Improve awareness, education, and make structural changes to reduce ableism within HEI

Increasing education and training surrounding disability for HEI faculty and staff can help them to better understand students’ challenges and learn about ways to support them. This can be done in a way that addresses the concept of ableism and all of the ways that it impacts students, as well as strategies to overcome it. Education around ableism should include an understanding of the ways that ableism plays out specifically in WIL. For example, when a placement is not accessible for a student, this is portrayed as a problem with “match.” However, this type of language detracts responsibility from placement sites and positions the issue as the student rather than the placement. Additionally, students in AcTinSite’s research pointed out that current HEI policies limit the number of coursework extensions in a way that impacts students’ ability to succeed academically. 

Example tactics: 

• Offer educational or training sessions, webinars, teach-ins: As previously mentioned, this would help HEI faculty and staff to gain a better understanding of ableism and how it plays out in their programs. 
• Policy brief: Prepare a policy brief that works to combat these issues. For example, by removing the limit on students extensions or by mandating training where appropriate. 

Relevant Organizations:

• Accessibility Institute
• Accessible Campus
• Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health
• Citizens with Disabilities – Ontario
• Docs with Disabilities
• Experiential and Work Integrated Learning Ontario
• Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
• Inter-University Disability Issues Association
• MDisability
• Students for Barrier-Free Access