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Accessibility Plan

Accessibility plan

The Accessibility Plan is a guiding set of priorities to advance the University of Victoria's (UVic) commitment to addressing and removing barriers that hinder full and equal participation of people with disabilities. It was developed in consultation with UVic's community and its leaders.

Work to fulfill the Accessibility Plan is ongoing. It involves participation, commitment and strategic planning from individuals, units and policy holders across campus.

Our Accessibility Plan covers 3-year periods. This is the second cycle of our Accessibility Plan.

Format

UVic's Accessibility Plan is housed on this web page. It is an accessible web page, compliant with level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2 standards.

Vision

We aim to create a community that goes beyond identifying individual barriers to basic inclusion on campus. We envision a community that actively welcomes and values a diversity of abilities and experiences. We want a community that adapts to meet the needs of its members with disabilities, rather than making its members adapt to fit into existing standards.

As per the Accessible BC Act, the following principles underpin our plan:

  • Inclusion
  • Adaptability
  • Diversity
  • Collaboration
  • Self-determination
  • Universal design

The Accessibility Plan also reflects the principles outlined in UVic’s Strategic Plan, including:

  • Operating with excellence. We will pursue excellence in the way we teach, research, engage with the community and operate.
  • Create a welcoming space. We will cultivate an environment that is inclusive, equitable and supportive. UVic will be a place where each person feels like they belong.
  • Lifting each other up. We will commit to helping people succeed in their endeavours, because we know that purpose and fulfillment are foundational to the fullest expression of human well-being.

Accountability

The Vice-President Academic and Provost (VPAC) and Vice-President Finance and Operations (VPFO) are co-sponsors of the Accessibility Plan. Operational implementation is distributed across campus units. The Accessibility Committee provides oversight, evaluation and community accountability. The committee created the plan and oversees its progress.

The current mandated review deadline is September 1, 2029.

Responsibilities

At the direction of the co-chairs of the Accessibility Committee, UVic staff will regularly monitor, respond to and forward feedback. When appropriate, feedback will be brought forward to the Accessibility Committee for discussion. This feedback will be used to inform future versions of the Accessibility Plan.

We will also continue to report to Senate and the Board of Governors as required and specific to their purview.

We endeavour to regularly update the Accessibility Plan in response to initiatives, feedback and progress towards our goals. We will conduct an annual review and refresh of this website.

Our goals

Our three-year plan reflects how we intend to respond to and address feedback gathered through consultations. In the first version of the plan, we focused on assessing accessibility and educating faculty and staff. As we move into the second plan cycle, we look forward to focusing on specific initiatives.
View our progress

Assess

We need a better understanding of our baseline, so we can measure progress in a transparent way.

Ongoing and future tasks related to this goal include:

  • Facilities Management (FMGT) will expand Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility audits to the remaining buildings on campus.
  • FMGT will conduct detailed audits of outdoor spaces, including gathering areas, pathways and parking.
  • The Faculty of Humanities, Learning & Teaching Innovation and the Office of the Registrar & Enrolment Management will collaborate to identify reliable and accessible digital exam platforms.
  • University Systems will conduct an accessibility maturity audit. This audit will cover their communications, culture, IT development, knowledge/skills, personnel, procurement and support.

Educate

We will expand on the work already underway to advance and support accessibility and inclusion, including through training and awareness efforts.

Ongoing and future tasks related to this goal include:

  • Co-op & Career Services will launch the Accessible Participation Guidelines in Spring 2027. These guidelines will teach students how to request accommodations for work-integrated learning activities.
  • Co-op & Career Services will engage with employers and community partners by hosting workshops to support inclusive hiring practices and accessible co-op placements.
  • The Society for Students with a Disability (SSD) will offer a minimum of one workshop and one event per month, giving students opportunities to engage with the community and access resources.
  • SSD’s ongoing #Access4All social media campaign will advocate for change in educational spaces.
  • Facilities Management (FMGT) will continue accessibility standards training for project managers and facilities development teams.
  • FMGT will engage with more user groups to test accessible classroom furniture before it is purchased.
  • The Faculty of Humanities will expand instructor workshops on Universal Design for Learning, to support secure and accessible digital tests and reduce reliance on paper-only exams.
  • University Systems will create more resources for ongoing accessibility training of IT Support staff.
  • The Faculty of Law will develop a comprehensive, law-specific guide to provide practical advice and examples of accessible teaching and assessment.
  • The Faculty of Law will hold a workshop for instructors to learn from each other's experience and expertise.

Collect and address feedback

We are committed to collecting and addressing feedback from all members of our community.

Ongoing and future tasks related to this goal include:

  • The Society for Students with a Disability will increase efforts to gather feedback. They will use the feedback gathered to design and offer more effective programming.
  • Facilities Management will refine their “Report a Barrier” response workflow, reducing turnaround time for urgent repair of accessibility barriers.
  • Campus Planning will implement an online platform to support accessible, inclusive and flexible participation in planning and sustainability initiatives.

To address the top barriers reported through the report a barrier form, Facilities Management will:

  • Continue to upgrade more washrooms for accessibility and gender inclusivity.
  • Include accessibility and Rick Hansen Foundation standards in all major construction and renovations, as well as their lighting program.
  • Develop a 3-year retrofit plan for high-traffic buildings focused on entrances, power doors, washroom configurations and elevators.
  • Continue upgrades to outdoor accessibility, including curb cuts, tactile paving, slopes, lighting and parking.
  • Begin projects focused on automatic doors, flat entryways and tactile path indicators.

Monitor and update

The Accessibility Committee and feedback gathered through the online form will inform future iterations of the Accessibility Plan.

Ongoing and future tasks related to this goal include:

  • The UVic Accessibility Committee will review and update the Accessibility Plan website regularly, including progress made towards addressing barriers.
  • Facilities Management will maintain a priority list for facility upgrades. It will be categorized by building, function and barrier.
  • University Systems will formalize and expand the Accessibility Testing Service, making it available across campus.

Additional actions and priorities

  • University Communications & Marketing will increase the accessibility of 93 more websites. These include Financial Services, Campus Planning and the Office of the University Secretary.
  • Co-op & Career Services will develop accessible spaces for in-person Career Fair events to help remove barriers for neurodiverse students and alumni.
  • Ceremonies & Special Events will collaborate with the Division of Student Affairs to develop a streamlined process for accommodating graduates. New ideas will be tested at Spring and Fall convocation in 2027.
  • The Accessibility Committee will consolidate accessibility resources into one central UVic website.
  • The Society for Students with a Disability will increase cooperation with faculties, departments, student-facing services, other institutions and provincial/national organizations.
  • Facilities Management (FMGT), University Systems (SYST) and the Office of the Registrar & Enrolment Management will collaborate to expand online classroom info (including amenities and accessibility barriers). The info will now include parking, outdoor spaces, buildings and event venues.
  • FMGT and SYST will collaborate on a wayfinding project, focused on accessible campus mapping.
  • Financial Services will expand the use of web pages and Team Dynamix forms to replace paper- and PDF-based workflows. This will help support screen readers and other accessibility tools.
  • Campus Planning will modernize the Campus Sustainability Fund to simplify funding, reduce barriers and expand opportunities.
  • The Faculty of Humanities will hire two additional chairs focused on researching ethical and accessible digital futures.
  • Libraries will launch a space planning project to establish more accessible spaces for student and group use.
  • Libraries will plan a renovation of the exterior of the Mearns – McPherson building with a focus on creating a more accessible space.
  • The Office of the Vice-President Academic & Provost, SYST, Budget & Capital Planning, FMGT and Libraries will collaborate on the Centre for Accommodated Assessment facility.

Our Equity Action Plan includes additional actions to make campus more inclusive for all. We have identified several actions related to the Accessibility Plan. They are prioritized based on our principles and consultations.

  • Conduct a campus-wide wide gap analysis/needs assessment to understand where accessibility and wellness supports (e.g., accommodations, counselling, etc.) for systemically and historically marginalized members are falling short.
  • Develop and implement accessibility training for all managers, directors and instructors to increase their capacity to support university community members with disabilities.
  • Promote and support professional development opportunities and events that build an inclusive campus and culture.
  • Incentivize faculty and staff to prioritize building an inclusive and equitable campus including developing performance evaluation tools that incorporate and assess equity, diversity and inclusion skills, competencies and achievements.
  • Encourage and support instructors and teaching assistants to implement inclusive course design, teaching practices and assessments.
  • Ensure UVic’s commitments to and resources (accommodations and support) for students and employees with disabilities are featured in all academic and hiring recruitment materials.
  • Develop a collection of job description templates that are written in plain language, equity-centred and focused on skills.
  • Increase access to experiential learning for systemically and historically marginalized groups and strengthen university and student connections with the wider community.
  • Develop and release an inclusive washroom plan with timelines, locations and regular progress reports.
  • Carry out the Better Data Project to establish clear guidelines and governance concerning the collection of self-identification data to evaluate and inform the actions associated with the EAP.
  • Update UVic’s Policy on Human Rights, Equity and Fairness to communicate the university’s responsibilities related to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Barriers identified

We recognize that some barriers are more complex and will take longer to implement. We are committed to addressing as many barriers as possible through these priorities.

Through Equity Action Plan consultations and the Accessibility Committee, we identified several barriers specific to accessibility, including:

  • Equity-centred culture: Many decision makers have not experienced systemic oppression or inequity. They may lack the skills and knowledge to consider how their decisions impact systemically and historically marginalized groups.
  • Recruitment and retention: Employment practices do not adequately consider retention of faculty, librarians and staff from systemically and historically marginalized groups.
  • Access and support: Academic accommodations for students with disabilities (including visible and invisible) are inconsistent and not specific to individual needs. The availability of and access to support services for students participating in experiential learning like co-ops and field schools is inconsistent.
  • UVic’s built environment: Obstacles such as non-automatic doors, steps and uneven floors make access difficult or impossible for people with physical disabilities. Wayfinding on campus can also be challenging.
  • Digital accessibility: UVic has websites, documents and databases that are not accessible for people with disabilities. These include improperly formatted PDFs and charts and graphics that lack descriptive text.
  • Lack of understanding: Many people simply do not know all the potential barriers to access. For example, sensory factors such as lighting, sounds and smells are often overlooked.
  • Terminology: There is an inconsistency with language used around accessibility across campus.

Additional resources

UVic's Equity Action Plan provides strategic direction to advance equity, diversity and inclusion at UVic. It includes goals to create the conditions in which everyone feels a sense of belonging—as connected and respected parts of the university community. Goals related to accessibility include:

  • Create an inclusive campus community that values diversity and challenges dominant systems of power.
  • Transform university structures and practices to show value for diverse lived experiences.
  • Attract, advance, and retain students, staff, faculty, librarians and senior leadership from systemically and historically marginalized communities.
  • Create equitable support structures that address the diverse access needs of the campus community.

UVic's Campus Plan provides direction for the physical development of campus. This includes buildings and land use, open spaces and natural areas, and transportation and parking. Goals related to accessibility include:

  • Encourage increased walking and wheelchair use, cycling, and use of public transit, making these priority modes convenient, safe, and enjoyable for all users.
  • Maintain and enhance connections, parking areas, building entrances, and open space access so that individuals of all physical abilities are able to move through campus without barriers or impediments.
  • Reinforce intuitive wayfinding across campus.

UVic's Strategic Plan provides a framework for bringing together different perspectives and lived experiences to build better solutions for the campus community. Goals related to accessibility include:

  • Include and support diverse and talented students, staff and faculty who want to make a difference in communities and have a positive impact on people, places and the planet.
  • Address systemic barriers to equity and inclusion and progressively integrate our guiding principles throughout all decisions, processes and outcomes, to transform practices within UVic.
  • Create a culture of trust, respect and collaboration that will attract and support curious, courageous people who are driven to engage, solve, teach and learn.
  • Advance and strengthen interdisciplinary and interdepartmental opportunities to provide new teaching, learning, research, creative works and service solutions.

The UVic Research and Creative Works Strategy aims to create a better world through curiosity, engagement and innovation. Actions related to accessibility include:

  • Embed equity, diversity and inclusion in research processes and activities to overcome systemic barriers and build and support a diverse research community.

Working in consultation with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students, staff, faculty and community members, Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward was shaped in tandem with Distinctly UVic, the institution’s new strategic plan. Goals related to accessibility include:

  • Reduce structural and financial barriers by changing policies and regulations that restrict student access.
  • Increase opportunities for part-time study and for online and hybrid delivery. Expand supports for off-campus learners.
  • Expand dispute resolution protocols to uphold a community of accountability, responsibility and care.
All university plans

Related policies

UVic’s policies related to accessibility and access include:

There are also accessibility elements included in collective agreements with employee unions.

External resources

External resources considered when developing this plan include:

Get involved

We invite all members of the UVic community to provide feedback on the Accessibility Plan using the report a barrier form or by emailing accessibility@uvic.ca.

Periodically, we put out a campus-wide call to serve on the committee. To express your interest in any vacancies, please email accessibility@uvic.ca.