This year’s theme explores the need to value and support all members of society to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.
On December 3, the University of King’s College joins communities around the world in recognizing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)—a day dedicated to promoting the rights, dignity and full participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of society. You’ll see the Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Flag raised on the library flagpole for the day.
This year’s theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” underscores the importance of creating environments where people with disabilities are fully included, valued and supported. Advancing social progress requires the removal of barriers, the promotion of equitable access, and the ongoing commitment to inclusive practices across education, employment, public life and community engagement.
To mark this day, King’s is hosting an interactive on-campus event in the New Academic Building lobby that’s designed to increase awareness and understanding of accessibility and inclusion. Come and engage with hands-on demonstrations and experiential activities, including the opportunity to navigate campus spaces using mobility aids and explore a range of accessibility tools and supports. Through these activities, participants will gain greater insight into the lived realities of people with disabilities and the importance—and impact—of thoughtful, inclusive design.
This initiative reflects our institutional commitment to accessibility and our ongoing efforts to foster a campus culture where all individuals can participate fully and with dignity.
We encourage all students, faculty and staff to take part in this important day of reflection, learning and action as we all work toward fostering a more inclusive, accessible and empathetic university community.
For those who are looking to expand their knowledge and awareness, we invite you to revisit videoed lectures from last winter’s amazing public lecture series Representations of Disability in Historical, Scientific and Artistic Perspectives. And, you’ll find a diverse selection of books on the subject of disability—from memoirs, to essays on activism, to novels—available in the Library and King’s Co-op Bookstore. You’ll also find stories at Accessible Nova Scotia about people and organizations leading accessibility initiatives across the province.
Let’s use this day as a moment to reflect on and celebrate the progress made—and recommit to building a society where everyone can thrive.
We look forward to seeing you at the event!
Kindly,
Michelle and Karen
Michelle Mahoney, Accessibility Officer
Karen Mutyabule, Director of Equity & Community Supports
Michelle Mahoney is King’s Accessibility Officer who helps guide the implementation of King’s Accessibility Plan and helps students navigate King’s and Dalhousie’s shared Student Accessibility Centre. Learn more about accessibility at King’s.
