Focus of Learning and Discussion
The session will be facilitated by Jenny Sampirisi, Learning and Inclusion Education Developer in the Academic Accommodation Support office at Toronto Metropolitan University. The presentation will offer context and insight into the “The Shared Responsibility Project”, a suite of faculty-facing trainings, collaborations, and resources developed to demystify academic accommodations at TMU.
The Shared Responsibility Project is an umbrella project that houses many faculty-facing initiatives coming out of Academic Accommodation Support and in collaboration with stakeholders across Toronto Metropolitan University. The high-level goals of the project are to:
- Provide training to faculty and staff that demystifies internal accommodations policies, OHRC requirements, and AODA recommendations;
- Develop programming to guide faculty in the proactive reduction of known attitudinal and educational design barriers to integration and full participation for students with disabilities;
- Promote understanding of academic accommodations and accessibility as two distinct approaches to access and inclusion;
- Address "Barrier Area 2: Awareness and Training," under the AODA's proposed postsecondary education standards – 2021 initial recommendations report;
- Encourage and engage in supportive, intentional collaboration with other campus services, departments, students, and faculties.
Session Highlights
- Understanding the unique role of an education developer housed within a campus disability resource office
- Early lessons in the role: Understanding the disconnect, frustrations, fears, and best intentions of faculty as they navigate academic accommodations
- Overview of “The Shared Responsibility Project” suite of faculty-facing initiatives
- Demo of “Policy 159: A Shared Responsibility, Faculty and Contract Lecturer Training” a four module interactive course released by TMU’s academic accommodations office in summer 2023
- Early results from the training and next steps in fostering a collaborative commitment to accessible education on campus
- Question and answer
Speaker and Session Facilitator
Jenny Sampirisi is a Learning and Inclusion Education Developer housed in Academic Accommodation Support at TMU. Her background is as an instructional designer, learning strategist, professor, and assessment specialist primarily within unique university access programs such as “Spanning the Gaps - Access to Post-Secondary Education”, the First Nations Technical Institute, and bridging programs for nurses requiring further accreditation after a time away from schooling. She has developed and led numerous training initiatives for faculty in support of equitable access to education for students with disabilities.