Community partners, local organizations, members of the NAIT community, artists and keynote speakers will gather at NAIT and online on Thursday, June 1 for the polytechnic’s inaugural AccessAbility Symposium—a free event that is open to anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of accessibility.
The symposium brings together a diverse range of participants who have the opportunity to understand and address barriers to accessibility and inclusion, explore and embrace intersectionality, and connect with allies and fellow community members.
Participants will hear from keynote speakers and have an opportunity to experience artistic demonstrations by local artists including members of the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts and spoken word artist Nisha Patel. Keynote speakers include:
- Dr. James Makokis, Nehiyô Two-Spirit Family Physician in Kinokamasihk Cree Nation & Associate Clinical Professor, University of Alberta (in-person presenter)
- Susana Deranger, co-founder of Mother Earth and co-chair of the Keepers of the Water (virtual presenter)
- Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, co-founder of IDEA-STEM (virtual presenter)
- Ainsley Latour, president, IDEA-STEM (virtual presenter)
- Jonathan Marriott, director of Accessibility Advisory Services for the Rick Hansen Foundation (in-person presenter)
This is the first of two symposiums NAIT will host over the next two years. The event is also an opportunity for NAIT to gain valuable insights and learnings from the broader community on how to address barriers to accessibility. This will support the polytechnic’s continual efforts to build a vibrant, inclusive campus and online learning and working environment for the NAIT community.
Funding is made possible by the Government of Canada, Social Development Partnership Program-Disability Component. AccessAbility Symposium at NAIT is part of National AccessAbility Week, which runs May 28 to June 2 and is intended to raise awareness of the need for and importance of accessibility for all Canadians.
Media are welcome to attend any portion of the event. Event organizers and guests are available for interviews upon request.
WHAT: AccessAbility Symposium at NAIT
WHEN: Thursday, June 1, 2023
TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Full event schedule)
WHERE: This event is offered both in-person and online
IN-PERSON: NAIT’s Productivity and Innovation Centre, 10210 Princess Elizabeth Ave, Edmonton, AB (MAP)
REGISTER ONLINE: nait.ca/AccessAbility
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Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
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Edmonton, AB, Canada, T5G 2R1
At NAIT, we honour and acknowledge that the land on which we learn, work and live is Treaty Six territory. We seek to learn from history and the lessons that have come before us, and to draw on the wisdom of the First Peoples in Canada. Only through learning can we move forward in truth and reconciliation, and to a better future together. Read more
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