about
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia is driven by a single goal; to change the narrative for persons with disabilities by doing our part in raising awareness and taking action on disability issues. The events and initiatives hosted during this week are informed by first voice using a disability lens to ensure inclusion and accessibility for everyone.
Nova Scotia was the first province in Canada to champion Access Awareness Week as an extension of Rick Hansen’s 1987 Man in Motion World Tour. During this initiative Rick and his team wheeled through 34 countries raising awareness about the potential of people with disabilities and the possibility of creating accessible and inclusive communities.
For 40 years, Nova Scotians have organized community events, press conferences, forums, concerts and lectures during Access Awareness Week to bring attention to the importance of removing barriers for people with disabilities. Through public awareness, community partnerships education and dialogue, Access Awareness Week aims to foster an environment of equitable participation for persons with disabilities.
The pioneering work of the disability community has made significant advances in the past, but much work remains to fully recognize the rights of all Nova Scotians and create a barrier-free province by 2030. Access Awareness Week gives Nova Scotians a chance to learn about the work of disability advocates and leaders across the province, while better understanding the barriers that still exist for persons with disabilities.
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia 2027 is from May 30 to June 5, 2027!
Check Out AAWNS Events!
Learn about events hosted by PAANS and community events across the province. You can also submit a community event here!
Participate by Taking Action!
Want to know how you can participate in Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia? Check out all the actions you can take and the resources to help you out!
Learn More About PAANS
Partnership for Access Awareness Nova Scotia (PAANS), a committee under NSLEO plans and hosts Access Awareness Week in Nova Scotia.
AAWNS Media Kit
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Toolkit
Actions to Share To Your Networks!
- Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia is from May 31st – June 6th, 2026.
- Host an event between May 31st – June 6th, 2026! You can submit your event on our Community Event Submission Form.
- We have event funding available of $100 for events that are happening during the week. Deadline is May 1, 2026 at 4:30 PM.
- Order AAWNS Flag to spark conversation about access awareness.
- Share about access awareness such as First Voice experiences, resources, improvements, and celebrations. We have general resources for the week.
- Check out the events and activities that are happening in Nova Scotia from May 31st – June 6th, 2026. Events will be updated as we get closer to the week!
Resources and Templates
Hosting a proclamation for Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia? We have our 2026 Proclamation Template available. It will automatically download Word document when clicked.
Help us share the word with our Save the Date Social Media Campaign. (Last Updated Apr. 29, 2026)
Feel like hitting the share button instead? NSLEO shares the posts for Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia. We have a Facebook post and Instagram post available. Follow NSLEO on Facebook and Instagram for updates!
We have press releases coming soon that you can also share to your networks. Stay tuned!
Digital Materials Available
Media Inquires
Questions about Toolkit?
Amanda Hendrie (she/her)
Email: programs@nsleo.com
You can access the Toolkit document for all of the key information.
AAWNS Materials
Order AAWNS Flag!
We have flags with the Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia logo available to order.
Price of 1 Flag: $75 plus shipping
You can order by filling out the form or emailing ed@nsleo.com with the following information
- Your Name
- Your Email
- Your Phone Number
- Your Organization
- Your full mailing address
- Number of Flag(s) to Order
If you have any questions or concerns about the materials or your order, please email ed@nsleo.com.
Order by May 15, 2026 to ensure that your flag can arrive on time.
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Flag Form
The math question next to the “Place Order” button is a captcha question for spam protection. If you are not comfortable with the math question, please use the option of emailing the information to ed@nsleo.com
AAWNS Media Kit
Digital Materials
Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Logos
Main AAWNS Logo – Right-click on image to save image or click here to download.
Black AAWNS Logo (for printing black and white) – Right-click in image to save image or click here to download.
White AAWNS Logo (for dark backgrounds) – Right-click on image to save image or click here to download.
Postcard Available to Download!
We have our Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia postcard in a PDF ready to download for your use.
This postcard is a 4X6 picture size. For best results, please set individual printers be set to print on both sides and to use cardstock to replicate the postcards we have available.
Front of Postcard
Description: Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia logo on the left side of the postcard. The title “Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia” is next to the logo on the right.
Back of Postcard
Description: Information relating to Access Awareness Week. Text states “Did you know? 2 in 5 Nova Scotians live with a disability. Since 1987 Access Awareness Week has been an annual celebration to promote accessibility and encourage Nova Scotians to take action on issues that impact persons with disabilities.” At the bottom of the postccard is a logo of Facebook and Instagrma to follow NSLEO on the left. On the right is a QR code to send people to aawns.ca. aawns.ca and www.nsleo.com is written below for people who cannot access the QR code.
Government of Nova Scotia | Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia Images
