An academic leader at Assiniboine Community College and a graduate student from Brandon played key roles in developing a national report on students with disabilities released earlier this week.

Deanna Rexe, Assiniboine’s vice-president academic, and Olivia Auriat, a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan who was born and raised in Brandon, researched and wrote the section of the report dealing with the impact of academic accommodation policies on students with disabilities.

The Landscape of Accessibility and Accommodation for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities in Canada was released Monday by the National Educational Association of Disabled Students. 

The report recommends “a renewed and nationwide commitment” to achieving an inclusive post-secondary education environment for all students.

“Across the country, institutions and regions have varying degrees of policy-readiness for supporting students with disabilities,” Dr. Rexe said.

The province’s Accessibility for Manitobans Act can be a model for other provinces, she said. Her study shows that passing legislation often leads post-secondary institutions to further develop their own policies, including academic policies.

Ms. Auriat was born without her left arm from two inches below the elbow. She has worn a prosthetic arm since infancy. “It didn’t so much shape my academic experience, as my outlook on life and my academic interests, in particular, pursuing disability policy,” Ms. Auriat said.

Olivia Auriat

The key role played by Assiniboine in this national report demonstrates the impact the community college can have beyond Manitoba’s borders, said Assiniboine President Mark Frison.

“Assiniboine is fortunate to have respected academic leaders working here who can contribute to national conversations and knowledge about higher education. Further, it’s been a pleasure having Olivia join our team for this project,” Frison said.

Assiniboine has recently implemented several changes in line with its own accessibility plan, developed to honour the requirements of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.


The college:

• lowered the front desk at the Registrar’s Office to accommodate people in wheelchairs.
• offered assistive software free to all staff and students.
• provided training on how to create accessible documents.
• ensured the college website is accessible and compatible with assistive software, such as screen readers.
• provided accessible customer service training to all staff.

Dr. Deanna Rexe