As an institution which aims to not only meet, but exceed, accessibility standards, Trent University came together today to celebrate and showcase new accessibility grant upgrades at Trent’s iconic Bata Library, following an Enabling Accessibility Fund grant from the federal government.

The grant application, for upgrades at both Trent campuses, was submitted by Trent’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility in July 2014. The grant application, entitled “Making Collaborative Learning Spaces Accessible to All” was submitted to the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Grant Program of Employment and Social Development Canada. The $37,000 grant was officially awarded to Trent University in April 2015, and has allowed for a continued focus on improved accessibility for the Trent community.

“The accessibility work that Trent was able to complete as a result of this grant will help us in our continued efforts to achieve an inclusive community for all,” explained Julia Anderson, director, Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility. “Specifically, this grant has allowed increased access and autonomy for students when utilizing collaborative learning spaces.”

The accessibility upgrades include 26 new height-adjustable, accessible workstations, including in group study rooms, the newly renovated collaboration room, and at Trent University Durham’s library. Bata Library also purchased a book return to be placed accessibly and Trent Durham installed four accessible automatic doors on labs and classrooms.

Trent is committed to accessibility for all its community members in their learning and working environments and adopts the World Health Organization’s (WHO) social model of disability. To learn more about the many accessibility initiatives at Trent University, including the MV-1, the first accessibility vehicle of its kind at a Canadian university, visit the Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility.