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Disability Employment Awareness Month 2025

October 2025 marks Ontario Tech University’s third annual celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), held in alignment with the national initiative to promote and honour the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. DEAM reflects Ontario Tech’s core commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) by fostering a work environment where individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities can thrive.

At Ontario Tech, DEAM reinforces the principle that employment accessibility is more than a legal requirement; it is a shared opportunity to build stronger, more inclusive communities. Through actions such as training, awareness events, and resource-sharing, the university continues to advance an inclusive culture on campus and beyond, in keeping with its IDEA values.

Events on Campus

On the evening of October 1, 2025, watch as Shawenjigewining Hall (SHA) and Bordessa Hall (BOR) shine bright in purple and blue in support of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM).

  • Who: Everyone is welcome to see
  • What: Buildings glowing in DEAM colours: purple for creativity & cooperation, blue for trust & dignity
  • When: Evening of October 1, 2025
  • Where: Shawenjigewining Hall & Bordessa Hall

Come take a stroll, snap a photo, and celebrate DEAM with us!

As we proudly mark the third year of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) at Ontario Tech University, we invite you to show your support and help raise awareness by wearing purple and blue on October 15.

How did DEAM begin?
DEAM grew out of Light It Up! For NDEAM, an initiative launched in 2020 by the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN). By 2021, the campaign became a nationwide movement, with buildings, landmarks, and signs illuminated in purple and blue. For organizations unable to light up their spaces, individuals showed their support by wearing the colours instead.

Why purple and blue?

  • Purple symbolizes creativity, harmony, and cooperation, reflecting the shared goal of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

  • Blue represents trust, dignity, professionalism, intelligence, and loyalty. Widely used in business, it reflects credibility and strength.

Join us on October 15:
We will be hosting a group photo at 1 p.m. in the Tribute Communities Lobby, Shawenjigewining Hall. Please come dressed in purple and blue to take part.

If you cannot attend in person, you can still participate by taking your own photo and sending it to aoda@ontariotechu.ca

DEAM Purple & Blue Group Photo

  • Who: All individuals can participate
  • What: Wear purple and blue in support of DEAM
  • When: October 15, 2025, at 1 pm
  • Where: Shawenjigewining Hall Building - Tribute Communities Lobby

The 2025 Health Safety and Wellness Fair is scheduled for Thursday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Founding Deans Atrium (SCI_W_ATR).

The Accessibility Working Group will also be in attendance at the 2025 Health, Safety and Wellness Fair. Stop by our booth to learn more about accessibility initiatives at Ontario Tech, ask questions, and explore available resources that support an inclusive campus environment.

For more information, visit the Health, Safety and Wellness Fair webpage.

OFF CAMPUS - Region of Durham Disability Employment Conference - Empowering Inclusion, Driving Innovation, Building Opportunity

Members of our Ontario Tech University Community, including Dr. Meghann Lloyd, Faculty of Health Sciences and member of the Durham Region Accessibility Advisory Committee, Jennifer Alsop, Director, External Relations and Partnerships, and Julie Day, Accessibility Working Group Co-chair, have been working in partnership with the Region of Durham on the planning of this annual event!

Connect with changemakers, employers, advocates, and professionals to advance inclusive employment practices and accessibility.

Date: October 31

Time: 9am to 4pm

Venue: Ajax Convention Centre, 550 Beck Crescent, Ajax

Event Highlights:

  • Interactive vendor expo
  • Keynote speakers from the disability and employment sectors
  • Impactful breakout sessions on inclusive hiring and work environments
  • Recruiters seeking talent from people with disabilities
  • Opportunities for collaboration and community building

 Register here to attend. Durham Region Disability Employment Conference


Training, Activities and Resources

At Ontario Tech, we are dedicated to ensuring all employees are trained and knowledgeable about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Integrated Accessibility Standards, and the relationship between the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and AODA. We are committed to fostering an environment where communication is inclusive of all abilities.

AODA Training Requirements

All full-time and limited-term faculty (including Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Research Associates, Sessional Instructors, and Post-doctoral Fellows) as well as full-time and limited-term staff (including University Works students, casual employees, and invigilators) are required to complete the AODA Training Modules.

Mandatory Training for Faculty and Instructors

All faculty and instructors (including full-time and limited-term faculty, academic associates, sessional instructors, teaching assistants, research assistants, and invigilators) must complete the Ontario Tech Accessible Instruction Module for Educators.

Training Requirements for Non-Employees

Managers/supervisors/team leads are responsible for ensuring that all volunteers, university work-study students, co-op and placement students, contract employees, and third-party service providers complete the mandatory AODA training as soon as possible after their start date.

Access the Training Modules

In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), we’re launching an exciting Accessibility Scavenger Hunt across Ontario Tech’s campus — and you're invited to play!

Accessibility Scavenger Hunt

Your Mission:
Explore the campus to find key accessibility features like ramps, braille signage, accessible entrances, and more — all while learning how our campus supports an inclusive and barrier-free environment.

Dates: October 1st - 31st

How to Play:

  • Solve clues and complete accessibility-related tasks
  • Take photos at each location
  • Submit your completed photo set by October 31st to the Google Form

This is a great way to learn, explore, and support Ontario Tech’s values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA).

Ready to hunt? Let’s make accessibility visible!

As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re challenging you to a game that’s all about making connections -literally!

Your Task:
Play our Custom Connections Game and group related terms that highlight key concepts around accessibility, inclusion, and disability awareness.

Play now:
PLAY DEAM CONNECTIONS HERE

How it works:

  • You’ll be given 16 terms
  • Sort them into 4 related groups
  • Think you’ve got what it takes?
  • Share your results with your friends and colleagues - bragging rights are on the line!

Whether you ace it on the first try or learn along the way, it’s a great way to engage with Ontario Tech’s values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA).

Let’s connect the dots and grow our awareness, one puzzle at a time!

As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), Ontario Tech is proud to share the Hiring the Right Talent resource. This document highlights the importance of building diverse teams and the many benefits of inclusive hiring practices.

Hiring the Right Talent

Ontario Tech is committed to supporting all employees and job applicants. Visit our Accommodation for Employees and Job Applicants page to learn how Health & Disability Management Services helps remove workplace barriers and provides support for those with disabilities. Explore how we ensure fair access during recruitment, employment, and accommodation processes.

For details and to access forms and manager resources, check it out here:
Accommodation for Employees & Job Applicants – Ontario Tech HR

Launched in November 2022, Phone It Forward is a CNIB Foundation initiative that provides smartphones to Canadians with sight loss. Thanks to the generous donations from our university community, we’ve collected over 30 cell phones to date, helping support this transformative program.

We encourage you to contribute your modern, gently used smartphones to help make a difference. Drop-off boxes are available at each Ontario Tech University Library branch.

For more information, please visit phoneitforward.ca.

CNIB logo

Accessibility and disability representation are also vital in the arts and media. Books, articles, movies, podcasts, and more offer valuable insights into the experiences of people with disabilities. We encourage you to explore the diverse content available that highlights these important themes.

Our Ontario Tech Campus Library team has curated several collections of accessibility and disability-related resources for you to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to watch, listen, or read, these resources are a great place to start:

Special thanks to Catherine Davidson, Chelsie Lalonde, and Cathie Griffin for their work in compiling these resources.

We invite you to visit the Campus Library to explore all the resources we have available, and we hope you enjoy these enriching materials!

Join the conversation at What Can Disability History Teach Us Today?, a thought-provoking event exploring the lessons from disability history and how they inform our path forward.

Also, meet ODEN (Ontario Disability Employment Network), a province-wide organization dedicated to connecting businesses, educators, and employment service providers to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. ODEN offers training, consulting, resources, and programs that build inclusive workplaces and support job seekers.

Together, events like the history session and ODEN’s initiatives remind us that celebrating progress also means reflecting on the past and taking action to create a more accessible and equitable future.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest updates, events, and important news. Be sure to check your Ontario Tech Mobile app every week to stay informed and engaged with everything happening around campus!