Accessibility at SFU

Accessibility Plan

Aligned with the Equity Compass and informed by the perspectives and needs of SFU students, faculty and staff with disabilities, the Accessibility Plan describes the changes needed to transition towards a more accessible university. Through the Accessibility Secretariat and Committee and the Equity Office, SFU will refine the plan each year, responding to the provincial standards and community feedback. An annual implementation plan will define milestones and responsibilities, supporting both resource allocation and reporting.

Accessibility Committee

In response to the Accessible BC Act and to meet the goals of the Equity Compass, SFU has created its first pan-university Accessibility Committee in 2023. The purpose of the Accessibility Committee is to:

• assist the SFU in identifying attitudinal, physical or architectural, information or communication, systemic/organizational, technology, and sensory barriers;
• raise awareness about accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities;
• set internal accessibility standards;
• increase accessibility within the organization;
• provide support, information, and education related to accessibility and inclusion;
• encourage feedback about accessibility issues;
• develop an action plan guided by the Equity Compass and interim Accessibility Action Plan; and
• explore the development of an Accessibility policy and review existing policies.

Much gratitude to the work of the Accessibility Steering Committee who provided valuable advice and input into the design of the Accessibility Committee and process for adding members. The purpose of steering committee, comprised of members of the EDI Advisory Council, the Centre for Accessible Learning, and the SFU Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance, was to consider composition of future accessibility committee, decide on process of selection of committee members and drafting a terms of reference for the committee, and providing feedback on an interim action plan on accessibility that provide guidance to the Accessibility Committee in creating a three-year plan for SFU.

The Accessibility Committee is a mix of appointed positions and at-large members who were selected following an open call for expressions of interest. Please note appointed members are still being added to the committee and this list will be updated as membership grows. The Accessibility Committee has representation from alumni, students, staff, and faculty. 

The members of SFU’s inaugural Accessibility Committee are:

Executive Sponsor

• Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, Vice President, People, Equity and Inclusion

Secretariat

• Laya Behbahani, Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Staff Initiatives

Co-Chairs

• Sean Heaslip, Alumni & Staff Member, Health and Counselling
  
• Jennifer Sanguinetti, Associate VP, Facilities and Capital Planning

Appointed Members

1. Bradley Thomas, Facilities, Surrey
2. Brian Stewart, Chief Information Officer
3. Jackie Davie, Associate Director, Organizational Health Office, Organizational Health
4. Ebony Magnus, Associate Dean, Academic Engagement, SFU Library
5. Fereshteh Rashed, Director of Access and Equity, Graduate Student Society
6. Jennifer Sanguinetti, Associate VP, Facilities and Capital Planning
7. Treena Chambers, Indigenous Student Life Coordinator, Indigenous Student Centre
8. Mat Cocuzzi, Associate Director, Facilities Services, Vancouver Campus
9. Megan Tweedie, Director, Human Rights Office
10. Seth Greenham, Acting Director, Centre for Accessible Learning (Director of the Multifaith Centre)
11. Fiona Shaw, Associate Director, Inclusive Teaching, Centre for Educational Excellence
12. Nicole Dorssers, Executive Director, Alumni, VP Advancement & Alumni Engagement
13. Rebecca Sum, Faculty and Leadership Development Specialist

If you have any questions, please email access@sfu.ca.