National Access Awareness Week 1995 Update

The partnership of National Access Awareness Week (NAAW) has been revitalized and is planning for the future. This is seen in its new slogan: "Access the Future." The vision includes strengthening participation within organizations, corporations and government to create further public awareness.

The purpose of National Access Awareness Week is to challenge all Canadians to raise awareness of the barriers facing people with disabilities, and to create and support equal access which will ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life in Canada.

The partnership of NAAW has spawned an intricate network of a diverse group of people who, through the vehicle of NAAW, can facilitate an understanding of the issues facing persons with disabilities across Canada. These issues include communication, transportation, housing, employment, recreation and education.

For NAAW ’95, which takes place May 29 to June 4, the focus will be on learning -- specifically, "promoting barrier-free learning for people with disabilities." By opening the doors to opportunity, Canadians with disabilities can begin to access the future through economic integration. Learning at all levels and ages of society can actively change the attitudinal and physical barriers to accessibility.

The partnership of NAAW encourages this active change at the local community level. NAAW Provincial Organizing Committees support and coordinate initiatives of local community groups, which are composed of regional representatives of national voluntary organizations, corporations, government and concerned individuals. Plans of action are coordinated and implemented to assist communities to improve accessibility. Accessible workshops and learning environments can raise awareness of the issues while increasing leadership opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Regional workshops and meetings of the provincial/territorial chairpersons and coordinators are underway. The spirit of NAAW is rekindled, and the revitalized message is shared, while the new vision is instilled at the community level. The commitment to a dynamic, inclusive NAAW is being generated and communicated to community organizers and stakeholders to ensure awareness can reach a broad audience and activate learning and change for the future.

The eight guiding principles lead to a common understanding of the work being undertaken by the NAAW partnership:
1. NAAW takes place over a specified period of seven days annually.
2. NAAW is a vehicle for attitudinal change.
3. NAAW is a partnership.
4. NAAW is cross-disability in focus.
5. NAAW is a community-based initiative.
6. NAAW acts as a catalyst to encourage year-round change.
7. NAAW activities will not be used for fundraising.
8. NAAW promotes and provides opportunities for the leadership of persons with disabilities.

Keeping these principles in mind, NAAW continues to encourage AWARENESS, creating a level of understanding which results in ACTION, thus allowing recognition and CELEBRATION of meaningful achievements.
The NAAW National Management Committee, with the cooperation of the Ontario Organizing Committee as hosts, will take the opportunity to profile learning and acknowledge achievements through partnership at the NAAW National Kickoff. This event will be held in Toronto on May 29, 1995.

Further developments and plans of NAAW will be conveyed on a regular basis, for your information and welcomed participation.

For more information, contact: Launel J. Scott, National Coordinator, National Access Awareness Week, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0M5; tel.: (819) 953-5005.