Project: Accessibility in Action: Developing an Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy That Empowers the Whole Institution
Principal Investigator: Sam Matychuk
Research Team: Mary DeMarinis, Victoria Ansell, Ashna Kumar
Project Dates: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
Project Funding: $7,000
Project Summary: This project supported the development and dissemination of JIBC’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy — a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada that moved post-secondary education beyond reactive accommodation models toward proactive, institution-wide inclusion. Grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, the policy aimed to create equitable, barrier-free learning environments by embedding accessibility across all institutional practices. The initial knowledge mobilization phase involved presenting this work at the CACUSS 2025 Annual Conference (Halifax, NS), where the team shared the policy’s development process, strategies for addressing systemic barriers, and how embracing diverse identities fostered shared responsibility among faculty, staff, and contractors. A peer-reviewed publication was also planned as a follow-on phase to extend the reach of this innovative work across Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Outcomes and Benefits: This project aimed to: (1) share JIBC’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy development process with student affairs professionals across Canada, stimulating the adoption of similar frameworks at other post-secondary institutions; (2) promote a shift from reactive accommodation models to proactive inclusion through UDL principles, normalizing accessible practices institution-wide; (3) gather feedback and insights from colleagues across the field to refine the policy and inform future iterations; and (4) build a foundation for a peer-reviewed publication extending the research’s reach and influence. Beneficiaries included JIBC students (particularly those with disabilities), faculty, staff, contractors, and student affairs professionals at post-secondary institutions across Canada. The broader impact included advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Canadian post-secondary education and providing a replicable national framework for accessible, equitable learning environments.
Funding and Support: SSHRC Institutional Grant (SIG) - Exchange Stream
Project Status: Completed
Deliverables: TBA
