About us
AQEIPS was created in 1991 by and for students with disabilities (SWD) at the post-secondary level (DVS, AEC, CEGEP and university). We organize many activities and collaborate on research projects to support collective advocacy for SWD.
We also manage a yearly bursary program to help support SWD pursuing higher education.
United for successful inclusive practices in education, AQEIPS has been fighting for equal opportunities for students with disabilities (SWD) in post-secondary programs since 1991. We are working to build an inclusive society, where SWD can exit the cycle of poverty and isolation and have the same access to higher education as students without disabilities.
Since the creation of AQEIPS, the promotion and defense of rights as well as needs-oriented requests for intervention have become more and more important. We are facing an urgent need to achieve sociopolitical and socioeconomical changes. For example :
- Modifications to the Program for student financial assistance (SFA) in Quebec, which restricts the categories of students with disabilities qualifying as SWD with major functional disabilities (Form 1015).
It is for those reasons that AQEIPS promotes and defends the adequate allocation of human, financial and material resources in order to ensure the success of inclusive education, a model that has proven efficient in other Canadian provinces as well as around the world.
Several international treaties consider equal chances in education for people with disabilities to be a priority, including the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was signed by Canada in 2010.
Together, we must work towards quality inclusive education.
Mission
To support post-secondary students with disabilities (SWD) through promoting and defending their rights, equity and inclusion.
Vision
Inclusive access to education.
Objectives
- Defending equal chances in post-secondary education for all SWD.
- Promoting the defense of the rights and interests of SWD in post-secondary programs, with an approach that is inclusive of all disabilities.
- Promoting the inclusion of students with a visible or invisible disability in private and public post-secondary schools.
- Fostering communication among SWD in post-secondary programs.
- Sharing information with members on all topics related to life as a SWD in post-secondary studies
- Informing and sensitizing the general population, academic institutions and governments to the life experiences and needs of students with disabilities.
- Encouraging the hiring of SWD before and after graduation.