a way to do it and people are, you know, coming together and trying to
02:50:38 do that, too.
02:50:40 And the whole exhibit idea of mine is showing kids through the 3D prototype from NASA that you know, just because you cannot see, you can still feel, you can still listen, you can still have that opportunity to get into the sciences.
02:50:58 And yeah, that’s the whole idea.
02:51:03 Right, exactly. Yeah, what Sandra was saying too is, for the most part, 80% of things that we see in space is not, we cannot visually see it all the images of the galaxies that we do see it’s all colour coded through the gamma rays and
02:51:19 so it’s not actually real. So at the end of the day we still have to listen. Right, so, and why is that, why should that be a barrier.
02:51:30 I’m not kidding when I say, I’m probably going to be laying awake at night thinking about what I see in the sky isn’t real.
02:51:41 I had four–
02:51:44 Go ahead.
02:51:45 I had four telescopes in the last 10 years, and I used to actually take a scope up to Northern Ontario, on a friend’s farm and have the neighbourhood kids come around and actually educate them on these things.
02:52:00 And they used to ask me questions. And the interesting thing, the most interesting thing from kids are, you know, when they see a smudge of a galaxy and they asked, why
02:52:14 doesn’t it look like the ones on the computer? Why is it not coloured? Because that’s what people say it’s about. It’s all imaged right they don’t understand that, you know. So it’s trying to educate kids, right and today this research
02:52:31 is close to my heart. I’ve actually developed throughout the course, an actual toolkit and have a box and NASA has kindly made freely available
02:52:43 3D models of planets, galaxies that you can actually 3d print. Which is the whole idea of my research is actually getting, hopefully, I think OCAD has a 3D lab that we can do this, and package these boxes, send it out to the kids and see what motivations can,
02:52:59 you know, they can aspire too.
02:53:02 Maybe it can, you know, get them to be interested in STEM right so.
02:53:10 The Northern lights are right behind me, Teresa.
02:53:14 I want that background too. Japjot, Siheng has a question about, if you were to build an ideal park, what would you, what would you put in the center of it?
02:53:24 I think so, if I’m building an ideal park, I’ll ask the residents of the neighbourhood to do that, but in my personal opinion, I like communities sitting together, having food together, so I’ll put lots of picnic tables benches and some food trucks around there so
02:53:42 people would come together. Give them a space to actually sit and create a dialogue. And that’s what I really like. And that’s what I do in public spaces, I approach people, talk to them,
02:53:55 and I think if you can replicate that notion of creating dialogue in public spaces that would be great.
02:54:04 Great. I have one more question and we have six more minutes so Leslie.
02:54:09 I have a question.
03:54:11 My segment was about water, and it being the lifeblood of everything, and capital is the lifeblood of pretty much everything else that we’re talking about here right, there isn’t much that we can do without access to capital.
02:54:28 So can you talk about some of why it’s all important.
02:54:34 Why and how people with ideas can tap into that, what are the obstacles, what are the opportunities?
02:54:44 Okay.
02:54:45 So you mean by access to capital, so people can implement their ideas?
02:54:52 I think that is one of the biggest challenges right now.
02:54:55 Considering that there are a lot of women and a lot of people trying to start a new business.
02:55:01 And actually the current situation with my research is more focused on women. So, what I just discovered now is that there are not many available resources and funding options for women, especially for people starting a new business.
02:55:24 There are options like venture capital or accessing money from the bank but then you have to have like a bigger company and your idea has to be like well develop and you have to be probably around more than three or five years in the market so
02:55:42 you can get more access to capital. And even though there is a lot of training and mentoring programs across Canada, here in Canada there’s still a scale-up problem, because there is a lot of people starting new businesses, but then after
02:56:03 5 or 10 years people usually drop the business or, they just gave like in this kind of like loophole where they just give in like a small or medium enterprise, so that’s actually one of the problems.
02:56:22 And I don’t know if that answers your question.
02:56:29 Great, thank you for indulging me.
02:56:33 So we’re close to the end of time so I think I’m going to cede back three minutes and thank you all for a wonderful panel and thanks to everyone for attending.
02:56:49 Thanks everyone, great presentations.
02:56:52 I think we have something to wrap us up.
02:56:56 So this was the last panel but
02:57:00 thank you to Sandra for supporting this and oh we have a, we have an exercise with Japjot. So, do you want to take over and, and give us the, the directions?

Japjot’s Activity

02:57:15 Sure, so for the exercise I need if everyone is willing. I’ll share the link so that everyone
02:57:24 can join.
02:57:31 So in this activity everyone gets to create their own dream park. So, I’m
02:57:41 sharing the link in the chat.
02:57:50 There you go.
02:58:10 So I’ve created lots of frames, you can enter your name and,
02:58:19 the whole idea behind this is that you can use different elements like humans, streetlights, trees and bushes, tables, benches, pavements, beautification elements, local businesses, food outlets, swings, sports area, whatever you want in the park, you can even
02:58:35 download images from Google, or any other website and put it in here.
02:58:40 You have to write your name on the bottom and the reason why you’re designing your park in such a manner.
02:58:46 So there are lots of frames so help yourself. Select a frame and start designing!
02:59:06 So we have 15 minutes for this activity.
03:00:02 Don’t forget to mention your name under the bottom of the frame.
03:00:29 JJ, did you make the graphics for this yourself?
03:00:34 Some of them.
03:00:37 It’s so cute.
03:01:13 People can also download images from Google and post it here, add some elements that they really want to be there in their dream park.
03:02:58 Seeing lots of amazing designs coming up.
03:03:04 And different approaches as well and I think it answers Siheng’s question like, different people have different things in the center of the park.
03:03:13 Sorry, JJ
03:03:14 I couldn’t recreate High Park.
03:03:35 People can put even a gamer tag name or some online name, just to fill the space up and the main idea behind this activity is to understand what are the priorities for different people, in different spaces. Do they prefer greens, or they prefer a sporting area,
03:03:57 or a space to actually really gather and meet people around,
03:04:02 and
03:04:05 because I have visited lots of parks in Toronto and, yes, people all gather around there but yeah some parks are just meant for picnics, some are for walking, and there has been lots of different activities happening at different parks, and people choose their parks
03:04:25 for the same reason. Some come just for exercising, some come just to sit in the shade and enjoy a nice summer evening.
03:04:57 If anyone would like to add their idea on why they chose to design it that way they can unmute themselves or drop it in the chat.
03:05:18 I just designed mine to have seating on one side with entertainment on the other just to make it less crowded.
03:05:26 I don’t know, that’s kind of interesting.
03:05:32 Seeing there are lots of different designs coming out, really good ones.
03:05:44 I think it’s interesting JJ. People put different things in the center of the park, which, more or less, express the most important feature in their heart for a park.
03:05:57 Yes.
03:05:58 I think that’s just the meaningful inclusive design.
03:06:05 When I started doing this, I do this activity a lot because it reminds me of the games that I used to play in childhood like FarmVille and it was based on the same concept that you do have an isometric area and then fill out with different stuff
03:06:21 and you get to design your own places and
03:06:26 it’s a fun activity to do.
03:06:31 And you just, you can even scale up things if you feel like some things need to be bigger in terms of proportion to highlight, you can do that.
03:06:40 You can use the pavements to create more patterns around. Have more grass, have more pavement, have more people.
03:07:03 I used to make this kind of artwork when I was younger, on Microsoft Paint. Just like pixel by pixel.
03:07:25 I think we have approaching the end so two more minutes everyone, and
03:07:32 that’ll be it for the exercise.
03:07:52 And I would also love to hear from everyone, how do they feel this exercise was. And, did they like it or their feedback on the exercise as well.
03:08:04 JJ, will you be using this for your co-design session?
03:08:09 I want to incorporate it but, you know, slightly bigger and slightly different, but much bigger in scale. So that,
03:08:20 With more objects maybe?
03:08:22 Yes, so it will be kind of fueled by the interviews that I have initially, with the participants or the organizations and accordingly.
03:08:32 A bigger area where more things would be included, and it’s not finalized but hopefully a similar or another version of it would be there.
03:08:45 So this is like a good backup to have, like, you know, last minute, or something.
03:08:52 Because it’s fun and it’s intuitive, in a way, you just drag and drop stuff.
03:08:58 To make, gamify it a bit too.
03:09:02 Reminds me of FarmVille that I used to play.
03:09:05 The hours lost on that game.
03:09:08 Yes.
03:09:12 Lots of crops grown.
03:09:23 JJ, if you’re thinking about doing this in person I feel like it would be so fun if they were stickers and just kind of laid out on the table and people can kind of like stick the ones that they like onto it.
03:09:39 Nice tactile experience.
03:09:43 I had dogs. Teresa. I added dogs.
03:09:45 I don’t know where they did go.
03:09:52 I mean I don’t even have dogs but.
03:09:54 No I added it specifically. I was like I need dogs.
03:10:13 Just giving a shout out to Shivani, cuz I’m like you’re still awake!
03:10:18 Because I saw your park Shivani and I was like, Oh Lord, it’s like magnifica.
03:10:28 But this is something which is keeping me awake. I’m having a good time.
03:10:39 Same with Morteza too,
03:10:41 I think it’s really late for him. Shout out to Morteza.
03:10:46 Thanks, Josephine.
03:10:47 Yes, 6 am
03:10:53 So that’s probably the end, and any feedback would be appreciated. And I would hand over the baton to Chloe.
03:11:05 for final signing off.
03:11:09 Thanks JJ, this was a really great activity, I just think I’m floored to see all the different kinds of parks that people are creating so I think you’ll get a lot of interesting feedback here.
03:11:21 Yes, for sure.
03:11:23 I would just like to say thank you to everybody who came out to participate. I know this was a quite a short turnaround. And we’re really appreciative of you being here.
03:11:36 Of all the great questions that you have sent us. And I would, of course like to thank the entire class for the incredible work you’ve put in.
03:11:44 It’s been amazing to see the projects that you’ve created in this timeframe, the Pressbook just turned out incredible, this evening went incredible. I invite everybody who has not seen the Pressbook yet to please go visit it.
03:11:59 There is a lot more information about our projects, there’s some interactive elements and recordings from this video will be up there soon.
03:12:08 And yes, and thank you to Teresa and Melissa this has been an incredible class from a personal perspective it’s been a joy to work on this project with everybody.
03:12:19 Thank you.
03:12:24 This has been amazing I’ve been telling everyone, this is actually by far one of the smoothest and engaging Zoom events I have ever attended and including the ones I organized myself.
03:12:39 So thank you all so much as I highlighted earlier to all our visitors like it’s no easy feat, to kind of put together all these ideas and materialize it in the short span of time. I’m not going to disclose how short time that we have, but it’s really incredible
03:12:57 given the time differences, because we are joining from all around the globe, and the global pandemic, the reality that we live in that, in the midst of global pandemic it’s been incredibly challenging having to explore new technologies, having to learn
03:13:16 to work with each other in the virtual spaces without having ever met in person so I commend you all for this incredible work that you put together and really truly appreciate all of you and you know the opportunity to be part of this journey with you all.
03:13:36 Ditto, cuz she said it all. I’m so yeah, it’s it’s an incredible experience, anytime to be working with all of the folks that come here wanting to make the world a better place but it’s particularly moving when we’re doing it during a challenging
03:13:55 time and I’m just so grateful to have worked with all of you and gotten to know all of your projects and the things that you care about, and I’m just like so proud to even remotely be affiliated with all of the incredible work that you’ve done.
03:14:09 It’s really moving and yeah I’m just sending all the positive vibes. For all your future endeavours and thank you, everyone, so much for being really incredible people.
03:14:24 Yes, it’s pretty impressive guys congratulations to everyone who participated and Melissa and Teresa for teaching the course, it’s like really came together very nicely congratulations, very thought-provoking.
03:14:42 Thanks for sticking with us, Peter.
03:14:47 And the time management on point, congrats everyone.
03:14:53 It really was super smooth. Amazing.
03:14:56 Well, why don’t we give ourselves those extra like five minutes or so to go back to the world and have deep breaths because we know you’ve been working so hard, and just congratulations everyone and how about we say good night to some folks and good morning
03:15:10 to others.
03:15:15 Thanks visitors for sticking around wherever you’re joining us from and thanks everyone for tuning in if you’re watching the recordings.
03:15:25 Yay.