McMaster University Libraries have partnered with the McMaster Equity and Inclusion Office to create physical and digital book displays that promote inclusivity and accessibility as part of National AccessAbility Week.
The annual week has been observed across Canada since 1988. The event is used as a time to reflect on the work being done to create more accessible and inclusive environments, while highlighting the contributions of people with disabilities.
Miles Riel-Walker, accessibility projects and training coordinator of the Equity and Inclusion Office, says the book displays in the university libraries aim to amplify information through storytelling.
“We’re highlighting authors with disabilities as well as books that thematically relate to disability inclusion and accessibility,” said Riel-Walker. “I believe that books and storytelling are one of the vessels that really start and carry conversations about disability inclusion.”
Physical book displays can be found in Mills and Thode libraries until May 31. An online book display will also be available with additional titles from the digital catalogue.
Nancy Waite, coordinator of library accessibility services, says the digital display will remain an active resource after National AccessAbility Week wraps up.
“This collection will be there for students to use going forward,” said Waite. “We plan to grow it out as a larger collection so that we'll have more content that students can continue to access. It’s fantastic that we've been able to do this, and students are asking for these resources.”
The impact of these book displays goes beyond people in the disability community, says Crystal Kerr, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategist at McMaster University Libraries. She says it is a chance to bring awareness to everyone at McMaster.
“Patrons will recognize themselves and their identities in the materials that are posted, and that's really affirming for students as well as faculty and staff,” said Kerr. “This is exceptionally important for the accessibility community, but the education and awareness part is more for the general community at large. Some people may gain a perspective that they didn't have previously.”
In addition to the book displays, McMaster University Libraries and the Equity and Inclusion Office are hosting a raffle where one lucky entrant will win six of the books included in the displays. The winner of the raffle will have the option to retrieve the books in a hard copy or an accessible format.
All books included in the displays are available by request in alternate formats for those registered with Student Accessibility Services.
Learn more
To view the National AccessAbility Week online book collection, visit the library webpage.
To learn more about National AccessAbility Week 2025, visit the National AccessAbility Week 2025 LibGuide.
To learn more about National AccessAbility Week at McMaster University, visit the Accessibility Hub’s National AccessAbility Week 2025 webpage.
To request a book in an alternate format, visit the Library Accessibility Services webpage.
