Back in April, McGill’s first university-wide Accessibility Strategy was presented to Senate, where it was very well received. That moment marked the end of a long phase of consultation and planning, and the beginning of something even more exciting: implementation.
Now, as we wrap up Quebec’s Disability Awareness Week, it feels like the right time to share where things are headed.
Coming up
Over the next five years, the strategy will guide McGill’s work to identify and remove barriers for students, staff, faculty, and visitors with disabilities. It is part of our broader Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan, and it was shaped by the voices of so many people who care deeply about accessibility on our campuses. Through town halls, workshops, and one-on-one conversations, folks shared their experiences and helped define what meaningful change could look like. The strategy is stronger because of that collective effort.
This first year is about laying the groundwork. One of our biggest steps is creating the Accessibility Strategy Implementation Committee, a group that will help keep the university accountable and make sure we’re staying on track. This week, we launched a call for expressions of interest for students, staff, and faculty with disabilities who want to be part of that committee. We’ve already received an amazing response.
Accessibility in action
I’m thrilled (and a little humbled) to be leading this next phase. There's a lot ahead of us, but I really believe we’re in a strong position to make lasting change.
We’ve been active on social media this week, sharing information about accessibility at McGill and highlighting some of the ways our community is moving this work forward. And behind the scenes, we’re making sure that the implementation committee is in place and ready to get to work by the fall.
In the meantime, if you haven’t seen the strategy yet, check out the presentation that was shared at Senate here. To join the implementation committee, apply through this brief form.
We look forward to sharing updates and ways to get involved as the work unfolds!