Enable York, an independent body that functions in an advisory capacity to York University’s Presidential Advisory Committee on Human Rights, is currently seeking to recruit one student and two faculty members to be a part of its committee for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years.
Enable York aims to foster an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities and those encountering disabling circumstances at York. In previous years, Enable York has organized consultative round tables with students to better understand the lived experiences of persons with disabilities at the University, as well as strategies for improving accessibility and inclusion. Enable York was also a leading voice in consultations regarding accessibility of the Markham Campus.
The Enable York Committee strives to reflect the diversity of York University’s community, including, but not limited to, a diverse representation of self-identified persons with disabilities, as well as diversity in terms of sexuality, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, class etc., and to be sensitive to the intersection of marginalized identities. Committee members are appointed for a term of two years.
During the 2018-19 academic year, the Enable York committee plans to:
- engage in a mapping exercise of existing committees and structures at York, where work related to disability advocacy and accessibility is taking place. This initiative will help increase alignment and position Enable York as a central locus of knowledge about accessibility, and help inform university policies affecting faculty, staff and students;
- host a consultative round table with the York community to inform the mapping exercise and identify committee priorities for the 2019-20 academic year; and
- work with the York University Senate Executive Committee on Equity to inform revisions to York’s guidelines for academic accommodation for students with disabilities.
Persons interested in joining the Enable York Committee, who should demonstrate interest in and commitment to issues of disability and the way they may intersect with broader human rights issues, are asked to submit an expression of interest form by Nov. 23.