accommodation

Mental Health in the Workplace

November 20, 2019 by Constance Exley

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have, or have had, a mental illness and the earlier a problem is detected and treated, the better the outcome. Everyone has a role to play in supporting workplace mental health and this webinar will help you to:

Reduce mental health stigma among co-workers
Better recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems
Increase your knowledge about appropriate treatments
Increase staff confidence in helping others

Participants will receive practical and professionally recommended resources, as well as tips and best practices for supporting the well-being of co-workers. There will be time to ask the presenting Mental Health Expert questions about mental health issues affecting your organization.

Fantastic presentation!
I liked that Tammy made it interactive with questions for the group. – City of Belleville

Audience: All Staff, including Management Team Staff, including Executive Directors/CEOs, Directors & Managers (HR, Communications, and Volunteer Coordinators), as well as staff that have contact with the public and volunteers.

The webinar was excellent and gave really good information at a level that most folks readily understood. I particularly liked that she stressed that we cannot diagnose – we are there to support. So important! -United Church of Canada

Benefits of a mentally healthy workplace:

Operational Success: Mentally healthy workplaces demonstrate higher levels of employee and volunteer motivation, commitment and creativity, as well as better decision making.
Productivity: Happy and psychologically healthy employees and volunteers work harder and more efficiently.
Cost Savings: There is a strong link between mental health, physical well-being and injury prevention, disability and absenteeism.
Improved Relations: Better mental health among employees and volunteers results in fewer conflicts and complaints.

We have been thoroughly enjoying the Mental Health webinar that you have been hosting and have come away with lots of great tidbits. – Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

Optional Webinar Recordings: Participants have the option of purchasing access to the webinar recording for 7 days following the live event.

Webinar Feedback

100% of past participants said they now have a better understanding of mental health in the workplace.
100% of past participants said they got strategies to help their staff and colleagues.
100% of past participants said they were better able to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health issues.
100% of past participants said they came away with ideas on how to foster a healthy workplace.

“Great refresher and gap analysis of where I was at in understanding mental health issues.”

“Great suggestions on ways we can support co-workers!” – Ministry of the Attorney General

Webinar Outcomes:

Gain an understanding of various mental health issues
Increase mental health awareness to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress
Learn strategies to help employees, colleagues and volunteers feel more comfortable having conversations related to mental health
Learn how to provide compassionate support and understanding
Get simple but effective tools and strategies to manage personal and co-worker stress
Ask questions about your organization’s specific challenges

Liked that you gave suggestions and not just theory. Gave real life examples. – YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka

The interaction really helped to drive home important points. – Niagara College

INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

High quality instruction by an Mental Health Expert
Copies of the webinar slides (.pdf)
Access to the webinar recording (optional)
A chance to ask all your questions
Resources, best practices, tips and tools
A chance to network with other professionals
Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

“We all loved the music that was playing prior to the webinar starting. Everyone who walked into the room immediately smiled or started dancing! It was such a great way to ease any uncomfortable feelings. Thank you!” – Canadian Opera Company

Webinar Outline:

Mental Health 101 (1:00-2:00pm)

Improve mental health awareness and psychological health and safety of your organization. Mental Health 101 provides employees with an understanding various mental health issues, builds mental health awareness and helps reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Participants will learn strategies for maintaining their mental wellness and for providing compassionate support and understanding to colleagues, friends and family.

Break (2:00-2:15pm)

Stress Essentials – (2:15-3:00pm)

Stress can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of employees, as well as a negative impact on productivity. Learn to recognize signs and symptoms of stress as well as simple but effective tools and strategies to manage the stress of employees, colleagues, and yourself.

Break (3:00-3:15pm)

How to Help & Ask for Help: Resources & Strategies for Supporting Individuals In Need – (3:15-4:00pm)

Asking for help is the first step for many in improving their mental health. Learn strategies to help employees and colleagues feel more comfortable having conversations related to mental health; provide emotional support and practical help to co-workers or loved ones; and know where to find resources and programs in your area.

The Facts:

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness
In a recent major Canadian study, 82% of responding organizations ranked mental health conditions in their top three causes of short term disability (72% for long-term)
30% of all short and long term disability claims are due to mental health problems and illnesses
The cost of a disability leave for a mental illness is about double the cost of a leave due to a physical illness.
64% of Ontario workers would be concerned about how work would be affected if a colleague had a mental illness
39% of Ontario workers indicate that they would not tell their managers if they were experiencing a mental health problem
40% of respondents to a 2016 survey agreed they have experienced feelings of anxiety or depression but never sought medical help for it
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age
42% of Canadians were unsure whether they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness
Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem

Introduction to Website Accessibility

September 23, 2019 by Constance Exley

Many people have difficulty understanding what is meant by ‘website accessibility’ and how this is achieved. This webinar will give you an understanding of how people with various disabilities access your website and how websites can be made accessible. You will learn about the background and theory of website accessibility, how accessibility effects visitors to your site, and what changes you can immediately make to increase the accessibility of your website.

1 in 7 people currently have a disability and this is expected to rise to 1 in 5 by 2036 as the population ages. By having an accessible website, you are including people with disabilities – whether they be clients, employees, or the public. By understanding accessibility issues and the strategies to tackle them, your organization can communicate more effectively while complying with legal and moral responsibilities.

Who should attend this webinar

Anyone who is responsible for website design and development, content creation, and content posting, as well as anyone who oversees the work of such staff. This includes all Executive Directors/CEOs, Communication Managers, Document Creators, Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers, Marketing Managers, Administrative Assistants.

What You Will Walk Away With:

At the end of this webinar, participants will have an understanding of:

Website accessibility and factors that create barriers
How people will disabilities use assistive technologies to navigate the internet
How web accessibility can improve your products and services
The international standards for website accessibility (WCAG 2.1)

Optional Webinar Recordings: Participants have the option of purchasing access to the webinar recording for 7 days following the live event.

INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

High quality instruction by a Web Accessibility Specialist
A chance to network with other professionals
Digital Certificate of Completion for registered participants

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request.

Accessible Word Documents 101

February 20, 2019 by Constance Exley

This webinar has been designed specifically for those with limited time but who understand the need to make documents accessible.

This webinar will teach you the steps required to make a Word document accessible. You will gain an understanding of the importance of using Microsoft Word’s already built-in features to assist you in making content accessible to everyone in your organization and on the internet.

What you will walk away with

At the end of this webinar, participants will have a clear understanding of:

How to prepare simple text content for accessibility
How to prepare graphical content for accessibility
Why navigation is important in a document
What is reading order and why is it important

Who should attend this webinar

Anyone who is using Microsoft Word to create digital documents. This would include any Executives, Directors or Managers, Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers and Administrative Staff. Everyone!

Free Webinar

In order to participate in this webinar you must have taken our “Overview to Document Accessibility“.

Participants registered in this “Accessible Word Documents 101” webinar will get access to our “Overview to Document Accessibility” webinar being held earlier that morning, from 10:00am-11:00am, for free. You will receive a confirmation e-mail and instructions for this complementary webinar a week before.

Maximizing the Value of the Series

Invite others to participate. Structure a group “lunch and learn” session and invite staff to attend.

NOTE: Registration entitles you to one Internet connection and an unlimited number of participants from your organization in one listening room. If you are interested in a site license for multiple viewing locations, please contact us at: [email protected]

INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

High quality instruction by a Document Accessibility Specialist
Accessible Word Documents Tip Sheet
Accessibility Resources
A chance to network with other professionals
Digital Certificate of Completion

Course Outline

This is a live event only and no recordings will be made available. There will be a 15 minute break half way through.

Text Elements and Navigation

This section will review the best practices and the implications of formatting text for Assistive Technologies. It will also include a review of the importance of page navigation. Topics covered include:

Simple text formatting for accessibility
Page structure and content order
Setting logical reading order
Proper list structures
Adding bookmarks for easy navigation

Graphical Content Accessibility Checker

This section emphasizes how to apply accessibility settings for any graphical content and how to review the accessibility checker. Topics include:

Writing descriptive text for Images, logos and smart art
Positioning graphical content in line with other page items
How to set language settings
Review of the Microsoft Accessibility Checker

Software used during presentation

Microsoft Word 2016
Acrobat Professional DC

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request.

3 Best Rated Accessibility Workshops

January 12, 2019 by Constance Exley

We have many wonderful workshops and webinars but, in the last four years, there are three that consistently get rave reviews. We offer these workshops monthly and we are also able to come to your office if you have a group of 8-10 people.

“Best training I have ever had in a session!”

“I have taken a few training courses but this was by far the most in-depth and informative.”

“Great practical, hands-on exercises.”

“So much to learn and use immediately. The workshop exceeded my expectations!”

“Detailed and great with examples and practices.”

“Great examples and I appreciate the print out for future reference.”

“Accessibility Services Canada’s workshop “Accessible InDesign Workshop” was fantastic. The facilitator’s training style was very enjoyable, giving practical exercises and useful tricks that will help us achieve accessibility on a variety of documents. I will strongly recommend this workshop to graphic designers and other creative minds who are searching for better ways to make accessible documents and visual communications.”

Workplace Mental Health Webinar Series

June 12, 2018 by Constance Exley

Everyone has a role to play in supporting the mental health of colleagues, volunteers, as well as themselves. Participants in this 3-part webinar series will learn strategies for both workplace and personal mental wellness.

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness. The earlier a problem is detected and treated, the better the outcome. This Mental Health 101 Webinar Series will help you to:

Reduce mental health stigma amongst staff and volunteers
Better recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems
Increase your knowledge about appropriate treatments
Increase staff confidence in helping others

We will provide you with many excellent resources and share tips for supporting the well-being of your staff, colleagues, volunteers and yourself. There will be time during each webinar to ask the presenting Mental Health Expert questions about mental health issues affecting your organization.

Fantastic presentation!

Who: All Staff, including Management Team Staff, including Executive Directors/CEOs, Directors & Managers (HR, Communications, and Volunteer Coordinators), as well as staff that have contact with the public and volunteers.

When: Every Tuesday, for 3 weeks, from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Where: Online webinar via your computer. These webinars are live and no recordings are available.

The series was very good and gave some really good information at a level that most folks readily understood. I particularly liked that she stressed that we cannot diagnose – we are there to support. So important! -United Church of Canada

Maximizing the Value of these Webinars

Registration entitles you to one Internet connection and an unlimited number of participants from your organization in one listening room.

Invite others to participate. Structure a group “lunch and learn” session and invite staff to attend.

Debrief the lessons learned. Set aside time at the end of the webinar to discuss takeaways, and how they apply to your group or organization.

“Great refresher and gap analysis of where I was at in understanding mental health issues.”

Tap into your training budget. Ask your HR group or manager to underwrite the webinar as part of your organization’s ongoing staff development effort.

Great suggestions on ways we can support co-workers! – Ministry of the Attorney General

Webinar Outcomes:

Gain an understanding of various mental health issues
Increase mental health awareness to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress
Learn strategies to help employees, colleagues and volunteers feel more comfortable having conversations related to mental health
Learn how to provide compassionate support and understanding
Get simple but effective tools and strategies to manage personal and co-worker stress
Ask questions about your organization’s specific challenges

Liked that you gave suggestions and not just theory. Gave real life examples. – YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka

INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

High quality instruction by an Mental Health Expert
Copies of each of the webinar (.pdf)
A chance to ask all your questions
Resources, best practices, tips and tools
A chance to network with other professionals
Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Webinar Outline:

Mental Health 101 – June 12, 2018 (1-2pm)

Stress Essentials – June 19, 2018 (1-2pm)

How to Help & Ask for Help: Resources & Strategies for Supporting Individuals In Need – June 26, 2018 (1-2pm)

Key benefits of a mentally healthy workplace:

Operational Success: Mentally healthy workplaces demonstrate higher levels of employee and volunteer motivation, commitment and creativity, as well as better decision making.

Productivity: Happy and psychologically healthy employees and volunteers work harder and more efficiently.

Cost Savings: There is a strong link between mental health, physical well-being and injury prevention, disability and absenteeism.

Improved Relations: Better mental health among employees and volunteers results in fewer conflicts and complaints.

We have been thoroughly enjoying the Mental Health webinars that you have been hosting and have come away with lots of great tidbits. – Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

The Facts:

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness
In a recent major Canadian study, 82% of responding organizations ranked mental health conditions in their top three causes of short term disability (72% for long-term)
30% of all short and long term disability claims are due to mental health problems and illnesses
The cost of a disability leave for a mental illness is about double the cost of a leave due to a physical illness.
64% of Ontario workers would be concerned about how work would be affected if a colleague had a mental illness
39% of Ontario workers indicate that they would not tell their managers if they were experiencing a mental health problem
40% of respondents to a 2016 survey agreed they have experienced feelings of anxiety or depression but never sought medical help for it
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age
42% of Canadians were unsure whether they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness
Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem

How to Make InAccessible PDFs Accessible

February 13, 2018 by Constance Exley

The task of creating an accessible document goes farther than just correctly formatting the text in your original file. When importing documents, whatever the source application, some elements “get lost in translation” and additional remediation has to be done in Adobe Acrobat.

This workshop is Part 2 of our “Accessible Word” and “Accessible InDesign” training sessions and will teach you how to create an accessible PDF, including diverse content such as complicated tables, lists and acronyms. Questions it addresses include:

How do I make a PDF accessible when I don’t have the source document?
How can I figure out whether it is faster to remediate an old PDF or create a new, accessible source document?
How do I make tables with merged cells more accessible?
What do I do with complicated drawings and charts?
When should I use the auto tag feature in Acrobat?
How do I fix incorrect reading order?
We use a lot of abbreviations – how do I make them accessible?

Great training – lots of new information! Well structured session.
So much to learn and use immediately. The workshop exceeded my expectations!

Who should attend this workshop

Anyone who attended the “How to Make Accessible Word Documents” workshop or our “How to Make Accessible InDesign Documents” webinar/workshop provided by Accessibility Services Canada.
If you are currently creating accessible content and need a refresher or an upgrade, including Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers, Marketing staff and Administrative Assistants.

What you will walk away with…

How to format an inaccessible PDF.
Where relevant tools and menu items are in Acrobat.
Available automated accessibility features.
Understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will have and understanding of:

Working with accessible content tags
Manually tag or re-tagging content in a PDF
Modifying and edit tag properties
Removing tags from specified non-meaningful content
How to tag acronyms and bulleted lists
Tagging a table of contents
Creating tags for tables
How to deal with merged or split table cells.
Making scanned PDF content accessible.
Setting the document default page views
Setting reading order and reflow orfer
Adding bookmarks in a PDF document
Adding required document properties.
Using Accessibility Checkers and examining the results.

Take away

Participants will be given a handout with reference to the content covered including step-by-step procedures.
A full understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Detailed and great with examples and practices. (Reena)

Great examples and I appreciate the print out for future reference. (Deafblind Ontario Services)

Workshop Requirements

Laptop (Mac or PC) and Mouse
Acrobat Professional, version 11 or DC (Primary focus will be on using Acrobat Professional DC).

Technical Notes

Please ensure that your Acrobat Professional (not Reader) has been installed correctly.
We suggest you do any installations a day or two before the workshop to ensure your programs are working properly.
A USB key will be used to transfer class files to laptops – ensure this can be done on your laptop before class.
A computer mouse is recommended since it will assist in the use of keyboard shortcuts.

Good quality presentation. Presenter is excellent! Learn, knowledgeable and great at keeping us engaged. Learned more than I anticipated! (Ontario College of Teachers)

INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

High quality instruction by a Document Accessibility Specialist
Small class size (maximum 10 participants)
A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
Complimentary coffee and tea
A chance to network with other professionals
Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations are available upon request.

How to Make Accessible Word Documents (Hands On)

January 22, 2018 by Constance Exley

This hands-on workshop is designed to clearly explain how to create an accessible document using Microsoft Word. It will demonstrate converting documents to PDF format and examine the required structure for assistive technologies.

This workshop is a comprehensive review of how layout and design principles and practices influence the outcome in the construction of a document intended for accessibility.

Through exercises and group discussions, participants will review the background and theory of accessibility and how it effects document creation; the necessary changes to their current workflow and processes; and how to layout content in documents for those with vision, motor and cognitive impairments.

Microsoft Word will be used to build an accessible document, followed by using Adobe Acrobat Professional DC to inspect any conversion issues or errors.

Best training I have ever had in a session! Ontario College of Teachers

Learning outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will:

Gain an in-depth understanding of accessible word document creation
Learn how to prepare all text content for accessibility
Will prepare graphical content for accessibility
Understand why navigation is important in a document
Review who is using accessible documents and their needs
Become familiar with content design best practices – the do’s and don’ts
Understand the importance of using accessible fonts
Learn about how to modify and create custom text styles
Understanding color blindness and the impact on graphic communications
How to make graphic, WordArt and charts accessible
Add custom bookmarks for navigation in their documents
Review how to add descriptive file properties to a file
Review the built-in accessibility checkers in both Microsoft and Acrobat
And much more!

Great practical, hands-on exercises. (City of Pembroke)

Take Away

Participants will be given a handout with reference to the content covered including step-by-step procedures.

Workshop Requirements

Laptop and a Computer Mouse (Mac computers must have the latest version of Microsoft Word)
Microsoft Word 2016 or 2013
Acrobat Professional Version DC or 11

Technical Notes

Please ensure that your Acrobat Professional (not Reader) has been installed correctly within your Microsoft Word application.
We suggest you do any installations a day or two before the workshop to ensure it is working properly.
A USB key will be used to transfer class files to laptops – ensure this can be done on your laptop.
A computer mouse is recommended since it will assist in the use of keyboard shortcuts

NOTE: Laptops are optional, however, they will be needed to participate in the hands-on exercises that complement the lecture.

Great tips and tools to aid in the process of making docs accessible. Looking forward to Part 2! (Niagara Parks Commission)
Perfect! Met the level of accessibility training I need in my job and I learned a few new tricks. (Ontario Government)

INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

High quality instruction by a Document Accessibility Specialist
Small class size (maximum 10 participants)
A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
Complimentary coffee and tea
A chance to network with other professionals
Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request.

Workplace Mental Health Webinar Series

January 8, 2018 by Constance Exley

Reduce mental health stigma amongst staff and volunteers
Better recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems
Increase your knowledge about appropriate treatments
Increase staff confidence in helping others

We will provide you with many excellent resources and share tips for supporting the well-being of your staff and volunteers. There will be time during each webinar to ask the presenting Mental Health Expert questions about mental health issues affecting your organization.

When: Every Monday, for 3 weeks, from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Where: Online webinar via your computer. These webinars are live and no recordings are available.

The series was very good and gave some really good information at a level that most folks readily understood. I particularly liked that she stressed that we cannot diagnose – we are there to support. So important! -United Church of Canada
Great suggestions on ways we can support co-workers! – Ministry of the Attorney General

Webinar Outcomes:

Gain an understanding of various mental health issues
Increase mental health awareness to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress
Learn strategies to help employees, colleagues and volunteers feel more comfortable having conversations related to mental health
Learn how to provide compassionate support and understanding
Get simple but effective tools and strategies to manage personal and co-worker stress
Ask questions about your organization’s specific challenges

Maximizing the Value of these Webinars

Registration entitles you to one Internet connection and an unlimited number of participants from your organization in one listening room.

Invite others to participate. Structure a group “lunch and learn” session and invite staff to attend.

Debrief the lessons learned. Set aside time at the end of the webinar to discuss takeaways, and how they apply to your group or organization.

“Being online is a great way to learn that is flexible for our team.”

Tap into your training budget. Ask your HR group or manager to underwrite the webinar as part of your organization’s ongoing staff development effort.

Cost: $250

Fees are per viewing room/desk, not per person – so invite all your staff to participate!

Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail and instructions for accessing each session will be sent the week prior to commencement.

Liked that you gave suggestions and not just theory. Gave real life examples. – YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka

INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

High quality instruction by an Mental Health Expert
Copies of each of the webinar (.pdf)
A chance to ask all your questions
Resources, best practices, tips and tools
A chance to network with other professionals
Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Webinar Outline:

Mental Health 101 – January 8, 2018 (1-2pm)

Stress Essentials – January 15, 2018 (1-2pm)

How to Help & Ask for Help: Resources & Strategies for Supporting Individuals In Need – January 22, 2018 (1-2pm)

Key benefits of a mentally healthy workplace:

Operational Success: Mentally healthy workplaces demonstrate higher levels of employee and volunteer motivation, commitment and creativity, as well as better decision making.

Productivity: Happy and psychologically healthy employees and volunteers work harder and more efficiently.

Cost Savings: There is a strong link between mental health, physical well-being and injury prevention, disability and absenteeism.

Improved Relations: Better mental health among employees and volunteers results in fewer conflicts and complaints.

We have been thoroughly enjoying the Mental Health webinars that you have been hosting and have come away with lots of great tidbits. – Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

The Facts:

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness
In a recent major Canadian study, 82% of responding organizations ranked mental health conditions in their top three causes of short term disability (72% for long-term)
30% of all short and long term disability claims are due to mental health problems and illnesses
The cost of a disability leave for a mental illness is about double the cost of a leave due to a physical illness.
64% of Ontario workers would be concerned about how work would be affected if a colleague had a mental illness
39% of Ontario workers indicate that they would not tell their managers if they were experiencing a mental health problem
40% of respondents to a 2016 survey agreed they have experienced feelings of anxiety or depression but never sought medical help for it
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age
42% of Canadians were unsure whether they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness
Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem