For more than 15 years, Niagara College has been partnering with Variety Village – an organization that works to provide programming that empowers children with disabilities to be seen, participate and feel included – and on Nov. 1, NC was formally recognized for this ongoing partnership at Variety Village’s annual conference.
NC Professors Erin Wilkie (Recreation Therapy) and Ann Marie Raos (Educational Assistance – Adult Supports Program) who have both worked with Variety Village for several years, were in attendance to receive the award on behalf of Niagara College.
“Niagara College is home to a diverse community of staff and students, so the need to nurture inclusive and accessible spaces and mindsets, in a variety of contexts, is imperative in creating a strong sense of belonging across our campuses,” said Wilkie. “This recognition of leadership and support for inclusion is so special because it highlights the commitment that Niagara College has to issues and initiatives that are important in the community. Although Ann Marie and I are current faculty who are more strategically involved with Variety Village through the courses we teach, this recognition goes out to all those who have been pioneers in this relationship, and all those who will onboard with NC to continue the legacy. It also recognized the enthusiasm, passions, and commitments to inclusion that our students have because of their learning experiences.”
Over the years, NC’s partnership with Variety Village has offered students experiential learning opportunities where students have leveraged their course specific learning in real-world settings.
Through Variety Village, NC students in the Educational Assistance – Adult Support program have access to an online Level 1 Inclusion Certificate – a provincially recognized certification that will help students build their resumes and portfolios as they embark on their careers.
“I am truly honoured to be recognized by Variety Village and am proud to have built a strong relationship with such an impactful organization,” said Raos. “Being a faculty member at Niagara College is one of the greatest parts of my life and the support of my Associate Dean, Jackie Frail and Dean, Carol Phillips has been instrumental in growing this thriving partnership.”
Over the years, students in the School of Community Services have attended Variety Village’s Active Living Conferences where they have engaged in accessibility and inclusion discussions and have experienced adapted sport and recreation. These experiential learning experiences have served as a platform for NC students to leverage their course specific learning in real-world settings while making connections with industry partners.
“While we can simulate what it is like to live with a disability or review legislation that promotes inclusive communication and access, evidence shows that the most effective way to change attitudes and beliefs about persons with disabilities is through personal contact,” shared Wilkie. “For some Niagara College students, interactions with persons who have disability are limited or nonexistent. Hearing stories of adversity and success through persons with lived experiences provides students with greater context than a textbook could and allows them to reflect on their own beliefs in spaces that welcome curiosity and questions. The relationship that Niagara College has with Variety Village never ceases to prompt reflective inquiry and the Active Living Conference is always a program highlight that students speak about after graduation.”
Through NC’s partnership with Variety Village faculty at the College have been able to learn about, and acquire, new adaptive sport resources (ie. an adapted floor curling set) while providing more opportunities for inclusive participation through NC Athletics and nc-TRAC programming. Wilkie and Raos have also learned about some local human resources, by way of the amazing Niagara parasport athletes and disability advocates, which has provided instrumental resources to course material and guest presentations.
As this partnership continues to grow both Wilkie and Raos are looking forward to finding new ways to work with Variety Village.
