Access Awareness Week May 31 to June 6

For 40 years, Nova Scotians have organized community events, press conferences, forums, concerts and lectures during Access Awareness Week to bring attention to the importance of removing barriers for people with disabilities. Through public awareness, community partnerships education and dialogue, Access Awareness Week aims to foster an environment of equal participation for persons with disabilities. Take the time to learn more about community events and initiatives happening across the province.

Community Events

The following events are being hosted by community organizations in Nova Scotia:

Proclamation Ceremony and the Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Awards Presentation: Kicking off Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia with proclamation and remarks for the week from the Halifax Regional Municipality and Government of Nova Scotia to showcase the importance of access awareness. After the proclamation will be the presentation of the Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Awards to celebrate the community leaders who have taken action toward increasing accessibility and improving the lives for people with disabilities.

June 1, 2026 9:00 – 11:00am.

AAWNS 2026 Scholarship Luncheon: Celebrate the accomplishments students with disabilities joining our luncheon. This luncheon will be for the 2026 recipients of the scholarships for students with disabilities administered by the PAANS committee and presented by our sponsors.

June 5, 2026 12:00 – 2:00pm.

Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy Update: Learn about the Human Rights Case Remedy and how the Province of Nova Scotia is rectifying a finding of discrimination towards persons with disabilities. Hear about the progress to date, what’s coming up, and what this means for people in your community. Presented by the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.

June 10, 2026 10:00 -11:00 a.m.

Mental Health in the Workplace: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Employers: Mental health is part of workplace accessibility. In this interactive session, employers will explore how to create environments where people can work well, ask for support, and stay engaged. We will unpack common myths about mental health at work and look at the difference between performance management and support.

Hosted by Sea Change CoLab.

May 27, 2026 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Universal Design for Learning at Work: Designing for Access from the Start: Universal Design for Learning is not just for classrooms. It is a powerful framework for designing workplace training, communication, and systems that work for more people from the beginning. In this session, we introduce the core principles of Universal Design for Learning and apply them to hiring, onboarding, professional development, and internal communications. Hosted by Sea Change CoLab.

June 17, 2026 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion: Hosted by the Accessible Canada Directorate, this fourth annual virtual, accessible, and inclusive event will support the sharing of insights to help shape accessible and inclusive communities and workplaces across Canada. This year’s theme is “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada”. The Congress will kick-start National AccessAbility Week. It will bring together: persons with disabilities, disability organizations, public and private organizations, academics, innovators, and thought leaders

May 28, 2026 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Building an Accessible Canada: Ideas, Impact, and Innovation: Join Easter Seals Canada online for a series of thought-provoking and engaging discussion panels all about creating a more accessible Canada. This free virtual conference features a variety of Canadian experts in the disability community – those with lived experience and others dedicated to increasing accessibility and inclusion.

June 2, 2026 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Check out Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Events – NSLEO for more events throughout the week!