Educational institutions have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations that promote equity for people who have disabilities. To adhere to their legal obligation, provincial/territorial governments provide publicly funded colleges and universities with operating funds to set up special services for students with disabilities.
Publicly funded colleges and universities operate an Accessibility Services (AS) office to coordinate and provide accommodations and services to students with disabilities. Different institutions have different names for this office. Many schools use the word 'disability' or 'accessibility' in their office name, such as Disability Services Office or Accessibility Centre. The word ‘accessibility’ is becoming more commonly used, as it reflects that the emphasis should be on the environment rather than the individual to adapt and become accessible. The specific name and location of the office at each college or university can be found under Accessibility Services on each school’s page in the Colleges and Universities sections.
Staff at AS offices assist students in a variety of ways. Given that each student’s needs are unique, services and accommodations are established on an individual basis and based on the documentation of the student’s disability. A complete list of services and required documentation will either be available on the website of each post-secondary institution or by contacting them directly.
The Accessibility Services office has several responsibilities in supporting students:
In order to arrange for accommodations, incoming students with disabilities must arrange and attend an intake appointment with the AS office (returning students will need to re-register with the office each year, but they will not need an intake appointment). Students will be required to complete forms and submit documentation, often in advance of the meeting. During the intake meeting students will meet with their advisor/counsellor and determine which accommodations and resources they will use. Often, students will be given a letter of accommodation to share with professors in order to receive their in class and exam accommodations.
Tips for your intake meeting at the Accessibility Services Office
Each institution will have its own policies and procedures regarding the required documentation to show proof of a disability. An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) from secondary school provides background information, but it is not enough for post-secondary supports. Students are required to provide documentation from a qualified practitioner that confirms a diagnosis or permanent disability. Staff at the AS office can assist students in obtaining up-to-date documentation or assessments as needed.
Be sure to check with the office at each institution to determine specifically what documentation requirements that they have.
Some common requirements are:
Accommodations can address barriers related to: vision, hearing, mobility, processing speed, executive functioning, written expression and any other disability-related challenge. Accommodations do not give students an unfair advantage in their course work; they are designed to address specific barriers and are determined for each student on a case-by-case basis.
Accessibility Advisors at each school review the documentation of students with disabilities and determine which accommodations each student needs. Types of accommodations may include:
It is important to remember that the laws that regulate accommodations at college and university are different than those for high school. Many post-secondary institutions require more specific and comprehensive documentation to show proof of a disability than is required in high school (especially for ADHD and learning disabilities). Incoming students will not automatically receive the same accommodations at college or university that they received at high school. To discuss available accommodations, students should contact their post-secondary school directly.