Yes, Deconstructing Disability is a new column added here at Cascade that will be running every other issue!
The University of the Fraser Valley is committed to ensuring a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment and learning experience for all, as stated on their website as part of their inclusivity action plan. Thus, the idea of forming this column sprouted to fruition. Deconstructing Disability will revolve around all things disability related within the UFV community, as that is a very underrepresented group. The UFV community focuses on various minorities, but disability seems to be one that is not heard of often or is forgotten altogether. A significant population of the campus community have either physical or cognitive disabilities, and those who are temporarily able-bodied can not only become disabled at any point in their life, but may even become temporarily disabled in cases such as needing to use crutches for a short period of time or use a wheelchair to navigate their world.
The column is one that is not a short-term project, but rather one that can be carried on as disability culture isn’t going away anytime soon and it has begun gaining more attention and recognition. Articles within the column will range across a wide array of topics under the umbrella of disability within the post-secondary setting such as interviewing students with a lived disability on their time at UFV; speaking to professors about universal design within the classroom and class structures; articles on the Accessibility Centre and lengthy processes for registration or accessing textbooks; a review of inclusive signage and architecture on campus; service dog laws within campus, and more.
This column hopes to not only be a voice for disabled students and a place to provide more information, but aims to be a catalyst in educating the able-bodied population on campus and exposing them to a part of their community they may have felt uncomfortable with before. In addition to this, the column strives to be a great resource for UFV itself to create positive change and an equitable community for all.
As mentioned above, UFV has created an equity, diversity, and inclusion action plan as well as principles to guide them during this process, and this column also wishes to add to and bolster the goals the university aims to achieve. Goals such as committing to identifying and addressing barriers to equity of access and opportunity, and providing supports for the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, senior university leaders, and university board and senate members, particularly from under represented groups. Notably, the fourth guiding principle commits to ensuring that members of the UFV community are provided support in their educational progress, career progress, and success in leadership positions at our institution. Therefore, these articles can assist in identifying any challenges the community is facing and the supports that students require.
Any questions or want to propose a topic idea for the column? Reach out to me by email at jinnie@ufvcascade.ca.
