(View ASL)
Accessibility Advisory Committee Members
Co-Chair: Shelley Adams, Manager of Community Engagement Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, CNIB
Co-Chair: Glenda Parsons, Director of Programs for Students who are Blind and/ or Visually Impaired, APSEA
Aaron Bouma, Self-described Military Specialist for Carleton County (NB), Autism Advocate
Jax Warner, ASL Specialist Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, APSEA
Karen Staples, Supervisor of Educational Interpreting Services, APSEA
Kelly McKeage, Access Technology Resource Teacher for students who are Blind or Visually Impaired in NS, APSEA
Pam Gow-Boyd, Executive Director Atlantic Canada, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
Renée Phair Healey, Psychologist, Newfoundland Association of the Deaf
Peter Parsons, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, APSEA
Myles Murphy, Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf
Lynn Seymour Lalonde, Supervisor of Assistive Technology, APSEA
Tarah Sawler, University Student
Community Engagement
A key component of developing this plan was to engage with families, key stakeholders, community partners, employees and individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired. To gather these perspectives, we did direct outreach via email and promotion on APSEA’s social media channels inviting people to participate in online focus groups enabling the Accessibility Committee to share the plan and gather their input and feedback.
Registered participants received a document in advance (ASL version was provided) which contained a full overview of our work to date in draft form. They were asked to review the document prior to the session and come prepared to share feedback. The focus groups examined actions under each area of focus, discussed each component and captured input from those in attendance. The final document was updated to include information gathered in these sessions.
The online focus groups took place on:
February 16, 2023 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm (ASL led, English interpretation provided)
February 16, 2023 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm (English led, ASL interpretation provided)
February 21, 2023 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm (English led, ASL interpretation provided)