Since 1992, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been annually observed on December 3rd around the world. The theme for this year's IDPD is "Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality". In marking IDPD this year, Realize hosted a webinar on our project titled 'Fostering INclusion and Environments of Support for Students with Episodic Disabilities (FINESSED)' on November 28th.
Systemic inflexibility stymies the process for students, instructors and disability support services staff.
As noted by Consultant Elisabeth Harrison in our literature review on Episodic Disability and Post-Secondary Education in Canada (CWGHR, 2015), "As Canada transitions to a "knowledge based economy," undertaking post-secondary education has become particularly important for all students (Fichten et al., 2003). Human Resources and Skills Development Canada estimates that in the period from 2008-2017, 75% of new jobs in Canada will require applicants to have post-secondary education, and 70% of positions replacing retired workers will require post-secondary education (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, 2011)." "Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality", therefore, must include removing barriers to the successful completion of post-secondary education for students living with episodic disabilities and as such, we resolve to continue our work in this area.