WELCOME!
University of Windsor
Volume 1, Issue 2
Winter 2006
The Special Needs Advisory Committee (SNAC) continues to strive to make the University of Windsor an
increasingly accessible, and inclusive environment for all. The SNAC 4th Annual Report (2005) is now complete,
and provides a list of annual activities, accomplishments and future initiatives. To review the entire report, please
visit http://www.uwindsor.ca/snac. For more information please see http://www.uwindsor.ca/accessibility
The SNAC website http://www.uwindsor.ca/snac provides tips for classroom safety and accessibility, campus
event planning, ‘scent-free’ accessibility tips, and evacuation procedures (new initiatives). Every issue of our
Awareness & Access Newsletter will be available on this site, along with other helpful information.
We are very pleased that in December 2005, the Employment Equity Coordinating Committee, established and
implemented the University of Windsor Scent-free guidelines. We invite you to view the “new” scent-free
guidelines on http:www.uwindsor.ca/equity. This initiative will help remove barriers for persons with
environmental sensitivity, asthma, allergies, and other health problems.
In this issue you will find information about the CanWAPSS 2005 Conference Breaking Down Barriers, excerpts
from the “new” University of Windsor scent-free guidelines, as well as information about asthma, diabetes, and
environmental sensitivities; a few of many chronic medical conditions. We invite you to learn more about how you
can make the University of Windsor a more accessible campus for you, your fellow colleagues, and students.
Breaking Down Barriers 2005 Conference
This year’s CanWAPSS (Canada-Wide Accessibility for Post-Secondary Students) conference Breaking Down
Barriers was held on November 4th and 5th in Toronto. On behalf of the University of Windsor, Social Work
student Valerie Doumani attended. This conference brings together students, staff, faculty members, community
members and business representatives to discuss the numerous barriers experienced by post-secondary students
with disabilities. The 2005 theme was “Leadership Development & Accessibility Planning”. Conference topics
included “Marketing Your Skills & Experiences”, “Campus Accessibility Planning”, “Community Development:
Leadership & Creating Positive Environments”. Other topics addressed human rights issues, and employment
equity. Students are encouraged to learn more about these issues as they relate to their own disabilities.
Resource: http://www.canwapss.com/index.htm
Special Needs Program
University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor ON, N9B 3P4
Room 122 Dillon Hall, Phone (519) 253-3000 ext. 3463 TTY: (519) 973-7091
Email: specneed@uwindsor.ca
Websites: http://www.uwindsor.ca/sn and http://www.uwindsor.ca/snac
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Congratulations to the Employment Equity Coordinating Committee, for the exceptional work done on
establishing the ‘new’ University of Windsor “Scent-free” guidelines!! An initiative to be very proud off!!
Excerpts from the ‘new’ University of Windsor Scent-free Guidelines (December 2005)
The University of Windsor recognizes the need to maintain an indoor environment that supports the University
community at work, study and play. These guidelines address the entire community including students, faculty
and staff to support efforts to create a scent-free University.
In consideration of the difficulties that exposure to scented products cause to sensitive individuals, the University
of Windsor encourages faculty, staff, students, and visitors to avoid the use of scented personal care products.
Listed below are some of the symptoms which have been reported as adversely affecting a person’s health due to
scented products:
headaches - dizziness, light-headedness – nausea – fatigue - weakness - insomnia – malaise - confusion - loss of
appetite – depression – anxiety – numbness - upper respiratory symptoms - difficulty with concentration - skin
irritation
Selected Questions and Answers
What can I do to prevent harming people affected by scents?
You can adopt scent-free practices by avoiding using perfumes, aftershaves, colognes, and scented lotions and
opting for "fragrance-free", "scent-free", or "unscented" versions of such personal care products as hand and body
lotions, soaps, hair products, deodorants, and laundry and home cleaning products. Many scent-free personal
care products can be found at your local grocery store or pharmacy.
I know people who have allergies to certain foods or animals. I don't know anyone who has a reaction
from coming into contact with scented products. How real is this concern?
It is very real and well documented that the incidence of asthma is on the increase, especially in young people. In
fact, there are many environmental illnesses – illnesses triggered by things in our environment. Among the best
known are spring and summer allergies to pollen from flowers, grasses, and trees. Another is air pollution from
vehicles or smoke.
It is also known that asthma and migraine headaches have multiple triggers, including chemical exposure, paint
and perfume. So it is well known that exposure to materials in the environment can cause illness in people with
sensitivities.
Sensitivities to things such as scented products can cause the same type and severity of symptoms as allergies.
However, there is no medication to relieve the symptoms - the only treatment is to avoid exposure. Exposure to
paint, fragranced cleaning products, and scented personal care products can all trigger migraine headaches.
What if the perfume I wear and the scented products I use aren't bothering anyone?
Perhaps someone is suffering in silence. Or maybe you will come in contact with someone experiencing fragrance
sensitivity during the day – in the cafeteria, at the gym, in a meeting, at a concert or in the library. By putting all the
responsibility for coming forward on the persons who are the most at risk of becoming ill, you increase their
chances of having a reaction – they have to approach the person wearing a scent that triggers a reaction in them
in order to ask that person to refrain from using scented products.
Fragrances are volatile organic compounds and it's their nature to waft in the air. Even if you sit very still in one
place, the fragrance still travels with the air currents. Many environments such as the classroom, meeting rooms,
theatre or workplace can be especially challenging for persons who develop symptoms from exposure to scents.
Resources: http://www.uwindsor.ca/equity guidelines can be viewed under “Scent-free”. Please see ‘asthma’,
and ‘environmental sensitivity’ sections in this issue, under ‘chronic medical conditions’ for additional information.
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Chronic Medical Conditions
Chronic Medical and Systemic health related conditions may affect the respiratory, neurological, circulatory,
gastrointestinal, or immune systems of the body. A few of the many chronic conditions that require medical
attention are asthma, diabetes, environmental sensitivities, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, heart disease, cancer,
inflammatory bowel diseases, and sleep disorders.
In this issue, we will highlight asthma, diabetes, and environmental sensitivity, and provide tips for coping with
these conditions. In our next issue, we will discuss other health related conditions.
Chronic conditions can be stressful, so it is important to eat healthy, get adequate sleep, and proper exercise.
Your doctor can recommend the appropriate exercise for you. Wearing a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace is an
excellent idea for anyone with a chronic medical condition. If you are a student, and are interested in acquiring
new stress reduction skills, you may wish to attend the free workshops on Stress and Anxiety Management
offered by the Student Counselling Centre, located in the CAW Student Centre, 2nd floor, Room 293, Phone (519)
253-3000 ext. 4616 Resources: www.uwindsor.ca/scc and http://www.medicalert.ca/en/about/needs.asp
What is Asthma?
Asthma, one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Canada, is a chronic inflammatory condition of the
airways. It can develop at any age. As many as 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults have asthma. The inflammation
and hyper responsiveness cause airways to respond to a variety of triggers such as: colds and chest infections,
exercise or sports, pollen, flowers, grass, plants or trees, perfume, tobacco smoke, aerosol and pump sprays,
dust, cold air, or pets. When exposed to triggers that affect you, which may cause increased production of mucus,
the smooth muscle that wraps around the airways tightens. The result of all these changes is airway narrowing
which in turn brings on the common symptoms of asthma: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of
breath.
Up to 72% of asthmatics reported that their asthma is triggered by fragrance. Regardless of the trigger, whether it
is caused by allergies, or environmental irritants, medication is needed to reduce the inflammation. If triggers are
avoided as much as possible, less medication may be needed to control the condition. An allergist may diagnose
asthma, based on symptoms, skin and respiratory testing. Resource: http://www.on.lung.ca
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that affect the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). This sugar is
vital to your health because it is your body's main source of fuel. Normally, glucose is able to enter your cells
because of the action of insulin; a hormone secreted by your pancreas. Insulin acts like a key to unlock
microscopic doors that allow glucose into your cells. However, in diabetes, this process goes awry. Instead of
being transported into your cells, glucose accumulates in your bloodstream and eventually is excreted in your
urine. This usually occurs either because your body does not produce enough insulin or because the cells do not
respond to insulin properly.
Diabetes mainly occurs in two forms: Type I develops when your pancreas makes little or no insulin. Type 2, is
caused by lifestyle and occurs when your body is resistant to the effects of insulin or your pancreas produces
some, but not enough to maintain a normal glucose level. Education (and for many people medication) is vital to
managing this “invisible disability”. Reduce your risk of developing Type II diabetes by talking to your doctor about
prevention, eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a normal weight, and managing stress.
Resources: http://www.diabetes.ca and http://www.mayoclinic.com/
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What is Environmental Sensitivity?
Environmental Sensitivity (ES) has also been called Environmental Hypersensitivity (EH), Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity (MCS), or Environmental Illness (EI). The Ontario Human Rights Commission classifies Environmental
Sensitivity as a “non-evident or invisible disability”, which must be accommodated with dignity and respect. All
persons with disabilities must be ‘individually’ accommodated up to the point of “undue hardship.”
People who are environmentally sensitive develop symptoms from exposure to very low levels of chemicals levels that do not cause symptoms in most people. Being near cigarette smoke, perfume, scented personal care
products, scented household cleaning products, air fresheners, candles, flowers, pesticides, fresh paint, newly
renovated rooms, new carpeting, or car exhaust may cause an asthma attack, a severe headache or a "spaced
out" feeling. Exposure to chemicals for persons with environmental sensitivity can cause symptoms such as
fatigue, headaches, confusion, memory loss, depression, nausea. It may also affect the cardiovascular system,
cause heart palpitations, raise blood pressure, or cause an epilepsy-like seizure. Symptoms resemble an allergic
reaction but the biological mechanisms are different. Up to 30% of the population is environmentally sensitive.
Avoidance of triggers is the key to feeling well and symptom free. Many Canadian universities including the
University of Windsor (as of December 2005), have developed and implemented “Scent-free” guidelines or
policies in order to accommodate persons with environmental sensitivities, asthma, allergies, and other health
problems. In doing so, these universities are aiming to create an inclusive, barrier-free environment, which is
conducive to learning.
The University of Windsor’s Special Needs Annex which is housed in the basement of the Leddy Library, room
G104, is a “Fragrance Free Zone” (January 2004). Students are asked to respect this fragrance free zone. Only
environmentally friendly cleaning products are used in the Annex. The “new” University of Windsor Scent-free
guidelines states that “In consideration of the difficulties that exposure to scented products cause sensitive
individuals, the University encourages faculty, staff, students and visitors to avoid the use of scented personal
care products.”
Helpful Tip:
A little dab of pure vanilla extract is a good substitute for perfume. It is most unlikely that anyone would
react to vanilla, as it is not derived from petrochemicals, unlike almost all perfumes and other scented
personal care products.
Resources: Please view the ‘new’ University of Windsor scent-free guidelines http://www.uwindsor.ca/equity
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/environmental/sensitivities/index.html
Fragranced Products Information Network Website: http://www.fpinva.org/
We hope you have found this issue interesting and informative, and invite you to view every issue.
This Newsletter is an exciting initiative of the University of Windsor Special Needs Advisory Committee (SNAC)
SNAC Chair: Karen Roland, Employment Equity Manager, Phone: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 2057, Email:
roland1@uwindsor.ca Websites: www.uwindsor.ca/accessibility and www.uwindsor.ca/campusaccess
Awareness & Access Newsletter Produced by: Joyce Teron teron@uwindsor.ca
Chair & Editor: Beth Oakley
Contributions by: Joyce Teron and Beth Oakley
Websites: http://www.uwindsor.ca/sn and http://www.uwindsor.ca/snac
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