Accessibility progress

Assess

• The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) collaborated with Facilities Management (FMGT) to improve classroom furniture accommodations
• FMGT updated the interactive campus map as part of ongoing wayfinding projects
• FMGT began conducting building audits using Rick Hansen Foundation criteria
• Co-op and Career Services performed an accessibility review of all web-based curricular material to ensure it meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AAA guidelines. Content is regularly reviewed to maintain high accessibility scores

Educate

• UVic faculty hosted the inaugural Pathways to Belonging Conference in collaboration with Learning & Teaching Innovation (LTI) and UVic Libraries. It focused on academic accommodations, ableism, resilience and decolonizing accessibility
• CAL implemented expanded academic accommodation summaries, updated daily for all instructors
• Human Resources (HR) launched their new website with updated resource pages, including workplace accommodations, return to work and ergonomics
• The HR Employee Learning Program added an accessibility learning theme to the UVic Learning Inventory
• LTI delivered workshops on accessible teaching and learning for the UVic teaching community
• LTI hosted podcast episodes featuring UVic faculty and instructors engaged with accessibility, inclusion and innovative teaching practices
• LTI added instructor support resources for universal extended time (UET) and academic accommodations
• LTI created the "Accessibility in Action" Lunch & Learn series to support instructors with integrating accessible teaching and learning into their materials and classrooms
• The Society for Students with a Disability gave a workshop on Disability & Neurodiversity Awareness during UVic's 5 Days of Action. It was open to all members of the UVic community
• University Systems provided accessible coding training to their software development teams
• Co-op and Career Services Hosted an Employer Symposium in Fall 2025 featuring Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux, and an employer panel focused on advancing workplace accessibility

Collect and address feedback

• The Accessibility Plan website was refreshed with a new form for reporting accessibility barriers
• The Society for Students with a Disability #Access4All committee sent a joint letter to UVic’s Senior administration alongside fellow student, staff and faculty associations and unions
• University Systems launched the accessibility-tested Faculty of Graduate Studies Student Progress reporting app. The app helps graduate students track progress and communicate with their supervisor

Monitor and update

• Co-op and Career Services' Accessibility and Inclusion Co-op and Career Coordinator received the BC Untapped Workplace Inclusion Award in the Diverse & Inclusive Champion – Individual category. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to equity in experiential learning
• Co-op and Career Services found that 892 students self-identified as having a disability. This was an increase from 17 self-reports in 2020, highlighting the importance of accessible and inclusive career support services
• The Better Data Project public dashboards were launched and accessibility tested

Additional actions and priorities

• University Systems (SYST), Facilities Management (FMGT) and University Communications & Marketing (UCAM) launched the classrooms website. This site shows details about UVic classrooms with a focus on accessibility
• The Vice-President Academic and Provost funded additional TA invigilation support for accommodated exams
• The Centre for Accessible Learning streamlined the accommodated assessment request process. They achieved this by simplifying deadlines and integrating invigilation requests into UVic's event calendar for better instructor tracking
• FMGT launched their new website, with plain language service information and a new process for requesting support
• UCAM worked with 28 campus partners to migrate their websites from the old, inaccessible template to Template 4
• UCAM developed a robust set of documentation guides for working with the new Template 4 web components, including best practices for accessibility and usability
• SYST launched their new website with plain language tech support information and a streamlined request IT help process
• SYST collaborated with UCAM on the Template 4 design system for websites. It includes a library of accessible components and styles, as well as accessibility testing
• SYST launched the Course Outlines pilot project to provide a searchable database of course outlines. This project was accessibility tested
• SYST partnered with CAL to hire a dedicated software developer to support technical accessibility initiatives, including improvements to accommodations software and processes
• The Office of the University Secretary created accessible templates for Senate and related committees.

Assess

• Purchasing Services added a request for Vendor Accessibility Conformance Reports to UVic's request for proposal (RFP) process
• Facilities Management (FMGT) added accessibility as a key tenet for any new project or renovation
• FMGT conducted accessibility audits of bookable classroom spaces
• FMGT allocated a percentage of annual ministry funding towards accessibility initiatives
• FMGT created a priority list of upgrades by function and building
• University Systems (SYST) conducted a gap analysis of departmental process accessibility
• SYST partnered with the Society for Students with a Disability and Centre for Accessible Learning to hire students with disabilities to test UVic websites and web apps

Educate

• The Academic & Technical Writing Program began conducting professional development events focused on accessibility
• Learning & Teaching Innovation (LTI) launched the Accessible Teaching and Learning community of practice
• LTI updated Teach Anywhere and UVic Learn with new accessibility-focused resources, including a universal design for learning guide with examples from UVic instructors
• LTI committed to developing accessible teaching strategies and supports for each discipline at UVic
• University Systems trained over 150 IT support staff in accessible service delivery

Collect and address feedback

• Learning & Teaching Innovation administered a survey of faculty members regarding lecture capture technology
• The Society for Students with a Disability conducted an #Access4All survey

Monitor and update

• The Accessibility Committee gave a panel presentation during UVic's annual 5 Days of Action event focused on accessibility accommodations and universal design
• Drafts of upcoming accessibility standards were reviewed, with feedback provided to the provincial government

Additional actions and priorities

• UVic joined the Accessible Employers of BC
• The Classroom Infrastructure Committee requested funding to increase the supply of accessible furniture available for staff, faculty and students
• The Accessibility Committee promoted student-led events through its membership
• The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) partnered with Facilities Management (FMGT) to improve supports for students' accessibility needs in classrooms
• CAL partnered with University Systems (SYST) to approve accessibility software for UVic computers
• FMGT continued work on the accessible and gender-inclusive washroom project
• The Society for Students with a Disability advocated for their inclusion in the revision of AC1205, the policy outlining academic accommodations at UVic
• SYST started the Digital Accessibility program to accelerate UVic's accessibility maturity journey

Assess

• A case study evaluating the CanWork program’s strengths and challenges was published in the International Journal of Work Integrated Learning

Educate

• The Centre for Accessible Learning and Learning & Teaching Innovation created a working group to improve collaboration between their teams and faculties
• The Society for Students with a Disability started the Invisible Disabilities and Dynamic Disabilities education campaigns
• University Systems (SYST) expanded options for multi-factor authentication to include more accessible methods
• SYST provided resources for staff supporting people with disabilities

Collect and address feedback

• The Accessibility Plan website was launched, including resource pages and an online feedback form
• The Better Data Project questionnaire was launched for all UVic staff, faculty and students

Additional actions and priorities

• The Office of the Registrar & Enrolment Management (OREM) expanded their role in organizing accommodated exams and assessments
• OREM provided room booking support to instructors and created a dedicated in-person accommodated assessment counter for helping students

Assess

• The Accessibility Committee formed and began drafting UVic's Accessibility Plan
• Co-op and Career Services created the Accessibility and Inclusion Co-op and Career Coordinator position. This position emerged from CanWork, a collaboration with CanAssist
• Learning & Teaching Innovation (LTI) provided dedicated supports for accessible course design, including Learning Experience Designers
• Most of UVic's buildings were Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) Accessibility Certified. This included gold certifications for CARSA and two new housing and dining buildings, for an expected 38 RHF certified structures on campus
• UVic’s new website template adheres to level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2 standards
• Vikes and CARSA expanded their accessible athletic and recreation opportunities
• LTI provided new resources for hosting accessible meetings and events

Thank you to members of our community who generously shared their experiences and stories with us to help shape this plan. Their input was crucial in creating a framework that represents the voices of our diverse community. Our conversations were essential to supporting an intersectional approach to this work.

• Associate Deans, Chairs and Directors
• Centre for Accessible Learning
• Co-op and Career Services
• Deans’ Council and Academic Leadership
• Division of Learning and Teaching Innovation
• Equity and Human Rights
• Executive Council
• Faculty Association, PEA and CUPE unions
• Graduate Students’ Society (GSS)
• International Centre for Students
• Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement
• Society for Students with a Disability
• University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS)

We collected feedback and sorted it into five themes:

• Culture
• Education and resources
• Student supports
• Teaching, learning and research
• Communication and information

During consultations, we heard a call for:

• Improving the campus culture and attitudes towards people with disabilities
• Making accessibility tools, information and resources easier to find
• Recognizing that accessibility is a shared responsibility
• Improving the accessibility of the built environment
• Continuing to make our processes and systems more accessible
• Supporting instructors in universal course design