AccessAbility Symposium at NAIT

In recognition of National AccessAbility Week, NAIT will be hosting a gathering of community and grassroots organizations, educators, and industry partners to connect, discuss, and understand barriers to accessibility and inclusion.

Now in it’s second year after a successful 2023 event, AccessAbility Symposium is free to attend and open to all, including post-secondary instructors, industry staff, students, associations, advocates, community leaders, or anyone looking to broaden their knowledge on accessibility.

Objective:

Featuring keynote presentations, guest speakers and artists, we are providing the physical and virtual space to allow attendees the opportunity to:

• Understand and discuss barriers to accessibility and inclusion
• Explore best practices for creating inclusive workplaces
• Enhance inclusion, accessibility and diversity in polytechnic and STEM education

Delivery mode:

This event is being offered in two ways: in-person at the Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC) at NAIT or livestreamed to a virtual location.

Speakers and artists

• Bill Gean
• IndigiSTEAM
• Post-Secondary Accessibility and Disability Resource Association of Alberta (PADRA)
• Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
• More speakers to be announced

Schedule

Wednesday, May 29 - Open House

If you would like the opportunity to visit the building in advance, get familiar with the physical space, or plan your travel path we will be hosting an Open House the day before the event officially begins. All event spaces will be made available from 10am - 3pm on Wednesday, May 29. This will be held drop-in style, and NAIT staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Thursday, May 30 - Event day

Detailed agenda included above

Ticketing

Attendance is free in order to make this event as inclusive as possible. Please register for the attendance that best suits you (in-person or online).

In-person attendee information

Please join us in-person in the Conference Hall and Atrium at the Productivity and Innovation Centre.

Building address and transportation:

• 10210 Princess Elizabeth Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 0Y2
• There is an LRT stop at Main Campus, with an approx. 10min walk from the station to PIC
• Onsite parking is available. The two closest locations to the PIC building are lots L and M and guests are responsible for the daily parking fee
• More information on parking and campus access can be found online
• PIC has entrances via the East doors (off Princess Elizabeth Ave), North doors (off 118 Ave), and West doors (closest from L parking lot)

Onsite supports available:

• Sign Language Interpretation (ASL)
• Live captioning
• Three multi-use quiet/sensory space available on the second floor. These rooms will also have the livestream available so you won’t miss any of the content
• Transcript downloads (for select sessions)
• Free public Wi-Fi (guests must accept the terms and conditions of use)
• Smart WayTags

Hospitality

• We will be providing complimentary food and beverages across the day
• You will be given the opportunity to outline any dietary requirements during registration
• Items will be served buffet style, with staff available to assist where required
• Water stations, tea, and coffee will be available during all breaks
• You are welcome to bring your own refillable beverage containers

Hotel information:

• If you require hotel accommodations, you may use NAIT's discount code at the Matrix Hotel
• Book directly online here

Virtual attendee information

Virtual participation will be through zoom, and attendees will receive a meeting link as part of the information package emailed closer to the event date.

Online supports available:

• Live video stream of in-person activities (except lunch and breaks)
• Sign Language Interpretation (ASL)
• Live captioning
• Q&A function with virtual moderator
• The Conference Hall will be set up for you to see and hear in-person speakers

Attendee Information Package

An Attendee Information Package will be emailed to all registered guests approximately one week before the event. The package will include the confirmed schedule, location and access, maps, supports available, and the link for virtual attendance.

Registration process

Please register to confirm if you will be attending in-person or online. During registration you will be asked for:

• Your full name
• Email address
• Current employer/post-secondary institution (if applicable)
• If there are any other accessibility support requests that would enable you to full participate in the event (if applicable)
• Dietary requirements (for in-person attendees)
• Other demographic details that we will use for event reporting
• Consent release for photos taken at the event

Additional support and questions

If you need more information or assistance during the registration process, please contact us at accessibility@nait.ca, or (780) 378-6135

Event partners and sponsors

This project is funded by the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component

Consent and Release Agreement (Photography/ Media - Broad Purpose)

Photographs will be taken at the event. During registration you will be asked to agree to disagree with the following terms:

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (“NAIT”) has invited me to appear in photographs, video, audio recordings, or other forms of digital media (the “Materials”) taken by NAIT representatives in connection with an activity promoting, sponsored by, connected with, or initiated by NAIT (the “Activity”). I have agreed to participate in the Activity. In consideration of the value I have received in participating in the Activity, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which I acknowledge, I agree to the following:

1. I consent to the use of my name, image, likeness, appearance, voice, and other personal information and personal characteristics in the Materials and authorize NAIT to:
a. use, reproduce, or distribute the Materials for instructional, marketing, advertising, fundraising, trade, promotional, or other business and educational purposes of NAIT;
b. use and reproduce in any NAIT publications, broadcasts, social media posts, or other forms of printed or electronic media;
c. distribute, at NAIT’s sole discretion but exercised reasonably, to a third party for use or publication by that third party on the condition that the use or publication has a connection with NAIT.

2. I irrevocably transfer and assign to NAIT my rights, title, interest, and copyright (if any) in the Materials, and I hereby waive all moral, personality, publicity, or privacy rights therein. I confirm that the consideration I have received under this release and consent agreement is sufficient for NAIT to have unlimited use of the Materials. I acknowledge and understand that I have no right to review or approve the Materials, nor receive notice of NAIT’s intention to use the Materials, before the Materials are used, reproduced, or distributed. I understand that NAIT has no obligation to use, reproduce, or distribute the Materials.

3. I irrevocably indemnify, save harmless, and release NAIT, and its board of governors, officers, employees, agents, assigns, representatives, successors, and volunteers from all liability in connection with the Materials and the use, reproduction, or distribution thereof. This release and consent agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta. Any claim or cause of action arising under this agreement shall be brought before the courts in Alberta only. This release and consent agreement is binding upon me, my estate, heirs, guardians, and legal representatives.

4. The consent I have granted herein shall apply to this Activity and any future activities I participate in that promote, are sponsored by, are connected with, or initiated by NAIT. I understand that having granted the consent herein, I may withdraw that consent at any time by notifying NAIT in writing to the address provided in Paragraph 5, provided that NAIT shall continue to have my consent to use, reproduce, or distribute any Materials which have already been produced or that NAIT has committed to producing prior to the withdrawal. Unless I withdraw my consent as described herein, my consent will remain valid and will not expire.

5. I understand that the information in this release and consent agreement is collected under the authority of section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta) and is required for the operation of NAIT’s marketing and publicity program. If I have privacy concerns or questions, I can contact the following NAIT representative:

Attn: NAIT Photographer
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
11762 – 106 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 2R1
780.378.5022
photo_marketing@nait.ca

I acknowledge:
(a) Having read this Consent and Release form;
(b) That I am the full age of majority (18 years of age), or if I am not the full age of majority, the signature of my parent or legal guardian is also included below;
(c) That I am accepting the terms of this Consent and Release form voluntarily;
(d) That I have been given every opportunity to review this document independent of NAIT.