Dear clinical area colleagues,

I just sent a graduate course outline to Anthea because Arts has resources to convert it to meet accessibility requirements (see below). You might want to take advantage of this while you can …

Corey

From: Anthea Roulston Anthea.Roulston@umanitoba.ca Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM To: arts-academics@lists.umanitoba.ca arts-academics@lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: Fw: Arts Accessibility Initiatives Hi all,

just a reminder that Student assistants are in place to help with making course materials accessible. Please feel free to send files to me if you would like help with this task.

________________________________ From: Anthea Roulston Anthea.Roulston@umanitoba.ca Sent: February 4, 2025 1:21 PM To: arts-academics@lists.umanitoba.ca arts-academics@lists.umanitoba.ca Cc: Janice Compton Janice.Compton@umanitoba.ca; Anthea Roulston Anthea.Roulston@umanitoba.ca Subject: Arts Accessibility Initiatives

[cid:b51aeb04-570b-427c-bc38-33c3d0c1908e] Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing today on behalf of the Arts Accessibility Advisory Committee concerning three important initiatives:

1. Student Assistants to help with converting documents to meet AMAIC accessibility requirements.

1. Audit of Arts classrooms

1. Quick survey - would you use a "catch box" for sound amplification if Arts had a few to borrow?

Student Assistants: We have hired student assistants to work a total of 20 hours each week through February and March to aid faculty and instructors with converting resources to meet accessibility standards. Priority will be given to instructors who currently have a student in class requiring accessible materials as one of their SAS accommodations. We will also take materials for summer or fall term that can be done on a less urgent basis.

Please send files to me (Janice.Compton@umanitoba.ca) or Anthea (Anthea.Roulston@umanitoba.ca) and note when they are needed, and whether there is a current SAS request.

Audit of Arts Classrooms: The Arts Accessibility Advisory Committee is asking for your help in completing an audit of Arts Classrooms with respect to accessibility issues. We have compiled a short list of observed issues in some classrooms and would like to have a fuller picture of our current teaching environment.

We are hoping that you could take a few minutes to look at the classroom where you are teaching this term and make a few notes on the following issues. 1. Clocks: How many clocks are in the classroom. Are they working? Are they digital or analog? 2. Lighting: Is your classroom bright? Is there natural light? Fluorescent? 3. Seating Description: Are the student chairs moveable? Table desks or small side desks? Is there space between the seats? Would a student who was 6’3” 220lbs be comfortable in your classroom? 4. Accessibility Seating: Is there seating available for students with mobility barriers? 5. Sightlines: Are there physical barriers (poles, computer setup, angles) that makes it difficult or impossible for students to see? 6. Door handles: Are the door handles accessible to all? For example, would a student have to grasp and turn the doorknob or are they the style that you push down on, or are there none at all? 7. Sound: How is the sound when you are teaching? Can you hear students at the back of the room? Is the sound from hallways distracting? 8. Anything else you notice? ** NOTE TO THOSE IN TIER** We have just been informed that the classrooms in Tier are all scheduled for new, more accessible seating. So, you could simply ignore those sections of the survey as they should be addressed soon. To make this as easy as possible, we have set up a Microsoft form to complete. This should hopefully just take a few minutes. Click on the link found here: CLASSROOM ACCESSIBILITY FORMhttps://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=C92AT4wzTE6KFJBEaWL3uHWz1S-aR6dHhHFHVwRnobBUM01BWjRHWUVLRjNTVERDNzBEUDFQWEk4Sy4u Quick Survey: The faculty is considering the purchase of a few "catch boxes" to have available for borrowing. These are "throwable" student mics and a wearable clip (for instructor) that will help to amplify sound during discussions. More information can be found on the supplier's websitehttps://catchbox.com/customize/plus?bundle=PLU-1CB-1CL.

Please complete the following poll on whether you would be interested in borrowing one of these for your classes.

Poll: Would you be interested in borrowing a "catch-box" if they were available?https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=C92AT4wzTE6KFJBEaWL3uBm_htSLOBVLqmDETSPZxTFUREZZMTQyUzlZREdESFpPV1MyS1pIRTVQUC4u&loop=1

Thank you! Janice

Janice Compton Associate Dean, Undergraduate (Faculty of Arts) Professor, Department of Economics University of Manitoba 316 Fletcher Argue Building Winnipeg MB R3T 5V5 204-474-9055

Anthea Roulston, BSc (She/Her)

Assistant to the Associate Deans

Faculty of Arts

University of Manitoba

307 Fletcher Argue Building

204 474 7321

E: Anthea.Roulston@umanitoba.ca

https://umanitoba.ca/arts/

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