The Accessibility Exchange: Building Connection and Community

While the university experience can be an exciting one for students, with new opportunities and endless possibilities, it can also feel overwhelming. Students find themselves navigating different academic, financial, and personal responsibilities while adjusting to new expectations. Many are transitioning from familiar support systems to the challenge of establishing new ones. The pressures of student life can feel heavy – and for students living with disabilities, those pressures can be even more complex – contributing to a sense of alone-ness.

Thriving through Connection and Community

In a recent article in University Affairs, scholar Dr. Loleen Berdahl writes about the growing issue of student loneliness and the importance of “fostering relationship-rich campus cultures” that support student well-being. Engaging in conversations about shared experiences, individual factors, and their intersectionality helps normalize these experiences, contributes to students feeling supported, and reduces stigma.

When interviewed in 2022, Camosun College student Alisha Parks reflected on Indigenous perspectives of disability and the importance of community. She shared, “I think that’s the gift that my disability has given me, is understanding deeply that we don’t do anything alone. We are always interdependent; we are always interrelated.”

In Fall 2025, Student Accessibility Services at Brandon University launched The Accessibility Exchange. Hosted virtually and monthly, students are invited to join a relaxed, student-led conversation about accessibility, disability, and navigating university life. In a safe and open space, students are invited to share their experiences, celebrate successes, and exchange strategies with fellow students.

The next opportunity to take part in The Accessibility Exchange takes place on Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 pm on Zoom. For planning purposes, registration is required. For more information, go to SAS Event Calendar. 

Sources

Chevrier, L. (2022, May 30). Camosun Indigenous Education student gifts college library with art. Nexus News. https://www.nexusnewspaper.com/2022/05/30/camosun-indigenous-education-student-gifts-college-library-with-art/

Berdahl, L. (2025, Nov 11). Creating student connection and belonging. University Affairs. https://universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/creating-student-connection-and-belonging/