1) Competition Period (October 2, 2023 – February 2, 2024)
The "Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) Competition" (the "Competition") is coordinated by the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility OHREA at the University of Windsor (the "Administrator") in collaboration with the EPiCentre and will take place at the University of Windsor from October 2, 2023 through to February 2, 2024 at 11:59 pm (EST) (the "Competition Period").
By entering the Contest, you accept these Rules and agree to be bound by them and the interpretation of these Rules by the Administrator. If you are under the age of majority in Ontario, you represent and warrant that your parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) also accept these Rules (for themselves and on your behalf) and agree to be bound by them and the interpretation of these Rules by the Administrator.
2) Competition Group
For the purposes of the Competition, the “Competition Group” is composed of the Administrator, those who are members of the Competition Working Group, and those on the Selection Panel. Information concerning the composition of the Working Group and the Selection Panel can be accessed on request to the Administrator.
3) Eligibility
The Competition is open to all individuals who: a) reside in Ontario (both domestic and international); and b) are enrolled as a student (full or part-time) at the University of Windsor in either the Fall 2023 semester and/or the Winter 2024 semester.
4) Methods of Entry
For the purposes of this contest, all submissions will be required to be submitted electronically. Submissions will not be considered if they do not comply with one of the below guidelines (“Submission(s)”). For the purposes of this Competition, all Entrants will own any Intellectual Property or work products presented in their Submissions subject to a non-exclusive license in favour of the University of Windsor and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario for the purposes set out in these Rules. The Submission period for all Electronic Format Submissions will start on October 2, 2023 and close on February 2, 2024 at 11:59 pm (EST).
4.1) General Guidelines for Acceptable Forms of Electronic Format Submissions: In addition to meeting all requirements outlined in the Submission guidelines (section 4.1 to 4.8 below), all Entrants shall specify on their Submission the Category (outlined in Section 6) under which their Submission is to be entered (e.g. Attitudinal). All submissions must include up-to-date contact information, the title of your IDeA submission, the name of the primary contact person, a list of all team members if applicable and student numbers, the area of study and degree program, your permanent (home) mailing address, phone number, and UWindsor email address.
Follow this link to learn more about the specific formats of submission (4.2 PDF documents, 4.3 Videos, 4.4 Websites, 4.5 Alternative Electronic Submissions, 4.6 Disqualification, 4.7 Accessible Formatting).
4.8) By making an electronic submission, the Entrant: i) represents and warrants that he/she has obtained all necessary consents, approvals, permissions, licenses and other documents relating to the Submission that may be required from the participants or any other third party to permit the uses of the Submission or any part thereof as contemplated in these Rules, including, without limitation, any waiver of moral rights; ii) represents and warrants that it is the owner of the Submission and grants the Competition Group and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario an unlimited, worldwide, perpetual, royalty- free, license and right to publish, use, publicly perform the Electronic Format Submission in any way, in any and all media, without limitation, and without consideration; and (iii) agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold the Contest Group harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, and damages (including, without limitation, legal fees) related to the Submission, or usage of the Submission by the Contest Group in any manner; and (iv) waives any moral rights the Entrant may have in the Submission.
5) Entrant Groups
In the event that there are groups or teams of multiple individuals working on one Submission (“Entrant Group”), a single member of the Entrant Group should designate one individual who constitutes an Entrant as outlined in these Rules. This individual will need to be compliant with all Rules set out in this document.
6) Categories and Criteria
6.1 General Categories: Successful Concepts will: address a tangible accessibility issue; include consultation with people with disabilities in some way; be cost-effective and innovative; and consider accessibility at every step of the development process. Submissions not in an accessible format will be disqualified. Entrants’ Submissions must be categorized into one (1) of five (5) possible categories (“Category”) addressing accessibility barriers as outlined by the Government of Ontario in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). They are as follows: 1. Organizational / Systemic, 2. Information or Communications; 3. Technology; 4. Attitudinal, 5. Architectural and Physical
7) Judging
7.1) The judging panel (“Judging Panel”) will be composed at the sole discretion of the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility of the University of Windsor.
7.2) The judging process will proceed as follows: a) All submissions can be reviewed at no cost to the entrant by the IDeA UWindsor coordinator if contacted by e-mail at idea@uwindsor.ca latest by two business days before the submission deadline. b) All Final Submissions must be received by the Administrator from all Entrants by February 2, 2024 at 11:59 pm (EST). c) The Administrator will then forward Final Submissions to a panel of judges (“Judging Panel”). d) All entrants will be expected to make a presentation to the Judging Panel on February 8, 2023. More details about the exact date, time and venue will be made available to all Entrants once final submissions have been received. e) The Judging Panel will select a winner using the following process: i) Members of the Judging Panel will review all submissions and presentations and shortlist up to four finalists. ii) The Judging Panel shall then select winners from the four finalists by scoring each submission and presentation.
7.3) Decisions of the Administrator are final in all matters.
8) Prize(s)
8.1) There are a total of four (4) prizes available to be won that consist of five hundred dollars ($500 - First Place), two hundred and fifty dollars ($250 - Second Place), one hundred and fifty dollars ($150 - Third Place), and one hundred dollars ($100 - Fourth Place). The prize amount will be applied to the selected Entrant's UWinCARD.
8.2) In cases where an Entrant Group’s submission wins a prize, the Administrator shall divide the winning prize amount by the number of Entrants in the Entrant Group and apply the applicable amount to each of the Entrant’s UwinCARD. The prizes listed in 8.1 apply per winning submission, not per member of an Entrant Group.
8.3) Finalists may qualify to represent the University of Windsor in any subsequent IDeA competitions organized by the Council of Ontario Universities.
9) Awarding of Prize(s)
The Administrator shall use reasonable efforts to contact the selected Entrant via the email address provided by such selected Entrant in their Submission within five (5) days after the presentations, and in addition to meeting the Competition eligibility criteria and otherwise complying with these Rules, to be declared the winner, the selected Entrant must: i) respond to the e-mail from the Administrator or its representatives notifying them of their selection; ii) sign and have witnessed the declaration and release documentation provided by the Administrator and return it to the address indicated in the documentation.
9.1) Disqualification: If any one of the conditions mentioned above is not met, the selected Entrant will be disqualified and shall not be entitled to receive any prize, and the Administrator reserves the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to select another eligible Entrant as a potential Prize winner.
9.2) Announcement: The winner(s) will be announced at the Accessibility Awareness Days event to be held at the University of Windsor.
9.3) Delivery of Prize: Following receipt of the selected Entrant’s signed declaration and release documentation, the Administrator, or its representatives, will send to the selected Entrant an e-mail, informing them that their prize will be applied to their UwinCARD.
10) General Terms and Conditions
10.1) Verification of Submissions: The validity of any Submission is subject to verification by the Administrator. Any illegible, incomplete or fraudulent Submissions will be disqualified. Any Entrant or other individual who enters or attempts to enter the Competition in a manner that is contrary to these Rules or that is otherwise disruptive to the proper operation of the Competition or by its nature is unjust to other Entrants or potential Entrants will be disqualified. All decisions made by the Administrator or its representatives, including without limitation those concerning the eligibility or disqualification of Entrants, are final and binding without right of appeal. All Submissions become the property of the Administrator and none will be returned.
10.2) Acceptance of Prize: The Prize must be accepted as described in these Rules and cannot be returned, transferred to another individual, substituted for another prize or exchanged in whole or in part.
10.3) Substitution of Prize: The Administrator reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, and for any reason whatsoever, to substitute for any prize, or part thereof, another prize of equivalent or greater value, without limitation. Such substituted prize shall be subject to these Rules as though it was the Prize.