Understanding importance of inclusion
Re Accessibility law lacking, lawyer says, Friday, Dec. 2 David Lepofsky is absolutely correct in his assessment of why there is poor access at Centennial College. But not only is this the result of the province’s low standards, it is also the result of people at the top not understanding the importance of inclusion.
The defensive response by Shannon Brooks, associate vicepresident of corporate services, underscores the need for better training of, and understanding by, those in positions of power in the post-secondary system of the needs of all students attending colleges and universities.
Having had some experience myself in this area, I know that all colleges and universities must have accessibility advisory committees as well as provide yearly accessibility reports to the government. This is mandated by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To say that a building is exempt from these laws because it is built with private funds is absurd, and highlights the lack of commitment to students with disabilities at Centennial College who deserve this consideration.
Will this building never be used by a student with a disability? A prof? A politician? A visitor? Come on! Kathryn Bremner, Oshawa Two days before the International Day of the Disabled, there was an important news release on Dec. 1. Canada’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion, announced that Canada would work toward adopting the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Coverage of his announcement and the international day were nowhere to be found in the Star, let alone the CBC.
Canada’s decision to pursue ratification of the CRPD’s protocol comes after a year of campaigning for that goal. Supporters are delighted that Ministers Dion and Carla Qualtrough have now committed to adopting the protocol by the end of 2017. As we eagerly await that moment, dare we hope that the Star and CBC will report on it? Salvatore (Sal) Amenta, Stouffville