Sent on behalf of Mark Garrett, PT Dept. Head
Dear MPT1 students,
Greetings from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS) where we are busy preparing for your arrival next Tuesday morning at 8 am! This is an exciting time to be entering CoRS as all three of our professional programs (PT, OT and RT) are in the process of expansion, and our first-year classes for 2025-26 are the largest we have ever admitted. Our Rehab Building has been undergoing extensive renovation over the past few years to create learning spaces that can accommodate our increased numbers and improve accessibility for students. R160 is an older classroom you will use frequently while in the program, and it is scheduled for a full makeover in spring, 2026 - while you are away on your clinical placements out in the community. Before then, we are going to accommodate you with a mix of seating consisting of 40% regular chairs at tables and 60% "tablet armchairs" (i.e., individual chairs with a swing-away writing surface). We feel this mix will meet the accessibility needs of the variety of students coming into the program, as some students may need to sit at a table rather than in a tablet armchair (e.g., for mobility reasons). Both types of seating have been distributed throughout the room to accommodate everyone's needs in terms of location (e.g., students with visual impairments may have specific requirements). To ensure the seating process is equitable, we are asking each of you to think about the type of seating you need for accessibility reasons that will enable you to engage well in class. If you have flexibility with your needs regarding type of seating or location, we ask that, in the spirit of creating an accessible learning environment for all, you let others find seats before you claim a spot. We request this because not all seats or locations will work for all people. This is great practice for you in your professional program as you learn to anticipate and respond to accessibility needs of your clients in new ways - a critically important skill for practicing physiotherapists.
We will check in with you throughout the year to evaluate how seating is working for you all. Feedback will be optional and, in most instances, collected anonymously. As well, you can always speak privately with your Program Advisor if you are encountering any problems related to seating - or any other matter (you will meet your advisor on your first morning at the school).
All the best and see you next week!
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark Garrett, PhD, PT
Head, Department of Physical Therapy
College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
R106-771 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, MB. R3E 0T6
mark.garrett(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:mark.garrett@umanitoba.ca>
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