York 1st University to Receive Corporate Award From the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons for Leading the Way on Access for Students with Disabilities

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 1999 -- For the first time in its award-giving history, The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons is bestowing a university -- York University -- with a national corporate award for its contribution to furthering the cause of full participation for people with physical disabilities.

York University will be honoured this Saturday, Feb. 13, at the 1999 Great Valentine Gala Corporate Awards dinner for its commitment to creating an inclusive environment accommodating the needs of students, staff and faculty with physical disabilities. York University's annual on-campus campaign Disabled and Proud: Raising Awareness Together, which celebrates the abilities and accomplishments of people with disabilities in the face of daily challenges, will also be cited for its role in shaping public awareness about the problems and potential of this population. Canadian Airlines International will also receive a corporate award.

York University, which has more than 1,000 students registered with its Special Needs offices, was chosen for the award after donor research revealed that it is the most accessible university in the country. During Saturday's celebration, Foundation Chair Vim Kochhar will donate to York University $15,000 -- which will be matched by the Ontario government's Ontario Student Opportunities' Trust Fund -- to provide three undergraduate students with physical disabilities with $10,000 bursaries each, in the Foundation's name. The endowed donation will also provide for three annual $500 bursaries in perpetuity.

"York University is deeply honoured to accept this award, which reflects some of York's best values -- its commitment to making an excellent education accessible to everyone ready to take on the academic challenge. I salute the pioneering efforts of York's leaders in this field, in particular the dedication of Associate Vice-President for Student Affairs Cora Dusk -- who, together with Karen Swartz and Marc Wilchesky, have made our university more accommodating for students with disabilities and more enriched for all of us," said York University President Dr. Lorna Marsden.

Marsden also thanked the Foundation, and its chair, Mr. Vim Kochhar, for their tenacious and tireless commitment to the cause and for their acknowledgement of York University's contribution.

"We are very impressed with the programs and facilities offered by York and with the leadership role it has taken. York University has become a role model for other Universities in Canada. I congratulate York for its many contributions in assisting persons with physical disabilities," said Kochhar.

Some of York's services, which are delivered through The Office for Persons with Disabilities, the Learning Disabilities Program, Able York, and ACCESS YORK, include:

a library equipped with special adaptive equipment such as computers with screen enlargement software and voice synthesizers;

The Ron Cope Gateway Resource Room at York University creates awareness among the Deaf, deafened, and hard-of-hearing about services available in the community. It offers access to information (via the web-site and links to community services) about adaptive devices such as personal FM systems and TTY;

an alternate exam procedure for persons with disabilities unable to complete their exams in a regular exam setting;

a peer mentoring program to assist first-year students with their transition to university life;

a volunteer program assisting students with disabilities with everything from taking notes to reading course materials and textbooks into a tape recorder.

The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons 15th Great Valentine Gala will be held Sat., Feb. 13, 6:15 p.m., at the Metropolitan Ballroom, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, 1 Harbour Square at the foot of Bay Street. The Gala, co-chaired by ScotiaBank Chairman and CEO Peter Godsoe and Ford of Canada President Bobbie Gaunt, will feature Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden.

York University, founded in 1959, is Canada's third-largest university. It is nationally and internationally respected for its innovative research and award-winning teaching. With its combination of dedicated and talented faculty, opportunities for bright and ambitious students, dynamic curriculum and modern campuses in one of North America's most influential urban centres, York University is setting the modern standard in academic excellence.

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/008/99