Forward Together: AccessAbility Week - ��ý Schools - School District 41, ��ý, BC, Canada

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A number of learning activities for both students and staff are putting a spotlight on accessibility and inclusion for all.

For example, at Brentwood Park Elementary, a Grade 6/7 class has been exploring what accessibility and inclusion mean and why it matters to the whole community.

Matteo Z. is a student in the Division 4 class:

“We’re creating symbols about the importance of including everyone in our society.”

The children focused their learning through designs they created as part of the Easter Seals in advance of National AccessAbility Week.

Student Jaclyn H:

“I’m proud of the drawings I’ve done, which include lots of detail. I worked to include the idea of inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility.”

Across Canada, National AccessAbility Week takes place from May 26 to June 1. This year’s theme is “Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All.”

Division 4’s teacher is Deanna Zucchetto:

For AccessAbility Week, it’s really impactful to talk about how we access education in different ways. When a lot of people talk about accessibility, they mean physical barriers, but there are also cognitive barriers and other types of barriers. We wanted to make sure we included all of that in this learning.”

For student Maya G, that message really resonated:

“It’s kind of spreading this message of how everyone is welcome.”

Student Deniz Y. thinks these kinds of projects are valuable in schools:

“I think it’s important because when you’re older it’s always harder to get something in your mind because as a child you already have that mindset to learn. So, when children are taught this as a kid, they end up knowing that their entire life, and it’s always good to include and learn how to include and not exclude.”

The ��ý School District also shared learning opportunities for staff in advance of National AccessAbility Week. District leaders were provided with an interactive presentation for use at staff meetings and/or professional development days that included information about recognizing accessibility barriers, considering our own roles in preventing barriers, and our collective responsibility as a school district through BC’s Accessibility Act and related regulations.

Last December, after consultation and input from people with lived experience with disabilities and accessibility, the District launched a comprehensive multi-year plan as part of our work toward making the District’s learning and working environments inclusive and accessible places for all.