Can you please forward to the appropriate listserves? (CDS).

Thanks in advance

Kaley

ACCESS YORK SEEKS NEW VOLUNTEERS FOR 2012/2013:

Dear York Students,

Access York is an advisory and advocacy committee on Disability issues at York University. Founded over 30 years ago, this committee consists of students, faculty, and staff, who have interest and expertise in matters related to disability and access. We meet monthly to work towards the ultimate goal of removing barriers for persons with disabilities across the university. We operate with a number of Working Groups that target specific concerns, such as: Disability Education & Awareness and Physical Needs & Resources.

Examples of some practical changes enacted by our committee include:

• Development of an Accessibility Fund for accommodations not covered by traditional means (i.e., conference accommodations),
• Working with various bodies on campus to remove physical barriers or suggest accommodations (e.g., suggesting where to prioritize automatic door openers or accessible washrooms),
• Ensuring new construction projects consider disability in their planning stages,
• Creating recommendations for evacuation in emergency situations for persons with disabilities, and
• Development of a handbook for faculty and TAs on accommodating students with disabilities in the classroom.

Although we have accomplished quite a bit, there is so much more to do! Our success depends on the involvement and commitment of students across York University, particularly students with disabilities. We are seeking student volunteers to assist with:

• Representing students with disabilities on our main committee,
• Supporting education and awareness events,
• Acting as advisers for physical needs and resources (i.e., improving access to the built environment) and communications initiatives across campus, and
• Acting as mobilizers for connecting the disability community across campus.

We are particularly interested in students who can offer some expertise in the following areas, which have been identified as important areas of focus for the upcoming year:

• Interpreting Services for Deaf Students.
• Mental Health and Accommodation of Students with Invisible Disabilities.
• Accessible Media: Videos, Websites, Audio, etc.
• Accessible Educational Materials in Alternate Formats.

Therefore, we are seeking new student representatives to sit on the Access York Operations Committee and various Working Groups for the upcoming Fall/Winter Term (2012/2013). We are interested in receiving applications from York students studying at Glendon, as well as students from different graduate and undergraduate programs (diverse backgrounds). There is a particular need for more undergraduate student representation. We ask that student representatives commit to at least 2 years of service, although there are other volunteer opportunities in which this is not required.

The mandate of the committee is to advocate for persons with disabilities at York and to act as advisers on disability issues throughout the York University community. This could include commenting on a new policy or ensuring new construction projects consider disability within their planning.

The position of Student Representative would involve attending monthly meetings. There are also various subcommittees working on specific issues/barriers that students are encouraged to become involved with (For example; Physical Needs and Resources, Disability Awareness and Education, Policy, Communications, Student Caucus, etc.).

As a committee centered around disability, we strive to have representatives who self-identify as having a disability. However, we also encourage those without disabilities who are interested in disability advocacy to apply to help out with our various Working Groups and Campaigns (e.g., Disability Awareness Events).

In addition, if you are a student who identifies with the Disability Community, however, do not feel that can be a student representative, you may email us (resume and cover letter not required) to indicate your interest in joining the Student Caucus. The Student Caucus is simply a group of York Students with disabilities who discuss disability matters online. When there are Access York or other disability initiatives, you can attend the event or volunteer if you so choose. The Student Caucus is a way to communicate with other disability advocates so that you can stay in the loop and offer some advice or support, if and when you can. It is also a great way for students with disabilities to support one another if there is a barrier we need to mobilize against.

If you would like more information, please contact Tracy Locke by email at [log in to unmask].

Interested applicants are invited to email a copy of their:

1) Resume (or CV)

2) Cover Letter highlighting your past experience in Disability Advocacy (whether they include: Education, Volunteer Work, Personal Experience, Employment)

3) Please indicate what position you are interested in within your Cover Letter, either:

    A) Access York Student Representative - for Graduate Students or Undergraduate Students - please tell us your educational background.

    B) Volunteer for Working Group or other Initiatives (Which working group are you interested in: Disability Education and Awareness; Physical Needs and Resources; Communications; Deaf Language Interpreters; Accessible Media; etc.)

    C) Student Caucus * Note, resume and cover letter not required ONLY if you are just interested in joining the Student Caucus.

Please send the email to the Vice-Chair Students, Access York (Kaley Roosen – [log in to unmask]) before October 31, 2012.

*NOTE: These are not paid positions. We will contact you via email to let you know the status of your application or to set up an interview. Interviews will be held in person or over the phone the week of Nov. 5^th.

 


--
Kaley Roosen, M.A.
PhD Candidate Clinical Psychology
Student Chair Access York Operations Committee
York University, Faculty of Health
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario   M3J 1P3
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