National Access Awareness Week

On May 29, 1995, six post-secondary students with disabilities were awarded National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) Student Awards. Recipients of the awards were recognized both for their academic accomplishments and for their community involvement.

The Student Awards Program is a partnership of the NAAW Corporate Sponsors (CN, Canada Post, CTV, Royal Bank and Stentor), the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) and Human Resources Development Canada.

NAAW Student Awards are available to college students and to both undergraduate and graduate students in university. The program is the largest national scholarship program for students with disabilities which makes financial support available to part-time students.

Each of the students will receive an award valued at $3,500. In addition to providing financial assistance for post-secondary education, the NAAW Student Awards Program may offer the students summer employment opportunities in 1996 with participation sponsors.

The recipients of the 1995 National Access Awareness Week Student Awards Program are:

- Nora Bednarski (Dalhousie University), Halifax, NS

- Jeffrey A. Cormier (New Brunswick Community College), Moncton, NB

- Patricia Hughes (University of Alberta), Fort Saskatchewan, AB

- Williams A. Ninacs (Universite Laval), Victoriaville, QC

- Nadine M. Richard (University of Waterloo), Moncton, NB

- Jon L. Rogers (York University), Thornhill, ON

Ms. Traci Walters, Chairperson of National Access Awareness Week, congratulated the winners and explained that: "People with disabilities are still under-represented in both post-secondary institutions and in the labour force. The NAAW Student Awards Program recognizes the importance of education and that the successful transition between school and work is critical to economic integration. It will help students with disabilities pursue an education and get the much needed experience that is so critical to competing in today’s job market."

Award-winner Jon L. Rogers presented the following speech to luncheon guests on May 29 at the NAAW Kick-Off event in Toronto:

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for the honour of being chosen the Ontario winner of the National Access Awareness Week Student Award.

I also have the honour to stand before you as the representative of all the winners from across Canada. In a sense, I am standing before you as the representative of all students with disabilities in Canada.

It is a daunting task for me, in a few minutes, to talk about the challenges that students with disabilities must face in their day-to-day lives. I am usually hesitant to talk about my disability or my achievements, but I believe that my experiences are an example of what other students with disabilities face.

I was diagnosed with a learning disability in grade one. A team of experts conducted a number of sophisticated tests and informed my mother that, unfortunately, I would never learn to read or write because of my severe dyslexia. They expressed sadness that I would never be able to reach my full potential because of my disability.

I was placed in a segregated classroom for children with learning disabilities. I felt different, cut off from my friends and from what other kids could do. My world suddenly became circumscribed and limited. On the other hand, I was relieved because the frustration that I had been experiencing at school could now be explained.

I learned to use the resources available to me. I worked harder than all of my friends. I spent hours with special teachers to learn the skills to compensate for my disability. And I learned that the work is never done. I face a lifetime of learning to compensate for different situations.

Nonetheless, during my school career, I was the founder of my school’s first weekly newspaper. I have won several awards for academic achievement. Throughout high school, I was on the honour list and graduated from high school as an Ontario Scholar.

I was involved in my student community in a number of ways. I was the producer of my school’s first musical production, and I was an executive on my school’s student council for five years. I also taught children with physical and mental disabilities how to swim.

Last year, when I graduated from high school, I was the class valedictorian and the outstanding student award winner. I was also voted "most likely to succeed" by my peers.

So much for a kid who was not supposed to learn to read or write!

The reason I was able to succeed was that I was able to learn in an environment where my disabilities were acknowledged. Also, I was fortunate in that accommodation was made so that I could function on an equal level with everyone else.

The point of the story is that if a student with a disability is able to function and learn in a barrier-free environment, then he or she can reach his or her own maximum potential.

Furthermore, every student who has learned how to compensate or overcome his or her own disability has developed a unique perspective on problem-solving. Also, necessity has taught students with disabilities to develop alternative strategies to achieve their goals.

This unique perspective and extraordinary resourcefulness makes students with disabilities extremely valuable in work situations and in community involvement.

Therefore, to provide the resources to create a barrier-free environment for students with disabilities not only helps the individual student, but also has the potential to contribute to society’s improvement.

On behalf of the six winners from all across Canada, I would like to thank the corporate sponsors for contributing to the fight for a barrier-free environment. To the educators in the audience, let me say, on behalf of all students with disabilities, thank you. I know that it is as frustrating for the teacher as it is for the student but I also know that a teacher’s encouragement and support are absolutely necessary. To parents and volunteers, thank you for your encouragement and support. Thank you.

(For more information about the NAAW Student Awards, contact Michelyne Leger, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, at (613) 563-1236.)