What We Do

Projects and Research

ACCD is committed to a consumer-driven philosophy that recognizes that people with disabilities know their situations best. Interviews, focus groups, and consultation with the disability community guide our projects and research. Through these undertakings, we impact legislation, influence government, and educate the public on issues that are important to people with disabilities. Some of our most recent projects and research include:

Hotel Accessibility (2009)

In this project, ACCD examined accessibility issues in the hotel industry. The first step in the project was to assess how well hotels adhere to the Alberta Government’s barrier-free design legislation. We conducted accessibility assessments at 20 hotels built between 1997 and 2009. The information gathered from the assessments was used to develop recommendations for the Barrier-Free Council, one of 10 sub-councils working under the umbrella of the Safety Codes Council. To learn more about this project, please contact the ACCD office.

Complete text (Word doc - 0.5 MB)

Safe Haven: Enhancing Accessibility in Alberta’s Women’s Shelters (2009)

Funded by Human Rights Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund, ACCD developed a functional needs approach template that women’s shelters across the province can use to assess and respond to accessibility issues at their institutions. As well, we developed an awareness-raising workshop for women’s shelter workers to enhance their understanding of the unique situations faced by women with disabilities who are experiencing and/or escaping abusive situations. ACCD hosted two workshops, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary, to pilot the materials. Staff from rural and urban shelters attended the sessions. If you are interested in this project, please contact the ACCD office.

Complete text (PDF - 2.3 MB)

Fund Development Plan (2008)

This project, funded by the Wild Rose Foundation, supported ACCD in developing short- and long-term fund development plans, researching and evaluating alternate funding sources, preparing written fundraising proposals, networking with local business and support groups to establish partnerships and connections, approaching foundations for funds (i.e., research the foundation interests and set formal meetings to establish common interests), developing and implementing a donor recognition program, and defining its program and services.

Negotiating for the Future: Accessing Workplace Accommodations (2006)

Together with a number of partner organizations (including representatives from the employment, employment training, and post-secondary education sectors), ACCD developed a curriculum that can be delivered in a workshop format or completed independently.

The curriculum emphasizes the importance of full participation, equity, and accessibility in the workplace. We had two goals in mind as we developed this curriculum: to improve access to workplace accommodations and to enhance the relationships we foster when we seek support for our workplace endeavours.

Complete text (PDF - 1.2 MB)

Getting to Know Us: Raising Disability Awareness in Alberta's Schools (2005)

ACCD’s has formalized and published its school outreach curriculum, entitled Getting to Know Us: Raising Disability Awareness in Alberta’s Schools. The curriculum was developed with the input of teachers, parents of children with disabilities, and people with disabilities. It is aimed at disability advocacy organizations that would like to bring a message of inclusion and equality to schools in Alberta and includes lesson plans, presentation strategies, and tips for organizing visits to schools to increase awareness about disability issues.

Complete Text: Word (527K) or PDF (971K)

Preventing Abuse of Persons with Disabilities: An Inventory of Educational Materials (2004)

Through the Violence Against Women with Disabilities research we completed in 2002, ACCD learned that many consumers, their advocates, and front-line workers felt they did not have adequate access to materials that raise awareness about the issue of violence against women/people with disabilities. In response, we developed an inventory that lists and describes training resources that are available to organizations and the general public. Our goal in creating the inventory is to help consumers, their advocates and families, caregivers, and other front-line workers to take action against violence through education and training.

Complete Text: PDF (2.3 MB) or Web Page

Raising Instructor Awareness: A Series of Workshops on Disability Issues (2003)

In 2001, ACCD interviewed disability services coordinators from each public post-secondary institution in the province. We learned that many post-secondary institutions in Alberta, especially smaller campuses, were unable to provide instructors with awareness-raising training regarding the unique needs/situations of students with disabilities. While disability services offices recognized the value of awareness-raising activities, they often did not have the resources (human and financial) to develop and deliver the materials.

With this information guiding us, ACCD coordinated the development of a disability awareness-raising workshop. Students with disabilities played a significant role in developing the workshops. Disability services coordinators from four partner institutions (Grande Prairie Regional College, Red Deer College, Medicine Hat College, and the University of Lethbridge) provided input and feedback and played key roles in piloting the workshops at their campuses. Together, we have developed materials that can used to create more equitable learning environments for post-secondary students with disabilities in Alberta.

Complete Text: PDF (362K) or Web Page

Violence Against Women with Disabilities (2002)

Prompted by calls to our organization from women with disabilities who were experiencing violence and by increased media attention to this issue, ACCD examined the safety concerns of women with disabilities who live independently in the community. Through focus groups and one-on-one interviews with women with disabilities from across the province, we were able to identify some of the barriers faced by women with disabilities in addressing violence or the threat of violence in their lives. Our research outlines specific recommendations for removing these barriers.

Complete Text: Word (156K) or PDF (472K) or Web Page or Executive Summary (Word)

Violence Against Women with Disabilities Brochures (2002)

ACCD believes that all people have the right to be safe and to be protected from abuse. Research shows that women with disabilities are extremely vulnerable to violence and abuse. We developed a series of five brochures to educate people with disabilities about this issue.

Brochures

Resource Manual for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities (2002)

ACCD has received an enthusiastic reception to its resource manual for potential and continuing post-secondary students with disabilities in Alberta. In 2002, the manual was distributed to high schools throughout the province and to disability offices in each of the public, post-secondary campuses in Alberta. The manual outlines various aspects of each post-secondary institution’s commitment to students with disabilities.

Complete Text: Word (166K) or PDF (427K) or Web Page

Projects and Research Prior to 2002

To learn about earlier ACCD projects and research, please contact the ACCD office.