Last week, Quebec school administrators informed thousands of students with disabilities that they would be experiencing a ‘break in services’ until Nov. 2026. Those breaks, the result of funding and staffing shortages that made accessibility programming reportedly infeasible, entail reduced schedules, removal from classes, and in some instances, being forced[Read More…]
Tag: Accessibility
McGill must get on the right track and prioritize accessibility—not anti-unionism
This October, employees of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) filed strike notices that will disrupt bus and metro services throughout November. The Syndicat du transport de Montréal-CSN, which represents maintenance workers, has pledged to strike from Oct. 31 to Nov. 28. The Syndicat des chauffeurs, opérateurs, et employés[Read More…]
$52 million CAD in federal funding fuels hope for Quebec’s anglophone healthcare accessibility
On Oct. 15, the Canadian federal government announced a budget increase of $52 million CAD, allocated to anglophone health services in Quebec. The funds will be distributed between McGill University and the Community Health and Social Services Network over the next five years. These institutions will lead execution, with Dialogue[Read More…]
Staff and students stress the importance of consultation at accessibility town hall
Over 100 staff and students gathered on Nov. 22 for a virtual town hall to share their thoughts on the McGill Accessibility Strategy (MAS), the university’s proposed plan to increase accessibility for disabled community members and to address ableism on campus. There, attendees provided input on a draft document outlining[Read More…]
McGill’s Student Accessibility and Achievement is not achieving its goals
McGill’s Student Accessibility and Achievement (SAA) program consistently faces criticism for not providing thoughtful support tailored to student’s needs and not adequately addressing the diverse range of student challenges. Forty per cent of Canada’s university students self-identify as having a disability, which raises the question: Are students truly receiving the[Read More…]
Lecture recordings are a necessary step for greater accessibility
Finding mental health support as a McGill student has been a challenge for quite some time, with the university’s meagre efforts to offer services—like animal therapy and peer supporters—falling short. The Student Wellness Hub is inadequate for the majority of the student population; however, the jarring lack of mental health[Read More…]
Schulich library will not fill the void of a McLennan-Redpath closure
Though the reopening of the Schulich Library was timed conveniently with the impending closure of the McLennan-Redpath Complex, whether the new and improved Schulich will make a worthy competitor is the question of the hour. Apart from the labyrinthine path one must take to locate the library, Schulich’s questionable capacity,[Read More…]
Student brings discrimination case against McGill over service dog policy
A graduate student filed a report against McGill through the Office of Mediation and Reporting (OMR) in August 2022, alleging McGill discriminated against him for denying him on campus housing because of his service dog. He has since taken his case to the Commission des droits de la personne et[Read More…]
McGill needs fewer pedestrians and more cars
McGill is known for its efforts to ensure accessibility, but one key component, and arguably the most important, is being overlooked: Car accessibility on campus. While being in the heart of Montreal might not be conducive to such an intricate road system, it’s positively too much to ask students to[Read More…]
McGill Board of Governors and Senate discuss barriers to accessing internships and exchanges
At 4 p.m. on Nov. 10, Chancellor John McCall MacBain kicked off the first in-person joint Board of Governors (BoG)-Senate meeting since 2019. The meeting, which took place at the Faculty Club at 3450 McTavish Street, centred on “experiential learning at the local, national and international levels.” Attendees worked to[Read More…]
