By: Emilee Schevers
CNIB National Youth Council Member
Access to post-secondary education opens a world of possibilities for personal and professional development. However, textbooks and course materials are rarely available in accessible formats – creating a significant barrier for students with disabilities. As a result, many students who are blind or partially sighted are at risk of falling behind because they encounter lengthy and/or costly delays when requesting accessible textbooks and course materials.
In 2019, the CNIB National Youth Council pledged to address this problem and find a solution to ensure that post-secondary students have equitable access to information. We created a working group and brainstormed ways in which we could help ensure that post-secondary students with sight loss receive accessible textbooks and course materials in a timely manner. A call to action was sent to CNIB leadership to implement a solution, and today, we are proud to watch it come full circle as our advocacy team launches a formal action plan.
Let's discuss how the action plan will work.
If a student encounters an issue with receiving accessible course materials and has already connected with their schools Accessibility Office, Accessibility Advisors, and course instructors with no resolve, the student can then fill out our self-serve online form or call 1-833-GET-A11Y (1-833-438-2119) for assistance filling out the form. The information submitted through the form is then assigned to a regional advocacy lead who will connect with the student and support in the self-advocacy process, including writing letters of support or acquiring the alternative format internally (if deemed necessary).
CNIB will continue to work with post-secondary institutions to ensure that students with sight loss have access to their textbooks and course materials, in an accessible format, without delay. Canada's colleges and universities, as well as the publishing industry, have an obligation to ensure that youth with sight loss receive literature, course content and textbooks without jeopardizing their academic success.
Students across the country are heading back to college and university, and we want to help ensure every student with sight loss has access to their textbooks and course materials in their preferred alternate format.
No student with sight loss should receive their textbooks or course materials days before an exam.
For more information, visit our website.