Planning, Sustainability and Capital Projects (PSCP) and the Centre for Organizational Excellence (COE) are working together to make campus washrooms more accessible and inclusive.
In fall 2022, the COE’s Samah Sabra and Brooke Pasco began to hear from members of the NC community that some washrooms were improperly labelled as accessible on campus maps.
Together, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity team and PSCP, began a comprehensive review of all campus washrooms which are accessible from main hallways.
“What we learned was that, while all washrooms were in compliance with the accessible building standards of their time, the accessibility features found in each varied, and there was an opportunity for improvement,” said Sabra.
Through their review, the cross-functional team considered everything from emergency alert systems, fixtures, grab bars, doors, counters, toilets and stalls to ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Their work aligns with the goals and actions of the EDI Blueprint which launched in the spring of 2022.
“The intention of the project is to assess all washroom facilities and undertake renovations to ensure the facilities are AODA compliant, align with the college’s EDI Blueprint to equity and inclusive visions of the College, and to integrate additional all-inclusive facilities throughout campus buildings and areas,” explained Shehaiber.
Shehaiber explains that more all gender, single-stall washrooms will be part of the washroom refresh.
Other considerations include access to change tables in campus washrooms. Visitors at college events have asked for more infant change tables, and adult change tables are an AODA requirement within universal washrooms.
Wave sensors were updated on washrooms and doors across campus.
The project will be guided by a consultant who will complete the design over the fall term. NC expects to begin phased construction in late spring 2024.
Since the internal review, campus maps have since been updated, and a gender neutral and accessible washroom list is available on the EDI website. The list identifies the accessibility features in each washroom to help students, employees and visitors identify ones that best suit their needs.
Signs for universal washrooms were updated with All Gender Language, and work to update power door operators began in 2022 and continues into 2023.
“This project is important as it will ensure that washroom spaces on Niagara College campuses are not only AODA compliant but are considerate of universal design standards that accommodate a wide range of users,” explained Pasco.
With the goals and actions of the College’s EDI Blueprint in mind, the team saw an opportunity to take action to not only improve the experience for students, employees and visitors on campus, but to make it more equitable.
“Within the EDI Blueprint, it supports of the goal of creating a welcoming and inclusive space to learn and where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” explained Pasco.
The initiative is part of a broader project to assess physical spaces on campus to better reflect the needs of equity-deserving communities.
