Council Meeting Minutes 

Friday December 6th at 5:30pm PST 

Call to Order/Welcome 

  • Chair calls the meeting to order at 5:34 PM. 

Land Acknowledgement 

  • Chair offers land acknowledgment 
  • November is Indigenous Disability Awareness Month 
    • Voices of Inclusion Oral history – pre colonial lens 
    • bcands.bc.ca 

Check-In Question 

  • What were you really into as a kid?  
    • Marten: cats 
    • Julia: animal stickers, LOTR, dinosaurs, horses 
    • Hannah: Scooby Doo & science generally 
    • Adrean: dinosaurs and fossils! 
    • Vanessa: history books 
    • Acorn: karate 
    • Anika: truth finding, encyclopedias, libraries, bible 

Access Needs Check-In 

  • Break at 45 minutes 
    • Adrean has set a timer so we don’t miss it 
  • Julia is not up to chairing the full meeting 
  • Marten will be in the chat 
  • Anika missed her meds, feels slow 

Adoption of Agenda/Minutes (Acorn/Anika) 

  • Adoption of today’s agenda  
    • Adopted, no amendments. 
    • Ratified 

Reports 

Council 

    • Chairpersons 
      • Julia 
      • Hannah 
        • At the International Student Roundtable conversation 
    • Treasurer 
      • (Vacant) 
    • Student Liaison 
      • Marten 
    • UVSS’ SSD Representative 
      • Acorn 
        • Nothing to report 
    • International Student Representative 
      • Kush 
    • Graduate Student Representative 
      • Jitendra 
    • Secretary  
      • Anika 
    • General Members at Large:  
      • Lola 
      • Mya 
      • Vanessa 

Staff 

    • Office Coordinator 
      • Adrean Meuser 
        • Yesterday was the colouring book launch. I’m so grateful that we got the project off the ground and finalized. With permission, I’d like to gift a colouring book to each one of you for Christmas. 
        • We had community dinner this week. It went well. 
        • We’re trying to get more wheelchairs on campus. We’re looking/asking for funding. 
        • We’re doing a Care workshop on Monday with a cookie decorating party. 3 people are registered. Maybe we need to make it more casual/accessible to folks. 
        • I’ve been talking to campus security about the at risk policy. This policy governs how UVic handles people dealing with suicidal ideation. It’s exclusionary and hurtful. 
        • CANASSIST or NEADS 
        • Autism April is coming. We’re looking at connecting our education and communication around awareness months. We reached 4X more people via offering workshops and doing educational posts on instagram for IDAM from last year. Maybe we could do 3 big events. 
        • Mocktail Mixer for dry January in Vertigo. We’re booking for Jan 30th. 
    • Research & Communications Coordinator 
      • Diana Viafara 
        • Absent 
    • Education & Administration Coordinator 
      • Marissa Donaldson 
        • Absent 

Campaigns 

    • #Access4All 
      • Tabling is postponed until the new year. 
      • There’s a new volunteer recruitment registration form. 
      • We’re looking at how to target departments and professors to join the campaign. 
      • We need a megaphone! 
      • Future swag such as hand sanitizers may be coming. We’re looking at the samples and picking from those. 
    • Committees 
      • Sober Drink Tasting Party 
        • Marten 
        • Jitendra 
        • Julia 
        • Kush 
    • Accessibility on Campus 
        • Hannah 
        • Acorn 
        • Anika 
        • Marten 
        • Julia 
    • Partnership Request 
      • Victoria Disability Arts Collective Society 
      • Acorn: Perhaps not capacity to be an overall partner, but we can collaborate 
      • Marten: Aligns with a long term goal?  
      • Informal collab feels more comfy/less labour intensive 
      • Hannah: build the relationship, go on a few dates before we commit 

Business 

Email Motions 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/10/07: 01 

  

WHEREAS the SSD supports students’ use of the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) through our CAL/SSD Bursary; and, 

  

WHEREAS the SSD has reduced our budget significantly for the CAL/SSD Bursary, but still seeks to contribute what we can; therefore, 

  

BIRT the SSD approves $1000 for the Summer 2024 Bursary. 

 

MOTION CARRIED 

 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/10/07: 02 

  

WHEREAS the SSD hosted the first annual Mental Health Resource Fair last September 2023; and, 

  

WHEREAS the SSD invited community organizations to share videos with the SSD for a virtual mental health resource list to be hosted on our website via Youtube; and, 

  

WHEREAS the SSD seeks to champion accessibility for all students and community members at UVic and chose to hire Asign for ASL translation; and, 

  

WHEREAS the SSD applied for and received the $1500 OSL grant for university community projects; therefore,  

BIRT the SSD approves the total cost of $6,300 for 17 videos from Asign for ASL translation. 

MOTION CARRIED 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/10/24: 01 

WHEREAS The Society for Students with a Disability and the Students of Colour Collective are collaborating on a virtual and in-person International Student Roundtable discussing disability stigma and how to call in International students into the disabled community; and, 

WHEREAS the in-person event will be held in the SUB Vertigo room on Nov 14th at 6pm-8pm and we would like to offer vegan soup, buns, and hot chocolate for participants’ consumption through UVSS Catering, as well as an attractive prize package to encourage attendance; and, 

WHEREAS the virtual event will be held on Nov 7th at 3-4pm and we’d like to entice folks’ participation and attendance with a prize package; and, 

WHEREAS this collaboration will directly benefit all marginalized folks due to the collaborative nature of its discussion, and we received $500 from the Advocacy Relations Committee to cover $450 of food & beverages for the in-person event and $50 for two prize packages to encourage attendance at the online and in-person events; therefore,  

BIRT the SSD approves $500 to pay directly for these services, to be fully reimbursed by ARC.   

MOTION CARRIED 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/10/24: 02 

WHEREAS The Society for Students with a Disability and the Native Students Union are collaborating on an in-person Indigenous & Disabled Conversation Roundtable discussing the disabling effects of colonization on Indigenous folks; and, 

WHEREAS the event will be held in the First People’s House late November, and we would like to offer boxed meals, platters, and beverages for consumption through Songhees Catering; and, 

WHEREAS this collaboration directly echos the UVSS’s call to decolonization and serving marginalized communities, and the Advocacy Relations Committee voted to approve $1100 for the cost of Catering & an elder appreciation gift; therefore,  

BIRT the SSD approves $1100 to pay for these services directly, to be fully reimbursed by ARC. 

MOTION CARRIED 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/10/24: 03 

WHEREAS the SSD was approached by Divest UVic to endorse their Proposal for the UVic’s 2024 Responsible Investment Policy Review; therefore, 

BIRT the SSD endorses Divest UVic’s Proposal. 

MOTION CARRIED 

MOTION 2024/11/08: 01 

WHEREAS the SSD elected a new Student Liaison to join our Council at our Special General Meeting on November 5th 2024; and, 

WHEREAS Marten Becker is interested in joining the Council in an Executive capacity; therefore,  

BIRT the SSD Student Liaison, Marten Becker, is ratified as an Executive Council member. 

MOTION CARRIED, Marten abstained 

MOTION 2024/11/08: 02  

WHEREAS the SSD enjoys creating opportunities for our team to strategically collaborate, especially around the holidays; and, 

WHEREAS the SSD has hosted holiday gatherings in the past to bring Council, staff, and work studies together in an intentional way; therefore,  

BIRT the SSD approves a budget of up to $600 to reimburse up to $40 of a holiday meal of Council, staff, and work studies’ choosing to be consumed at the SSD Holiday Strategic Planning Party held via Zoom on December 20th 2024. 

MOTION CARRIED 

 

EMAIL MOTION 2024/11/15: 01 

  

WHEREAS the SSD supports other advocacy and affiliate groups with their endeavours and strives to champion intersectionality at the heart of our work; and, 

  

WHEREAS the Pride Collective is hosting a political collage evening for trans and gender diverse students who are feeling overwhelmed by the current transphobic political climate; and, 

  

WHEREAS the Pride Collective wishes to create a safe space for trans and genderqueer students to talk about their feelings and express themselves through art on Tuesday November 26th at 2-5pm with crafting supplies, treats, tea, and hot chocolate provided; therefore, 

  

BIRT the SSD collectively approves to have our logo displayed on promotional materials, and offers a donation of $100 towards the event. 

  

MOTION CARRIED 

 

MOTION 2024/11/25: 01 

  

WHEREAS the SSD supports harm reduction measures through supporting and endorsing calls to change UVic’s policies to reflect emergent community needs; and,  

  

WHEREAS the UVic Law Students for Harm Reduction and Decriminalization (HARD Law) approached the SSD to endorse their letter recommending changes to UVic’s Non-Academic Misconduct Policy, modeled after the Good Samaritan Overdose Act, citing the policy is meant to remove potential barriers to students seeking aid during overdose incidents; therefore, 

  

BIRT the SSD endorses HARD Law’s letter of recommendation.  

 

MOTION CARRIED 

 

MOTION 2024/11/25: 02 

 

WHEREAS the SSD is launching our first edition community colouring book on December 5th 2024 for the cost of $15-$30 per book; and, 

 

WHEREAS we are holding the event in Cinecenta, which includes catered pizza, popcorn, and drinks purchased through Bean There (Ali Baba Pizza) & Munchie Bar; and, 

 

WHEREAS the SSD wishes to spread the word of this event far and wide through advertising and poster printing; and, 

 

WHEREAS the SSD appreciates the time and energy the artists who will attend the event by speaking on a panel; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves a total cost of up to $1000 for artist honorariums, catering costs including pizza, popcorn, drinks, set up, and poster printing including Meta Suite advertising.  

 

MOTION CARRIED 

  1. Motions 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 01 (Anika/Acorn) 

 

WHEREAS the adjustable desk in the SSD lounge has broken and has surpassed its warranty date; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves up to $1100 to replace the sit/stand desk in the lounge so students and members may continue to use the area functionally.  

 

MOTION CARRIES 

 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 02 (Julia/Acorn) 

 

WHEREAS the SSD seeks to provide our community with opportunities for self- and community-care; and, 

 

WHEREAS the December workshop will be a care workshop with cookie decorating and light refreshments; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves up to $500 for the cost of a Care Workshop on December 9th, including virtual and in-person cookie decorating packages valued at $25 per person (up to 15 participants) and $125 for light snacks and drinks.  

 

MOTION CARRIES 

 

Chair calls for a break at 6:12pm, return at 6:22pm PST 

 

Chair calls meeting back to order at 6:22pm PST 

 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 03 (Anika/Marten) 

 

WHEREAS the SSD supports students’ use of the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) through our CAL/SSD Bursary; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves $2000 for the Fall 2024 Bursary. 

 

MOTION CARRIES 

 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 04 (Acorn/Anika; Acorn uses Mover’s Privilege to Amend the Motion) 

 

WHEREAS the Society for Students with a Disability has hosted three peer support groups in the Fall semester; and, 

 

WHEREAS the SSD wants to value the hard work and dedication of our peer support group facilitators’ knowledge and commitment to our community; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves $375 $525 in honorarium monies to disperse among the six peer support group facilitators, working out to be $25 per session, per facilitator.  

 

MOTION CARRIES – noting Marten, Julia abstain 

 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 05 (Julia/Marten) 

 

WHEREAS the Society for Students with a Disability seeks to ensure students on campus have sustenance to support their brains and bodies while on and off campus; and, 

 

WHEREAS the SSD has stocked a variety of dietary friendly snacks and light meals for students’ enjoyment; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves up to $1200 in snack budget for the Spring semester.  

 

MOTION CARRIES 

 

MOTION 2024/12/06: 06 (Julia/Acorn) 

 

WHEREAS the Society for Students with a Disability understands the importance of transferable skills, knowledge building, food security, community, and their intersections with disability; and, 

 

WHEREAS the SSD has has previously hosted successful community dinners and accessible cooking classes; and, 

 

WHEREAS Dan Caron from the Health Food Bar has agreed to teach four accessible cooking classes from January-April 2024; and, 

 

WHEREAS students have voiced their desire to build kitchen skills and come together in community in an accessible way; therefore, 

 

BIRT the SSD approves up to $2000 for Accessible Cooking Classes and Community Dinner series costs, including supplies, ingredients, and wages for Dan’s time. 

 

MOTION CARRIES 

Future Meeting Times 

  • Council Meetings 
    • Fill in this poll by January 2nd 
  • Weekly Staff/Exec (Thrive) Meetings  
    • Currently on Tuesdays at 2pm 
  • Holiday Strategic Planning Party 
    • Dec 20th at 3-5pm on Zoom 
  • #Access4All Meetings  
    • Every other Tuesday at 12:30pm 
      • Next meeting Dec 10th 

In-Camera 

  • Not really, but would you like to?  
  • Feels nostalgic; funding requests days of yore 

Adjournment 

  • Adjourns at 6:40pm PST
     

Thank you for coming!