Community Student Engagement Group for Accessibility (CSEGA)
CSEGA is a collaboration between Access TMU (the University’s cross-campus Accessibility initiative), student groups and university stakeholders, which include students with disabilities, non-disabled allies, and TMU faculty and staff. CSEGA works to increase engagement and support of students with disabilities by identifying, removing and preventing barriers to their full inclusion in campus life.
Vision
A university where students with disabilities are engaged and supported in all aspects (virtual and in-person) of their academic and co-curricular experience.
Mandate
To engage in creative innovative solution-finding that seeks to identify, remove, and prevent barriers in the way of students with disabilities enjoying an enriched academic and co-curricular experience. CSEGA aims to utilize the action pillars of Access TMU to accomplish this goal.
Objectives
- Raise awareness in the TMU community about students with disabilities, their experiences, and the barriers they encounter.
- Inform Access TMU, its steering committee and various working groups of CSEGA's recommendations to address barriers that students with disabilities encounter, which prevent them from having an enriched academic and co-curricular experience.
- Review and offer recommendations on TMU services, programs, and administrative policies that are accessed by/impact students with disabilities.
- Provide a platform for emerging student leaders to learn about accessibility issues and empower them to take action and create accessible spaces for themselves and their peers.
Past initiatives and consultations
- Provide consultation to TMU Athletics & Recreation (external link) on how to make physical spaces more accessible to all, from change rooms to the pool lift.
- Provide consultation to Community Safety and Security on Fire Evacuation Processes for students with disabilities.
- Provide consultation to Facilities Management and Development on how to make physical spaces more accessible to all, from feedback on drinking fountains and water filling stations to classroom accessibility.
- Collaborations with the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion on how to remove systemic barriers, and consultation regarding Diversity Self ID.
Getting involved
CSEGA is open to all TMU students, faculty, and staff, whether or not you have a disability. Disability issues affect everyone, and creating an accessible campus is a shared responsibility. There are many reasons to join:
- Allyship. By understanding the challenges that students with disabilities face, both disabled and non-disabled allies can use their voice to advocate and amplify equal access.
- Education. Education helps non-disabled individuals move beyond misconceptions about disability, reducing stigma and fostering empathy.
- Community building. CSEGA is a great opportunity to connect with other students with disabilities and allies on campus.
- Self-advocacy and empowerment. Opportunities for students to build confidence, develop leadership skills, practice self-advocacy, offer peer support, and connect through networking, helping both themselves and others achieve personal goals.
When & where
We meet every other week virtually on Google Meet for 1 hour. We discuss current issues, share information, plan events, and offer opportunities for networking and community building. We try to schedule a time that works best for the majority of everyone planning to attend. We understand if you cannot attend every meeting!
Past in-person events
In collaboration with Access TMU and other student groups and societies at TMU.
- International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
- Map Mission Days (in partnership with AccessNow).
- Orientation
How to join
Please email accessibility@torontomu.ca.
Feedback and ideas
To share any accessibility feedback or discussion points for CSEGA, please fill out the feedback form.