Participating in the IDeA Competition has three parts: 1) The IDEA; 2) The SUBMISSION, and; 3) The PITCH.
1.The IDEA
IDeA is a UWindsor student competition aimed to inspire our students to create innovative and effective ideas that can resolve accessibility barriers. Students can submit their original idea to potentially eliminate/reduce an accessibility barrier(s). No physical prototype is required. Students can enter in groups or alone. The content is open to all UWindsor students - undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time.
How to get started:
- Think of an idea that addresses barriers to accessibility. Your IDeA must be original and your own work.
- Collaborate with your community. Feel free to find community inspiration from the Previous Winners page or build upon a relationship you may have already established. Demonstration that you have consulted with the community and persons with disabilities is a criterion for judging entries.
- Create a presentation that showcases your idea professionally. Please consider the following when preparing your presentation:
- Does your presentation represent your idea in a professional manner?
- Does your presentation convey all important elements of your concept or design?
- Is your presentation in an accessible format?
Follow this link to learn more about creating accessible documents
2.The SUBMISSION
To enter the contest, you must submit a cover page and a submission:
- Cover page should include all the information below:
- Title of your IDeA submission
- Name (primary contact person)
- List all team members (if applicable) and student numbers
- Area of study (indicate your faculty or department and your degree program)
- UWindsor email address
- Permanent (or home) mailing address
- Phone number
- Select a category – identify one of the five (5) options: Attitudinal Barriers, Organizational or Systemic Barriers, Architectural or Physical Barriers, Information or Communication Barriers, Technological Barriers
- Submission
Entrants are required to submit their IDeA. It could be a PDF, a video, a website, or an alternative format.
Follow this link to the Submission Formats section of this website
Email the cover page and submission to idea@uwindsor.ca by February 2, 2024, 11:59 pm.
3. The PITCH (presentation)
A Judging Panel will take place on February 8, 2024 from 1:00-4:00 pm
- All presentations will have a 30 minute slot in total for their presentation and questions from the judges
- All groups/individuals will be provided with up to 15 minutes to present their idea to a panel of experts.
- Judges will then have the remainder of the 30 minute slot to ask presenters questions regarding their idea.
- No prototype is required but ensure that your presentation covers the evaluation criteria that the judges will be using.
Evaluation criteria:
- the objectives of the competition are supported
- a solution to an accessibility barrier is presented in a clear, concise, and innovative way
- demonstrate that the needs of persons with disabilities were considered (including consultation with the community and/or persons with disabilities)
- demonstrate that the idea is cost-effective
- demonstrate the potential for practical applications
- demonstrate that the IDeA is unique or different from other or similar solutions
The Panel
Upon completion of the presentation, the panel of expert judges may choose to award some or all of the four (4) designated prizes based upon the criteria listed above. All decisions made by the judges are final.
Remember the following:
- Ensure that your submission complies with the Rules and Regulations
Send your submission to idea@uwindsor.ca during the competition open period (Competition opens October 2, 2023 and closes February 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.)