Accessibility and Equity Liaison

Currently, the Graduate Student Society (GSS) has no representative voice for Graduate students who identify with physical or learning disabilities on the Council. The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility has a working committee that currently hosts several different student positions for the Accessibility Coordinating Committee. This position will serve as the connection between the GSS and OHREA. 

Responsibilities 

The primary role of this position would be to represent the GSS on the Accessibility Coordinating Committee (ACC).

• The purpose of the Accessibility Coordinating Committee (ACC) is to ensure a coherent, coordinated approach to accessibility throughout the University community. The ACC will review, coordinate and prioritize the activities of the five accessibility standards committees, those committees being:
• Accessible Built Environment 
• Accessible Employment and Customer Service 
• Accessible Education, Training and Awareness 
• Accessible Information and Communication 

• ACC provides the President’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI) with input and recommendations for the University’s compliance with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and Regulations. The Committee will work to meet, and where possible surpass, the requirements of the legislation in order to identify and remove barriers for persons with disabilities and attain the goal of a fully-inclusive University. The ACC will work to identify and remove barriers for persons with disabilities, thereby fostering a positive organizational climate and facilitating ongoing progressive change. University of Windsor
  • Reviews and provides feedback for the AODA Multi-Year Plan and the University Annual Accessibility Report 
  • Reviews and sets priorities including those identified by the standards committees 
  • Provides direction to the standards committees 
  • Provides recommendations to the President’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI)

• Attend all related meetings 
  • Provide a Report to Council for each meeting 
• Represent the GSS on the Graduate Studies Council. 
  • Attend all related meetings 
  • Provide a Report to Council for each meeting
• Support and enhance OHREA initiatives on campus 
  • Represent the GSS on the Annual Accessibility Day 
    • Assist with event planning
• Perform other duties as assigned by the GSS Council and/or GSS President.

Eligibility 

In order to be eligible for this position, the student must be a full paid member of the GSS as per the GSS Constitution Bylaw 1 – Membership 

• Member:

• • The member(s) of the GSS shall be limited to all individuals registered in a full-time or part-time graduate program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Windsor who have paid membership fees to the GSS, assessed and payable on a per term basis.
    
• Must be able to attend all related meetings for the term of the position. 
• This position will be offered within the Council General Election cycle in the 2021 Fall semester. 
• The term length for the GSS representative will be 1 year starting in September and ending in August as per the GSS By-Laws.

Note: Due to the creation of this new position, the GSS is holding a By-Election. The GSS representative’s term for the 2021 Winter and Summer will conclude at the end of August.