Accessibility

Inclusion and accommodation are essential components of a healthy and productive workplace. These factors can significantly impact employees’ ability to succeed in their careers.

Going all digital seemed like the best thing with COVID-19, but for people with access needs that have long been ignored, this past year’s transition to online work and life reflects how accessibility considerations are often an afterthought.

Being a visually-impaired person on a university campus has its own unique difficulties on top of being a university student. Read Jillian's experience on what makes the campus accessible for her, and what resources she uses to make the most of her university career.

Even the most well-meaning actions can have unintended consequences. Read SFU student Jillian's piece on what some of the dos and don'ts are for providing help to a blind person are. 

Roop was on her way home from school when a new passenger boarded the bus. Using a creative, short story narrative, she takes us through her internal dialogue and challenges assumptions. Read on to learn where this journey ends up taking Roop.

Sometimes self-doubt can get the better of us. Read Alyssa's article to find out how they were able to overcome feelings of doubt and transform them into self-confidence. 

Recently graduated, Jien Hilario reflects back on university, career choices, convocation and her blog series I Am Able. 

Having a goal allows us to take aim and move forward. Jien, shares lessons in goal-setting from Bo Sanchez's How to Conquer your Goliaths, and offers her own personal experiences of goal-setting and achieving. 

Success does not follow a linear path and neither will your career. Jien shares some fundamental lessons from "The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need.", while also reflecting on her own personal experiences learning these lessons. 

How do you know if a job posting is legit? After applying to over 100 jobs, Jien has a few tips to help you decode that job posting. 

Working with people with disabilities can enable you to understand their experiences better. What better way to do so than having fun at the ocean or in the mountains? Here are some ideas for volunteering with those with disabilities. 

It is 2018 and Canada has not yet implemented adequate protection and legislation for people with disabilities. When it comes to equality for all, Canada is falling far behind. In this article, Jien discusses the research and reality of why Canada needs a Disabilities Act.

When people think about social justice, they think of things like protests or hunger strikes, but the options don’t end there. These volunteer organizations can help you satisfy your inner activist.

In this article, Jien discusses volunteerism through Tony Botelho and Albert Fung of SFU’s Career and Volunteer Services. Read more to explore the benefits of volunteering for students with and without disabilities.

If you were to see Jien on campus, you wouldn’t know that she had a disability. She does not use a wheelchair nor does she have a seeing eye dog. She has an invisible disability. In this article, Jien shares her journey on how she came to terms with labeling herself as a person with a disability. 

Trying new things and volunteering to help your community can open up new options and ideas, some of which can be life-changing, and may direct you down a path that you never imagined you would be on. 

Privilege shapes our world in both visible and "invisible" ways. Jien discusses the ways in which privilege is granted to the non-disabled, and how acknowledging this privilege is one way we can all help. 

On the first day of school, your hearts racing, sweat is forming across the forehead and you're nervous beyond belief. Now imagine attending school as a co-op student on your first work term at Mediated Learning Academy - That's exactly how Andrew felt. Read about his experience with MLA!

Emily, a Health Sciences Co-op student, worked for Western Society for Children (WSFC) as a Child Life Specialist. This allowed Emily to see the ability within disability, and realize that anyone has the power to make a difference. Read Emily's article to find out more about WSFC, and how good intentions lead to meaningful impacts!

Saba did her very first co-op work term at the Mediated Learning Academy. In this post, she shares her experiences working with children between the ages of 6 to 9 with special needs and the things she learned with them along the way.

Communication and interaction are fundamental parts of everyday life and a person’s ability to communicate and interact has a major impact on their well-being, happiness, and success. In this post, Akanksha shares her own experiences at the intersection of culture and communication.

Since applying to the Kinesiology program at SFU, Lois knew one day they wanted to work as an Occupational Therapist. They spent time volunteering in recreation-based work, but when it came time to apply for a co-op, Lois decided to expand into the realm of teaching life skills.

"The road has been a long one and filled with many stops and starts. I would say never be afraid of having to do things over and over again because failure is not weakness or "bad". It's a way to know how to move forward." Read more to follow Deboarah's story. 

Finding out about an incurable genetic disease is definitely a game changer. With the right attitude it can be change in the right direction as I was able to get involved with CNIB (Canadian National Institute For The Blind) and support a new community of inspiring individuals.