Monthly Newsletters

The SSD is releases monthly newsletters to keep our community updated on our upcoming programs, events, and advocacy campaigns. If you would like to be included in our mailing list please fill out the form on our “Connect with us” page. However, we will also be uploading our newsletters to this page if you’d prefer to check here!

February Newsletter (2026)

Society for Students with a Disability (SSD) February 2026 Newsletter, page 1. First month of the semester is complete and here at the SSD, we are so proud of you! We have lots to offer you this month, including more study group and crafting drop-ins where you can meet community members, have snacks, and work. For our monthly event, we will be heading to the Victoria Bug Zoo on February 9th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and for our monthly workshop we will have a discussion about burnout with Dawn from the UVic Wellness Centre and our Education and Administrative Coordinator, Kai. Additionally, we will be having our Annual General Meeting in late February or early March! So we will have a bit of information about that below too! Events. Crafting drop-in: Join our wonderful workstudy student, Mia, every second Monday from 3:30-4:30 PM for a fun and relaxing creative break. We’ll have plenty of crafting supplies on hand, but you’re also welcome to bring your own projects. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking to unwind, this is the perfect time to get creative and connect with others. Date: February 9th and 23rd. Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building, Room B11. Group Study: Fridays in February we will be hosting our body doubling/group study sessions. Are you wondering what body doubling is? Body doubling is a productivity technique where individuals work in the presence of another person, either in person or virtually, to enhance focus and reduce procrastination. Date: February 2nd , 6th, 13th, and 27th. Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm (Feb 2nd from 2:30pm to 5:30pm). Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building, Room B111. Instagram and Facebook: @uvicssd, website: uvicssd.ca, email: uvicssd@uvic.ca
SSD Newsletter February 2026, page 2. Victoria Bug Zoo Field Trip: The Victoria Bug Zoo Field Trip Join the SSD for a field trip to the Victoria Bug Zoo on February 9th! We have bought 10 tickets for students to join us and look around at all the amazing bugs. You can either bus with us to the Bug Zoo or meet us there. Register through the link in our instagram bio! Date: February 9th. Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm. Location: The Victoria Bug Zoo (631 Courtney St.). Workshops. Understanding Burnout: Join the SSD and Student Wellness for an interactive workshop on preventing and recovering from burnout. We will be providing tea and cookies! you can also join us in-person in the SUB Upper Lounge or online (use the registration link in our instagram bio for the zoom link). Date: February 12th. Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Location: SUB Upper Lounge or via Zoom. Accessible Grocery Shopping Workshop: This two-part workshop aims to provide information and support to students who may be new to, or facing, accessibility barriers around grocery shopping. The first part of this workshop will educate participants on how to create and stick to a budget, and how to make their grocery shopping experience more accessible. The second part of this workshop will involve a trip to the grocery store, where participants will receive a reimbursement of up to $20 for their groceries. Registration is required! Please register via the link in our instagram bio. Date and time: February 26th at 1:00 to 2:00 PM and March 3rd at 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Location: SUB B025 and via Zoom. Annual General Meeting (AGM): When and Where? We have not set a date for the AGM yet but you can expect it to be the last week of February or early March. We hold our AGM’s online so that it is more accessible for students. If you have any other access needs please let us know! What to expect at an AGM? At an AGM you can expect annual reports from staff and council members, budget reviews, motions for approval, and elections. We have a whole bunch of positions available for nominations including; Operations Director, Finance Director, UVSS Constituency Representative, Graduate Students Representative, Director of Council at Large, Communications Director, and International Students Representative. The AGM usually takes between 1.5 to 2 hours, but don’t worry we have a break! Why Should I Go? There are a few important reasons why you should come to the SSD AGM. The first is that we need disabled students in order to run, with your voices we can help provide things that you are actually looking for. Next is quorum in order to run an AGM we need to hit a certain amount of attending students, so anyone who comes is helpful. Thirdly, we will have prize giveaways for anyone who attends! If you would like to learn more about the AGM please fill-out this form: https://forms.office.com/r/8UsnUqMng0 (the form is also available via the link in our instagram bio). Instagram and Facebook: @uvicssd, website: uvicssd.ca, email: uvicssd@uvic.ca

December Newsletter (2025)

Newsletter for December 2025 from the SSD. Text reads "DECEMBER, 2025 SSD NEWSLETTER. Hello SSD Community! Another month has flown by, and what a busy one it’s been! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Special General Meeting on November 28th. We’re excited to share that a brand-new constitution and updated rules of order were approved. You can expect to see these available on our website in late December. We also know this time of year can feel overwhelming, so we’ve planned plenty of relaxing events to help you unwind, including more body-doubling sessions and creative crafting meet-ups. We hope to see you there! Bella SSD Office Coordinator. Events: Body Doubling Drop-in. The SSD is putting on our Body Doubling Drop-in sessions again! Our workstudy Zoe, Mia, Lucy and staff (Bella and Kai) will be hosting the sessions. Are you wondering what body doubling is? Body doubling is a productivity technique where individuals work in the presence of another person, either in person or virtually, to enhance focus and reduce procrastination. So come buy and study with other students! Date & Time: December 1st (3:00pm-5:00pm), 8th (1:00pm-4:00pm), 10th (3:00pm-5:00pm), 12th (1:00pm-4:00pm), 17th (1:00pm-4:00pm), and 19th (1:00pm-4:00pm) Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building Room B11. Crafting Drop-in Crafting Drop-In Sessions Are Back! We’re excited to announce that our crafting drop-in sessions are returning this semester! Join our wonderful workstudy student, Lucy, every Friday from 3:00–5:00 PM for a fun and relaxing creative break. We’ll have plenty of crafting supplies on hand, but you’re also welcome to bring your own projects. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking to unwind, this is the perfect time to get creative and connect with others. Date: December 5th & 12th Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building Room B11.
Page two of the SSD November newsletter. It reads: "Holiday Crafting: Take a well-deserved break from exams and join us for a festive Holiday Drop-In Craft Afternoon! Stop by anytime to make your own snowflakes, paper chains, pinecone gnomes, and pinecone owls. We’ll have snacks and hot chocolate ready to keep you cozy while you create. This relaxed, come-as-you-are event will be facilitated by our staff, Bella and Kai. We hope to see you there for some crafty holiday cheer! Date: December 15th Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building Room B11. Fidget Making Workshop We’ll be making custom fidgets to support you as you navigate exam season. Drop in to create your own beaded keychains and mesh-and- marble fidgets, perfect to take with you for a little stress relief on the go. This workshop will be facilitated by our workstudy Lucy with the support of our workstudy Zoe. Date: December 4th Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm Location: SSD Lounge, Student Union Building Room B11. November Re-cap The Spud Social Potluck. On November 24 , we held a potluck social where we ate baked potatoes with all the fixings. Though this event was not as popular as our previous potluck, we fed lots of hungry tummies and used up all our leftovers feeding people throughout the week." Images of the baked potato potluck buffet with 14 bowls and bags of various sizes with various contents on a light-beige wood table. A second image below shows two attendees of the potluck eating baked potatoes behind a light-beige wooden table, in front of the SSD lounge's entrance. Social media links for the SSD are listed in the footer. Instagram: @uvicssd. Facebook: @UVicSSD. Website: uvicssd.ca. Email: uvicssd@uvic.ca.

Fall Newsletter (2025)

Hello SSD Friends, Welcome to the Fall Term! We’re so excited to see new and returning students back on campus! This year, we’re planning lots of events, workshops, continuing our peer support groups, and ensuring we continue to support disabled students. If you have any ideas for events or educational seminars please reach out! uvicssd@uvic.ca Here’s to a fall full of connection, care, and fun at the SSD! -The SSD Team Events: Meet and Greet with the SSD team. Fall is buzzing with campus life, and we can’t wait to be part of it! This term, you’ll spot the Society for Students with a Disability out and about, chatting with students, handing out resources, and sharing what we’re all about. We’ll be talking about the things that matter to our community: advocacy work, accessibility on campus, our social and educational programming, and ways to get involved. Whether you’ve been connected with SSD for years or you’re just curious about what we do, we’d love to see you. Catch us at: Campus Kick-off - Wednesday & Thursday, September 3rd and 4th | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Thunderfest – Thursday, September 5th | 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM Clubs & Course Unions Days – Tuesday, September 10th & Wednesday, September 11th | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 3RD Annual Mental Health Resource Fair Take a break from your busy day and drop by the Society for Students with a Disability’s Mental Health Resource Fair, your one-stop spot to explore supports, services, and programs that can make campus life a little easier. Whether you’re looking for affordable counseling options, peer support groups, or wellness services and activities, you’ll find friendly faces ready to share helpful tools and resources. Don’t miss this incredible space! Date: Thursday, September 12th Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Michèle Pujol Room, Student Union Building Drop-In Event – No Registration Needed!
Beacon Hill Petting Zoo and Ice cream Party We are going to the Beacon Hill Petting Zoo! Spend an enjoyable afternoon surrounded by adorable goats (yes, even the little ones!), friendly animals, and cheerful company. After our time with the goats, we will celebrate with an ice cream party! This is a wonderful opportunity to unwind, connect with the SSD community. You can bus with us at 3:00 pm. Meet us at the SSD Lounge Room - Students Union Building - B111 Spots are limited, RSVP soon! 📅 Dates : September 18th 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 5:30 pm 📍 Location: Beacon Hill Petting Zoo 📅 Registration: link embedded in image. If unable to access, please contact uvicssd@uvic.ca Navigating CAL & Campus Resources It’s not easy being a neurodivergent and/or disabled student, especially without proper supports and accommodations in place. Come learn about the supports and resources that campus has to offer at this workshop, so you can feel supported before midterm season! At this workshop, we will go over campus resources that provide students with support across different areas of need (e.g., academic, career, mental health, etc.). We will also be including a segment on accessing and navigating CAL accommodations, where you can ask a CAL advisor any questions you may have about the process! 📅 Date: September 25th 🕒 Time: 5:00 - 6:30 pm 📍 Location: in the SUB (room TBD) and Zoom 📅 Registration: link embedded in image. If unable to access, please contact uvicssd@uvic.ca New Administrative and Education Coordinator! My name is Kai (any pronouns) and I am SSD’s new Education and Administration Coordinator! I just finished my Batchelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Art Education here at UVic. During my time as a UVic student, I became very interested in topics pertaining to accessibility and equitability in academic settings, where resource sharing and peer support have become a special interest of mine. Currently, I also work as a TA and Research Assistant for the Psychology Department so you may see me around the Cornett building on occasion! Outside of my work and academia, I enjoy playing Pokemon (Skitty is my favourite), making art, and going to the gym, and reading tarot. If you ever need support with navigating campus supports and accommodations (or anything else), please do not hesitate to drop by to come say hi at the SSD office! My office hours are every Monday-Thursday, 10am-3pm!
SSD x AIR - Body Inclusive Yoga Join the SSD and AIR for a welcoming and supportive yoga class designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, these classes will offer variations for all levels, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and supported. Together, we will focus on grounding asanas (poses), mindful breathing, and intention setting that promotes our well-being. Come join us to connect, move, and restore our collective energy in a safe and inclusive setting. Come as you are, no prior experience necessary! 📅 Date: Bi-weekly Sunday starting September 21st 🕒 Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm 📍 Location: Gwynne Studio, CARSA 📅 Registration: TBD, for updates click here (link embedded in image, if unable to access please email uvicssd@uvic.ca). Call for Volunteers! Call for Volunteers! Are you eager to be part of a student organization that helps you and your peers with disabilities within the UVic community? Would you like to: Facilitate peer support groups Organize engaging events Attend inspiring workshops Support your friends in the community? If this resonates with you, we invite you to explore our available positions and register by scanning the QR code or using the link provided here! We look forward to welcoming you soon! For any questions or if you would like more information, please feel free to email us at uvicssd@uvic.ca. Picture of hamster with text reading "we missed you!" with the UVic SSD logo at the bottom left corner. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/uvicssd How to unsubscribe? To unsubscribe from the monthly SSD Newsletter please email uvicssd@uvic.ca. Social media account handles: Instagram: @uvicssd Facebook: @UVicSSD Website: uvicssd.ca Email: uvicssd@uvic.ca

April Newsletter (2025)

March Newsletter (2025)

February Newsletter (2025)

January Newsletter (2025)