SDG 10: Western in Action for Reduced Inequalities

Accessibility Support Services and Accommodations

Western University provides comprehensive support for persons with disabilities, including personal services, access schemes, and a well-established accommodation policy. These services are designed to ensure equitable access to education and campus life, and they are supported by dedicated funding and institutional policies.

• Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities Policy: This policy ensures that students with disabilities have a reasonable opportunity to engage in academic activities and to fulfill essential course and program requirements.
• Accessibility Plan Reports: Western maintains multi-year accessibility plans and reviews and documents progress in the achievement of our accessibility goals.
• Accessibility Western: For centralized information and guidance, Western maintains a dedicated website that serves as a comprehensive hub for students, faculty, and staff. It outlines available services, policies, campus accessibility features, and contact points for support, making it easier for individuals with disabilities to navigate university life.
• Accessible Education: This service provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western, in all programs and faculties, including the following: 
  • Academic Accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements. 
  • Access Ed Transition Program has been designed for students with disabilities to gain the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to confidently navigate university life. 
  • Access Ed Peer Mentorship Program connects students with an upper-year student who has experience navigating university with a disability.
  • Accommodated Exams coordinates exams and assessments, both online and in-person, for students with disabilities.
  • Alternative Format Text is available to students who are blind, have low vision, or have a learning or mobility disability.
  • Assistive Technology offers a wide array of technologies and communication methods to assist students with disabilities.
  • Interpretation and Note-Taking services are for students who are deaf or have moderate-to-profound hearing loss. 
• Bursary for Students with Disabilities: Students with financial need can use this bursary to meet their disability-related educational costs. Eligible students receive non-repayable, non-taxable grants to meet their disability-related educational costs.
• Committees and Commissioners: Several groups are dedicated to improving campus accessibility, including the Accessibility Planning Committee, Campus Accessibility Review and Enhancement Committee, and student-appointed roles such as the Accessibility Commissioner and Commissioner for Graduate Students with Disabilities.
• Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities: Western administers non-repayable financial assistance to students for disability-related services and equipment that they need to participate in postsecondary education. They may also apply for other financial support.
• Service Animals on Campus Policy: Service Animals will generally have access to all buildings and facilities, including classrooms and laboratories, dining halls and campus eateries.
• Student Supports: Students with a disability may also access a variety of additional supports designed to help them succeed academically.
• Other Policies: The accessibility site lists other applicable policies and programs in place. 

Accessible Facilities

Western University is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all members of its community. As part of this commitment, the university offers a wide range of accessible facilities and services designed to support individuals with disabilities. These initiatives ensure that everyone can fully participate in academic, residential, and campus life.

• Accessibility at Western Policy: This policy ensures that persons with disabilities have genuine, open, and unhindered access to university goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures, and premises. 
• Accessibility Campus Map: This map displays accessible paths, ramps, automated door openers, and curb cuts in sidewalks.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: Ontario requires universities to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility and Western willingly complies.
• Accessible Campus Transportation: This is a call-for-pickup service for campus members with disabilities.
• Accessible Housing: All but one of Western’s residences are accessible to persons with disabilities. Five of the residences have incorporated a barrier-free design features, including specially designed suites.
• Accessible Service Interruptions: Western provides a real-time interactive map of service interruptions across campus, including closures of accessible pathways, parking lots, and building entrances to help individuals with disabilities plan their routes and access needs in advance.
• Accessible Western Parking Permit: Community members with long-term or temporary physical disabilities may apply for access to park in all areas designated with the accessible symbol. 

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization

Western University has a robust infrastructure dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and human rights on campus. This includes:

• Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Led by Associate-Vice President Opiyo Oloya and supported by a team of officers and advisors, this office is tasked with developing and implementing strategic initiatives, policies, and training programs that promote an inclusive campus culture.EDIDA Strategic Plan: This comprehensive plan outlines the university’s long-term goals and commitments to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Accessibility, including measurable actions and accountability mechanisms.
  • EDID Central Working Group: A cross-campus body that collaborates on implementing EDIDA initiatives and advising university leadership.
  • Training and Education Programs: The Office of EDI develops online modules, certificate programs and workshops which are made available to all staff and students. Unpacking and Addressing Antisemitism and Unpacking and Addressing Islamophobia have even been adopted by external partners like the City of London.
• Human Rights Office: This administrative office provides confidential support, education, and resources related to human rights, discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence. It plays a key role in ensuring that Western is a safe and respectful environment for all members of the university community.
• Office of Indigenous Initiatives: Led by a Vice-Provost and supported by a team, this office is tasked with strengthening Indigenous presence, perspectives, and leadership across all areas of work, study, and research on campus.
  • Strategic Planning & Reports: The plan outlines eight priority areas that guide the university’s ongoing commitments to truth, reconciliation, and decolonization with annual progress reports.
  • Policies & Guidelines: Integrates Indigenous perspectives, ancestral rights, and decolonization practices into university-wide academic, research, and grounds-management policies.
  • Knowledge Building: Coordinates land-based learning, public workshops, and cross-cultural education through the Wampum Learning Lodge to foster deep communal understanding of Indigenous epistemologies, histories, and local traditions. 
• Top Canadian Employer for Diversity: Western was named one of Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, which reflects the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace.

These structures and initiatives demonstrate Western’s institutional commitment to embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and human rights into all aspects of university life.

Anti-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policies

Western University has comprehensive, institution-wide policies that address both anti-discrimination and anti-harassment, ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of the university community.

These policies apply across all areas of the university’s operations, including academic programs, employment practices, student services, and campus life. They apply regardless of prohibited grounds of discrimination in Ontario: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, record of offences, marital status, family status, gender identity, or gender expression. This includes a clear commitment to protect women, transgender people, and all gender expressions, and to create safe workplaces.

• EDI Policy: We recognize that equity-seeking groups include but are not limited to women, members of racialized groups (visible minorities), Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+ individuals. 
• Mustangs for Consent – Incoming Training: All incoming students must complete Consent 101, a self-directed course that teaches about gender-based and sexual violence and consent, before receiving their student ID card.
• Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Sexual Misconduct Policy: Discrimination, Harassment or Sexual Misconduct toward individuals, whether as members of any recognizable group or otherwise, violate the fundamental rights, personal dignity and integrity of individuals or groups of individuals and will not be tolerated.
  • Procedures for reports of Discrimination or Harassment: All members of the University community share responsibility for ensuring and promoting a safe and respectful working and learning environment that is free from Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct.
• Policy on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence (GBSV): The university is committed to providing and maintaining an environment in which GBSV is not tolerated. GBSV is defined as: Any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity and gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, cyber harassment and sexual exploitation.
  • Procedures for reports of GBSV: These procedures keep disclosures confidential and prioritize the well-being of the victim.
• Safe Campus Community Policy: Every member of the university community has the right to study, work, and conduct his or her activities in an environment free of violence. 
• Western University Code of Student Conduct: Students are responsible for observing a standard of conduct that will contribute to the university’s mission, including respecting the rights, property, and well-being of other members of the university community and visitors to the campus.

These policies are supported by formal procedures for reporting, investigation, and resolution, ensuring accountability and protection for all. Western University continuously reviews and strengthens its policies to uphold a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all. Western has a dedicated Human Rights Office, which supports the reporting of any incidents of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct.