The Workplace Accessibility & Inclusion Action Research (AIAR) Toolkit supports departments, units and teams across UBC in creating more accessible, inclusive and equitable workplace environments.
The AIAR toolkit is designed to facilitate meaningful conversations among faculty and staff about disability in the workplace. It provides practical resources and guidance to help teams identify, reflect on, and address accessibility barriers and practices.
Why this matters
According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, 27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and older identify as having a disability—an increase from 22 per cent in 2017. UBC is committed to accessibility and inclusion through institutional priorities of the Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism Framework, and through legislative requirements, including the Accessible British Columbia Act.
Disabled people bring vital knowledge, creativity, and insight into problem-solving, collaboration, and care. Dismantling ableism and removing barriers is not only about compliance or accommodation–it is about unlocking the full potential of our collective capacity.
When we centre interdependence, we move toward a campus culture where everyone’s contributions are recognized and where care, access, and equity are shared and mutual responsibilities. The AIAR toolkit supports this cultural change by promoting the participation of disabled people and strengthening inclusion across UBC workplaces.
The toolkit also provides opportunities for cross-unit knowledge sharing, encouraging collaboration and collective learning across the university.
Who is this toolkit for
This toolkit is designed for any team, unit or department interested in working towards putting accessibility and inclusion principles into daily practice in their workplace(s).
What your unit will gain
By working through this toolkit, your unit will be able to:
• Define key concepts around disability and inclusion.
• Reflect on the ways the workplace can exclude people with disabilities.
• Identify issues within the unit and strategies designed to resolve them.
• Implement and adjust actions based on ongoing reflection and team learning.
• Communicate and share insights about effective accessibility and inclusion strategies within and beyond the unit.
How to get started
First, enroll in the WPL Canvas course to access the toolkit.
Once enrolled:
Step 1: Prepare with your team and set the intention for the work.
Step 2: Engage with foundational concepts and lived experiences to support informed discussion and reflection.
Step 3: Understand your unit’s context by completing the Unit Assessment Survey. Your team then receives a report summarizing the aggregated results. Use this to identify priority areas based on impact and feasibility.
Step 4: Tackle change by developing and implementing your accessibility action plan using the toolkit’s templates and action research framework. Adjust based on what you learned.
Step 5: Take a wider view and sustain your progress through ongoing evaluations and share insights with the wider UBC community to support culture change.
Note: A minimum of seven participants from your unit are required to be registered to access the entire toolkit.
Join an info session
This information session offers an overview of the Workplace Accessibility & Inclusion Action Research (AIAR) Toolkit and an opportunity to ask any questions. The toolkit supports departments, units and teams across UBC to create more accessible, inclusive and equitable workplace environments. It is designed to facilitate meaningful conversations among faculty & staff about disability in the workplace and lead to action that addresses accessibility barriers and practices.
What to expect
- Explore how this toolkit might work to support your team to focus on greater accessibility and inclusion in your workplace.
- Familiarize yourself with the advantages it being hosted on Canvas provides for your workplace team/department/unit.
- Learn about the kinds of concepts, process, tools, and facilitation aids included, and how to access them.
Upcoming sessions
Stay tuned for future dates, or contact us at aiar.toolkit@eio.ubc.ca for more information.
Frequently asked questions
What if our unit doesn’t reach the seven-person or 50 per cent minimum?
The seven-person or 50 per cent threshold ensures enough perspectives are captured for a meaningful and sustainable action plan. It may take time to generate the engagement necessary. Please reach out to your leadership and Equity Lead for support to engage people in your workplace.
What if we already have accessibility practices?
The toolkit can help deepen your understanding of the barriers and challenges disabled people often encounter, identify gaps, reflect on your efforts to improve, and amplify practices that are already working well. Sharing your learnings can strengthen accessibility efforts across UBC.
Is this a course?
This is a toolkit, rather than a course, and requires iterative, ongoing and collaborative work to advance accessibility in your workplace. Your unit can engage with it at your own pace, based on your needs and availability.
Get in touch
If you have questions or need support with the toolkit, please contact aiar.toolkit@eio.ubc.ca.