The University of Windsor's Accessibility Awareness Days (AAD) is an annual initiative dedicated to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and disability awareness across campus. It is held every Tuesday in March and includes a variety of interactive workshops, panel discussions, and educational sessions.
This event is part of EDID Month of the Office of the Vice-President – People, Equity & Inclusion.
Week 1: Neurodiverse, neurodivergent, neurotypical: The language of neurodivergence
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
11:30-noon, Teams Virtual Webinar
Presenter: Kate Hargreaves, PhD student & Communication Specialist, PAC
To register, visit the AAD Week 1 Registration Page.
With conversations about neurodiversity becoming more common and even some more nuanced portrayals of neurodivergence popping up in media (looking at you, Shane Hollander!), it seems that the language of neurodiversity is everywhere. However, with all the different terminology, this also means that folks may find themselves confused about what it all means. Is a person neurodiverse or neurodivergent? What does it mean to be neurotypical? Neuro-affirming? What even falls under the neurodivergence umbrella? Is neurodivergence a diagnostic category or a social one? This session will help to demystify some of the language around neurodivergence.
Kate Hargreaves (she/her) is a PhD student in the Joint PhD in Educational Studies at UWindsor, Lakehead, and Brock where she studies trauma-informed pedagogies in higher education through a critical disability lens. She holds an MEd in curriculum studies as well as an MA and a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. She works in Public Affairs at the University of Windsor as a Communications Specialist and was previously the UWindsor Employee Mental Health Coordinator.
Week 2: Age-Friendly Universities and Accessible by Design: Building Inclusive Campuses for All
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
11:30-noon, Teams Virtual Webinar
Presenters: Dr. Clinton Beckford and Dr. Shanthi Johnson
To register, visit AAD Week 2 Registration Page.
The University of Windsor’s recent designation as an Age-Friendly University marks an important milestone in its ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. This session brings together Dr. Clinton Beckford, Vice-President, People, Equity & Inclusion, and Dr. Shanthi Johnson, Vice-President, Research & Innovation, for a thoughtful conversation on how age-friendly principles align with and advance institutional accessibility goals.
Through an accessibility and inclusive design lens, the discussion will explore how age-friendly approaches extend beyond the physical environment to encompass intergenerational learning, communication, research participation, community engagement, and more. Participants will be invited to consider how addressing age-related barriers across the lifespan can strengthen accessibility for students, faculty, staff, and visitors of all abilities.
Dr. Clinton Beckford became the inaugural Acting Vice-President, People, Equity, and Inclusion in June 2021 with the aim of providing guidance, advocacy, insight, and leadership in building a systematic, intentional, and coherent infrastructure to support fostering a welcoming, equitable, inclusive, just, and safe campus community. His seat at the executive leadership table, Senate, and the Board of Governors is integral to the university’s strategic goal to make equity, diversity, and inclusion central to everything it does.
Dr. Beckford's depth of experience as a highly respected advocate for social and environmental justice, as an agent of change in dismantling systemic oppression on this campus and beyond, and as an educational and administrative leader has allowed him to provide much-needed guidance to the University of Windsor in his VP role.
Follow the link to learn more about Dr. Beckford’s work and research.
Dr. Shanthi Johnson is Professor and Vice President – Research and Innovation at the University of Windsor. Previously, she served as the Dean of the School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Her community-engaged research program focusses on falls/injury prevention, aging in place in rural communities, and social isolation among immigrant and refugee seniors. Her work is enriched by collaborative international experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in the US, an Endeavour Executive Fellow in Australia, a DAAD Scholar in Germany, a GIAN visiting professor in India, and an Understanding China fellow.
Beyond academia, she has served or continues to serve on local to international boards including the National Seniors Council (member), Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (past-president), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Governing Council (vice-chair). She has been awarded fellowships with the Dietitians of Canada, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Johnson was honoured as the Female Professional of the Year by the India Canada Chamber of Commerce, received the Award of Innovation by the Regina Chamber of Commerce and was named one of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. Follow the link to learn more about Dr. Johnson’s research.
Week 3 – From Research to Resistance: Mapping the Gaps in Graduate Student Mental Health
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
11:30-noon, Teams Virtual Webinar
Presenter: Soumyaa Subramanium, Jijian Veronka,
To register, visit the AAD Week 3 Registration Page.
This presentation will briefly introduce the Mapping the Gaps study, research that explored the graduate student-faculty relationship at the University of Windsor, the University of Toronto, and Carlton University. In her presentation, Soumyaa shares key learnings from the Mapping the Gaps study and introduces Mind the Gaps: A Survival Guide for Graduate Students, a practical and critical toolkit designed to support collective organizing and resistance to sanism in university systems. She will discuss how the “wellness complex” can reinforce surveillance, performance pressures, and narrow definitions of wellness, particularly for students facing intersecting inequities. Through a critical accessibility lens and reflections as an international graduate student, this talk highlights the importance of community care, mentorship, and systemic change beyond individualized coping strategies.
Soumyaa Subramanium is a recent MPH graduate and public health researcher focused on mental health as a disability, advancing health equity, and institutional inequities. She is part of the Mapping the Gaps research project team and supports knowledge translation initiatives, that make research accessible, community-informed, and action-oriented. Her work is grounded in advocating for dignity and rights for all, and resisting oppressive, ableist, and individualist structures through collective care and systems change.
Dr. Jijian Voronka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies at the University of Windsor, where she teaches for the Disability Studies Program. Follow the link to learn more about Jijian Voronka’s areas of research.
Week 4 – Accessibility Together
CAW Student Centre Commons
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Organizers: Disability Studies Student Association with support from OHRCRM
*No registration required*
Accessibility Together is a student-led initiative. This AAD event is an in-person experience, featuring interactive booths that explore accessibility in everyday contexts such as email, social media, and more. This event aims to give resources and information about how accessibility can fit into everyday contexts. Tables will be set up to include organizations from within and outside the UWindsor community, with information on accessibility from their respective domains. Accessibility Together will also include a draw for a small gift basket - to enter, you must complete Accessibility Together activities on March 24th!
Emma Clark is the event lead. Emma is a fourth-year UWindsor student who is completing a Disability Studies placement with the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation (OHRCRM).
Week 5: Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Five Year Retrospective on Accessibility at UWindsor
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
11:30-noon, Teams Virtual Webinar
Presenter: Cherie Gagnon and panellists
As we conclude Accessibility Awareness Days (AAD) 2026, the fifth and final week will feature a special session showcasing notable initiatives, projects, and milestones that have advanced accessibility and inclusion across the University of Windsor over the past 5 years.
This 30-minute webinar will bring together a panel of individuals who have played roles in campus accessibility planning through our committee structure and who have been strong champions for creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Panellists will share reflections on cross-campus accessibility efforts, discuss the ongoing importance of accessibility initiatives, and offer reflections on future direction.
Join us for this meaningful closing event as we celebrate progress, recognize the dedication of our accessibility allies, and look toward the next chapter of accessibility on our campus.
Cherie Gagnon is the Accessibility Specialist in the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation. She will be joined by campus community members who have served on one of the University’s accessibility committees.
To register, please follow the link to AAD Week 5 Registration Page.