Accessibility Plan

(2004-2005)

for

Nipissing University
Updated September 2004

Submitted by
Dan Pletzer, Chair
Accessibility Planning Committee

This document is available in alternative format

Contents

Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

Background 4

Objectives of Nipissing University’s Accessibility Plan 4

Accessibility Planning Committee

§  Establishment of the Accessibility Planning Committee 4

§  Chair 5

§  Composition of the Accessibility Planning Committee 5

2003-2004 Barrier-identification methodologies 6

Methods for identifying barriers in 2004 - 2005 8

Barrier Identified 9

Update and Continued Commitments to Barrier Identification,

Prevention and Removal 10

1. Publication and Information Resources 10

2. Equipment and Adaptive Technology 14

3. Physical Facilities 17

4. Human Resource Issues 21

5. Awareness Programming for Faculty and Staff 24

6. Academic Services and Programs for Students 27

7. Non-academic Support Services 29

2004-2005 Summary of Barriers to be Addressed 33

Review and monitoring process 34

Communication of the plan 34

Appendix A 35


Executive Summary

The purpose of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) is to improve opportunities for people with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the province. The ODA mandates that all universities prepare annual accessibility plans.

Nipissing University completed its first Accessibility Plan in September 2003. This second annual report provides an update on the progress that has been made toward the objectives set out in the previous year’s report and adds new information concerning barriers that have been identified using the various information gathering processes used throughout the year. Five significant activities are planned for the purpose of identification, removal and prevention of barriers for people with disabilities in the coming year at Nipissing University. These include:

1.  Continuation of the Accessibility Planning Committee to monitor accessibility planning objectives during 2004 - 2005.

2.  Begin a comprehensive accessibility audit of external and internal facilities to achieve long-range planning and financing objectives.

3.  Provide opportunities for students, staff, faculty and visitors to participate in the ongoing barrier identification process.

4.  Continue to review existing institutional policies – updating and drafting as required.

5.  Continued development of resource guides for promoting a barrier-free learning environment.

Background
This report describes measures that Nipissing University has taken during 2003-2004, and will take during 2004-2005 to identify, remove and prevent barriers to all persons with disabilities when accessing Nipissing University’s facilities, programs and services. All persons include students, faculty, staff, student employees, parents, alumnae, and anyone visiting the University.

The reader is referred to Nipissing University’s first Accessibility Plan, completed in September 2003 as mandated by the Ontarians With Disabilities Act (2001). For working definitions of “Disability” and Barriers” the reader is referred to those provided in the Act.

Objectives of Nipissing University’s Accessibility Plan
This report constitutes an addendum to the institution’s Accessibility Plan which was completed in September 2003. As such, it:

1.  Reviews the commitments and progress that Nipissing University has made to identify, remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities in its facilities, policies, programs, practices and services.

2.  Provides updates on the processes by which Nipissing University will use to identify barriers to people with disabilities.

3.  Describes the measures Nipissing University will take in the coming year, or years, to remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities.

The Accessibility Planning Committee
Establishment of the Accessibility Planning Committee

Established in March 2003 the mandate of the Nipissing University Accessibility Planning Committee is to:

·  Conduct inquiries regarding potential and actual barriers to people with disabilities in all facilities, regulations, policies, programs, practices and services offered by Nipissing University.

·  Identify facilities, regulations, policies, programs, practices and services that cause or may cause barriers to people with disabilities.

·  Prioritize and specify barriers that will be removed or otherwise modified in the coming year within the limits of the financial and human resources available.

·  Describe how these barriers will be removed or prevented.

·  Prepare an annual report on these activities, and subject to approval by the University’s Board of Governors, make an Annual Accessibility Plan available to the public.

Chair
Appointed chair of the Committee, Dan Pletzer, Manager of Counselling and Disability Services is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the University’s Accessibility Planning Committee including the development of the written plan. The Chair of Nipissing University’s Accessibility Planning Committee collaborates with the Chair of Canadore College’s Accessibility Planning Committee due to shared resources, programs and services between the two institutions.
Composition of the Accessibility Planning Committee

The following representatives of the university community comprise the Nipissing University Accessibility Planning Committee for 2004-2005:

Planning Committee Member / Department / Contact Information
Darlene Brackenreed / Professor – Faculty of Education / Ext 4502
Al Carfagnini / Executive Director, Student Affairs / Ext. 4278
Ronald Common / Dean – Faculty of Education / Ext. 4268
Tom Condotta / Vice President, Vice-President of Student Life Nipissing University Student Union / Ext. 4302
David Cotie / Director College Facilities Canadore College / Ext. 5502
Ken Crocker / Executive Director, University Advancement / Ext.4426
Andrew Dean / Dean – Faculty of Arts and Science / Ext 4290
Murray Green / Vice-President, Administration Finance / Ext. 4289
Robert Hawkins / Vice President, Academic & Research / Ext. 4254
Bonnie Houston / Learning Strategist – Disability Services / Ext 4235
Jack Jones / Director of Instructional Development and Technology Mediated Learning / Ext. 4281
Brian Nettlefold / Executive Director – Library Services / Ext. 4220
Bill Ross / Director of Technology Services / Ext. 4353
Connie Vander Wall / Director of Human Resources Payroll / Ext. 4497
Wendy Young / Professor – Faculty of Arts & Science / Ext. 4314
1. 2003-2004 Barrier-Identification Methodologies
During the 2003-2004 academic year the following barrier identification methodologies were utilized:
Methodology / Description / Status
Incoming Student Voluntary Self-Identification form / A voluntary self-disclosure form is included with each offer of admission sent to every new student with instructions to the student to complete the form and return it to the Disability Services Office in order to put plan for and put into place the necessary disability-related education support.. / Completed during the period: April - June 2004.
Consultation with institutional department representatives according to the University Accessibility Planning checklist prepared by the COU Ontarians with Disabilities Act Planning Committee. / Using materials from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario and the COU-ODA Planning Committee, the following areas were identified as needing review regarding policies, practices and services:
1.  Publications and information resources;
2.  Equipment and adaptive technology;
3.  Physical facilities;
4.  Human resource issues;
5.  Awareness programs for faculty and staff;
6.  Academic services and policies for students with disabilities;
7.  Non-academic student support services / Ongoing
Joint accessibility planning with Canadore College / Canadore College and Nipissing University share a common campus and many peripheral services such as physical resources, library, security, health services, bookstore, and food services. / Ongoing
Accessible washroom audit / Following through on a commitment from the 2003 Accessibility Plan, an audit of directional signage and washroom accessibility was completed. / Audit completed and report submitted June 18, 2004.
Enhanced Services Program for Students with Learning Disabilities Year-End Survey / A survey was designed as part of the evaluation of services and practices provided to students with specific learning disabilities. / Survey was sent to students in April 2004. Responses were incorporated and recommendations for barrier removal included in the barrier identification section of this report.
Methodology / Description / Status
Faculty of Education Accessibility Questionnaire / Questionnaire items were based on the questionnaire previously distributed to students and was distributed to the Faculty of Education professors / Results have been incorporated and recommendations included in the 2004 Accessibility Plan
Campus Safety Audit / An annual physical audit of the campus is completed as part of the women’s safety initiative. / A annual report is filed noting areas where improvement is required and a committee updates and prioritizes the activity list of improvements


Methods for identifying barriers in 2004 – 2005

In addition to the above processes used to identify barriers to persons with disabilities at Nipissing University during 2003-2004. The following processes are scheduled to be introduced or continued in 2004-2005:

Method / Description / Status
Continuation of the Accessibility Planning Committee / The Accessibility Planning Committee which represents the broader interests of the university community will assess and recommend current measures to identify, remove and prevent barriers and to coordinate campus-wide awareness initiatives. / Ongoing
Accessibility audit of external and internal facilities, services and programs. / In collaboration with Canadore College, community agencies and persons with disabilities, ongoing accessibility audits of facilities, services and polices will occur. / Available checklists are being researched and evaluated in preparation for application to the university environment.
Survey of Students with Disabilities / A barrier-identification survey will be made available to students to complete and return to the planning committee during the 2004-2005 academic year. / Distribution period: Spring 2005
Survey of Faculty and Staff / A barrier identification survey will be developed for, and distributed to all employees of Nipissing University. / Distribution period: 2004 – 2005
Library user feedback questionnaire / A survey pertaining to disability access will be developed and placed in an accessible area near the main entrance to the Library. / Implementation date: Fall 2004
Invitation to the university community to provide input on barrier removal and prevention / Develop a mechanism for employees to identify barriers and to make recommendations concerning barrier removal and/or prevention / Fall 2004 ongoing
Web-based and paper copy versions of a Barrier Identification Questionnaire and Input Form / See Appendix A / In progress
Faculty of Arts and Science Accessibility Questionnaire / Provide an opportunity for faculty to identify barriers that they have experienced either as an individual with a disability or within their role as an instructor who teaches students with disabilities. / In progress

3. Barriers Identified

The 2002 guidelines, prepared for the University sector, focus on seven specific areas for review:

1.  publications and information resources;

2.  equipment and adaptive technology;

3.  physical facilities;

4.  human resources issues;

5.  awareness issues for faculty and staff;

6.  academic services and policies for students with disabilities;

7.  non-academic student support services.

These seven guiding categories were used for the purpose of developing Nipissing University’s first Accessibility Plan and continue to set out the framework for the ongoing prevention and removal of identified barriers to persons with disabilities in the university environment.

The Charts on pages 10 – 31 summarize the accessibility planning objectives established in 2003 and provide updates on the progress that has been made in achieving these objectives.

32

Updated Sep 27, 04

Update and Continued Commitments to Barrier Identification, Prevention and Removal

1. Publication and Information Resources

Areas of the University Reviewed for Accessibility /

Current Status as of Sept 2003

/ Barriers Identified as of Sept 2003 / Strategies to Remove & Prevent Barriers (2003-2004) / Progress of Strategies
(if applicable) / Remaining Commitments, Responsibilities & Timeline
Academic Calendar / Academic Calendar is available on Web Site and viewable in both HTML and PDF formats
/ Academic Calendar does not indicate that its contents are available in alternate format / Add a statement to the 2004-2005 calendar that describes how to access contents in alternate format / Statement was not added to 2004-2005 calendar; / Statement will be added to the 2005-2006 edition of the Academic Calendar by Office of University Advancement:
“The contents of this Academic Calendar may be viewed in alternate format at www.nipissingu.ca”
New Student Orientation (NSO) Guide / NSO Guidebook is available in print format and on the university’s web site in PDF format / PDF format is not accessible / Add a statement to the NSO Guidebook that describes how to access contents in alternate format. / 2004 NSO Guidebook is accessible in HTML format.
Alternate format statement needs to be added to the 2005 NSO Workbook. / Statement will be added to the 2005 NSO Workbook by the NSO Committee:
“The contents of the NSO Workbook may be viewed in alternate format at www.nipissingu.ca”
Areas of the University Reviewed for Accessibility /

Current Status as of Sept 2003

/ Barriers Identified as of Sept 2003 / Strategies to Remove & Prevent Barriers (2003-2004) / Progress of Strategies
(if applicable) / Remaining Commitments, Responsibilities & Timeline
Web Site / Web Site is compatible with screen-reading software with alt-tab features added / Web site authors require training in accessible web design / Ensure training opportunities are provided for Web Site authors/editors include content in accessible web design / Training opportunities and Web site creation assistance have been made available and staff have availed themselves of these opportunities / Accessible web design content is included in the planning of the institution’s next-generation Web site.
Web page design staff will continue to be available to assist in web-related concerns, questions and training – Office of University Advancement, on an ongoing basis
Library / The Library is located in the main building with level access and is configured on a single floor design.
Library staff are available to assist students with disabilities who identify individual needs. / Library tables in some areas may not accommodate some mobility devices.
Some types of seating may not accommodate persons needing specialized physical support. / Strategically locate accessible tables in the Library and identify these as “Accessible Study Areas”.
Accessible chairs will be located within the designated “Accessible Study Areas”. / All table types have been measured and their "knee-heights" found to be accessible.
All study chairs are accessible / Completed
Completed
Areas of the University Reviewed for Accessibility /

Current Status as of Sept 2003

/ Barriers Identified as of Sept 2003 / Strategies to Remove & Prevent Barriers (2003-2004) / Progress of Strategies
(if applicable) / Remaining Commitments, Responsibilities & Timeline
Library / Users may search the Library catalogue using automated research software in the library or via remote access.
Library entrance is equipped with automatic doors and circulation desk has a lowered section. / Items on Library shelves, in cabinets, and within databases may not be accessible to some users.
There is inadequate lighting of some of Library stacks. / The Library will post and promote information on how Library users with disabilities may arrange for personal assistance when searching for resources.
Investigate the process and resources needed to make the Library floor plan available in electronic format.
An evaluation of lighting will be completed and a deficiency report will be submitted. / This information has been posted at the Library's front entrance, in the Library handbook, and on the Library web page
This request has been passed to Physical Resources; report not received
This request has been passed to Physical Resources / Completed
Provide a report that outlines the steps/cost required to develop a library floor plan in electronic format – Physical Resources (2004-2005)
An assessment of lighting deficiencies will be completed by Physical Resources during the 2004-2005 academic year.
Areas of the University Reviewed for Accessibility /

Current Status as of Sept 2003

/ Barriers Identified as of Sept 2003 / Strategies to Remove & Prevent Barriers (2003-2004) / Progress of Strategies
(if applicable) / Remaining Commitments, Responsibilities & Timeline
3 private study carrels are designated for students with disabilities who require assistive technology or privacy / The Library does not have a written policy regarding the provision of services to patrons with disabilities. / A Library policy on the provision of services to patrons with disabilities will be developed.
An accessibility survey will be developed and placed near the library entrance to gather feedback from users on present barriers and suggestions on removal and prevention of barriers. / This is stated in the Library Handbook and on the Library's web page.
Survey is under development in collaboration with Disability Services / Completed
Complete the development of the Library Accessibility Survey (Fall 2004) and make it available during the 2004-2005 Academic year – Library/Disability Services
Marketing and Recruitment / Consideration and attention is always made to ensure that the diversity of our population is represented in all marketing and recruitment materials / Evaluate the language and visual content of university promotional publications and resources to ensure that inclusivity is present in all materials – University Advancement - ongoing

2. Equipment and Adaptive Technology