Ontario, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/careerplanning/disabilities.html#display
Students with Disabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do to prepare for postsecondary education or training?
When should I start planning?
Who do I talk to at college or university about my disability and my needs?
All colleges and universities in Ontario have an office for students with disabilities, or a
disability services office. It's your responsibility to contact staff at the office, identify
yourself as a student with a disability and work with staff to determine the type of
accommodation you need.
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What can disability services office staff do?
Arrange educational accommodations
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Teach you how to use assistive devices and technology, if you require them
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Help you develop a learning strategy and plan
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Help you register for classes
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Connect you with other valuable resources on campus, such as writing workshops,
tutoring services or local support organizations
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Help you access non-educational supports (such as attendant care)
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Make your transition to college or university smoother by introducing you to the school
and the office for students with disabilities at a summer orientation
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Tell you about the accessibility of labs and classroom
Learn more about the types of supports that might be available to you.

How do I set up educational accommodations?
You must provide documentation regarding your disability. Check with staff at the
disability services office to find out what type of documentation you should provide.
Some of the documents you may be asked for include:
Medical documentation from a physician confirming your disability
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An audiology report from a qualified practitioner
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A psychological assessment from a qualified practitioner diagnosing a learning disability
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Medical documentation from a qualified practitioner diagnosing a mental health illness or
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
If you have them, it may be helpful to include other documents such as:

Individual Education Plan (IEP)
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Transition Plans
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Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) forms
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These may help you access temporary supports while you compile the required
documentation.
If you do not have the required documentation, or it is out of date, speak with staff at the
office for students with disabilities. They can guide you through the process of getting
these documents.
Who do I contact if I want to be an apprentice?
If you are completing your in-class training at a location other than a public college,
contact your in-class training provider to discuss your accommodation needs. Learn more
about training as an apprentice.
What if I want to go to a private career college?
Contact Student Services at the institution you plan to attend.
See the list below for links to resource centres for Students With Disabilities at
Ontario publicly-assisted universities and colleges.
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Universities
Colleges
Algoma University
Learning Centre/Special Needs Office
Algonquin College
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Brock University
Services for Students with disABILITIES
Cambrian College
Glenn Crombie Centre
Carleton University
Paul Menton Centre for Students with
Disabilities
Canadore College
Canadore AccessAbility Services!
Lakehead University
Learning Assistance Centre
Centennial College
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Laurentian University
Special Needs Office
Collège Boréal
Besoins particuliers
McMaster University
Centre for Student Development: Services for
Students with Disabilities
Conestoga College
Disability Services Office
Nipissing University
Disability Services
Confederation College
The Learning Centre
OCAD University
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Durham College
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Queen's University
Health, Counselling and Disability Services
Fanshawe College
Disability Services
Ryerson University
Fleming College
Access Centre
Learning Support Services
Trent University
Disability Services Office
George Brown College
Disability Services
University of Guelph
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Georgian College
Centre for Access and Disability
Services
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Humber College
Disability Services
University of Ottawa
Access Service
La Cité collégiale
Services des besoins spéciaux
University of Toronto
Accessibility Services
Lambton College
Services for Students with Disabilities
University of Waterloo
Office for Persons with Disabilities
Loyalist College
Student Office for Alternative Resources
University of Western Ontario
Services for Students with Disabilities
Mohawk College
Disability Services
University of Windsor
Student Disability Services
Niagara College
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Wilfrid Laurier University
Accessible Learning
Northern College
Centre for Students with DisABILITIES
York University
Counselling and Disability Services
St. Clair College
Disability Services
St. Lawrence College
Disability Services and Special Needs
Sault College
Disability Services Office
Seneca College
Disability Services Office
Sheridan College
Disability Services Office
As a student with a disability, what are my responsibilities?
As a student with a disability, what are my responsibilities?
You are responsible for:


Providing the required documentation of your disability to the office for students with
disabilities.
Setting up meetings to access the supports and resources available through the office for
students with disabilities. Remember that some accommodations – for example,
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
textbooks in an alternate format or the services of a sign-language interpreter – may
require extra time to arrange.
Meeting the requirements and deadlines you agree to with staff at the office for students
with disabilities.
Managing your time – class work, attendance and study time. Although staff at the office
for students with disabilities will provide reasonable educational accommodations, you
are responsible for your academic success.
How should I disclose my disability, when and to whom?
It is a personal choice if you want to share information about your disability with others.
However, if you require educational accommodations in college or university, you need
to disclose your disability to a counsellor in the office for students with disabilities. They
can set up the accommodations and provide other support. You should talk to them as
early as possible.
It is up to you whether you want to share information about your disability with anyone
else, such as your professors or your peers. Although you should discuss your
accommodations with your professors, you do not have to disclose your disability to
them.
How can I ensure that my educational accommodation needs are being met?
You need to advocate for yourself. Talk to your disability counsellor, who will work
with you and your educators to ensure that the appropriate disability accommodations and
services are in place. You may also ask for a referral to a local community agency or
organization that can help support you.
As a parent, what are my responsibilities as my son or daughter makes the
transition to college or university?
Parents and other guardians should support their son or daughter with the transition into
postsecondary education.
Help your son or daughter identify the resources he or she will need to succeed and how
to access them.

Support your son or daughter as he or she develops and strengthens their self-advocacy
skills. Often, he or she will have to deal independently with any issues that arise at
college or university. Knowing how to self-advocate is crucial.

Talk with your son or daughter to find out how involved he or she wants you to be – and
respect his or her choices. Because most students are over 18, staff at the disability
services office must have a student's permission to disclose information to others,
including their parents. Talk with your child to establish an information-sharing
arrangement you are all comfortable with.
As an educator, what are my responsibilities when teaching students with
disabilities?
You are required to accommodate students with disabilities as determined by the student
and the disability counsellor at your institution's office for students with disabilities. You
need to know the type of accommodations to provide, but not the nature of the disability.
What kinds of supports are available to help me at school?
The office for students with disabilities can provide you with different types of supports.
Learn more about what types of supports you might receive, and how they might differ
from what you were used to in high school.
I was identified as a student with an exceptionality in high school. Will this apply at
college or university?
Your identification as a student with an exceptionality in high school will not
automatically transfer to college or university. A student with an exceptionality in high
school is different from a student with a disability in college or university.
In elementary and secondary school, a committee decides if a student should be placed in
a special education program.
In college and university, you must identify yourself as a student with a disability and
provide documented proof of your disability (from a certified practitioner) to staff at the
disability services office. Check with staff at the disability services office to find out what
documentation you need to provide in order to receive educational accommodations and
other supports. Documentation of the services you received in high school will not be
enough.
In high school, some of my courses were modified. Will this continue in college or
university?
In elementary and secondary school, an educational modification means that changes are
made to the expectations for a subject or course to correspond to the capabilities of the
student. For example, you may be asked to complete work at a different grade level or
complete a different amount of work.
Educational modifications are not available in college or university. Instead, you may
receive an educational accommodation. Accommodations are available for students in
elementary, secondary and postsecondary education. Accommodations don't change the
level or amount of work you are expected to complete. Instead, they are resources or
services to provide you with an equal opportunity to complete the work, should you
require them.
Educational accommodations may include: alternate format textbooks and other
materials, the use of assistive technology, alternate testing locations or extended time for
tests. Accommodations are designed to meet your individual needs.
Are there any postsecondary programs that I can't enrol in because of my
disability?
Generally speaking, if you meet the entry requirements and are accepted into a
postsecondary program, you can enrol in the program of your choice.
However, you should look at the graduation requirements for the program you are
interested in. Make sure you will be able to complete these requirements. For example,
some programs require students to complete an internship, co-op term or practicum
placement.
If you feel unsure that you will be able to complete all the program requirements, talk to a
counsellor at the disability services office or to a representative from the program. They
can help you determine if you can complete the requirements or if you need to consider
other program options.
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Can my college or university provide any non-educational, disability-related
supports?
Postsecondary education is about a lot more than classes and tests! If you're living on
your own, you might need to find accessible housing, attendant care and/or accessible
transportation around campus and in town.
For more information, contact staff at the disability services office. They can answer
these questions or direct you to the appropriate campus or local resource.
How do I pay for my education? Is there special funding for students with disabilities?
Learn more about the many resources to help you pay for your postsecondary education.
Where else can I look for information?
If you still have questions, there are lots of informative websites to help you!
What can I do to prepare for postsecondary education while I'm in high school?
Transition Planning for Secondary School Students
A guide to help teachers, other educators working with students with special needs and
students and their families plan for life after secondary school.
Regulation 181/98
An overview of the Ontario regulation which requires that all school boards set up an
Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC).
Individual Education Plan (IEP) Resource Guide
A guide to help teachers and others working with students with special needs to develop
and implement IEPs.
Shared Solutions
A guide to preventing and resolving conflicts regarding programs and services for
students with special education needs.
What are my rights?
Ontario Human Rights Commission
An arm's length agency of the provincial government that administers the provincial
Human Rights Code. The Human Rights Commission website also has education-specific
information.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005
Provincial legislation which aims to achieve accessibility for all Ontarians by 2025.
Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001
Precursor to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2005
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
The provincial ministry which guides and leads Ontario's health care system, including
providing information about attendant care services.
Other Resources
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College Committee on Disability Issues
An association of counsellors and other staff who work in college offices for students
with disabilities
Your Education – Your Future
Canadian Mental Health Association's guide for college and university students with
psychiatric disabilities.
Inter-University Disability Issues Association
An association of counsellors and other staff who work in university offices for students
with disabilities
National Educational Association of Disabled Students
A student-run organization that encourages the self-empowerment of students with
disabilities
Transitions Longitudinal Study Annual Reports
Transitions is a study that follows the progress of over 200 persons with learning
disabilities as they experience different transitions, such as into postsecondary education
and into the work force. The study is being conducted by the Learning Disabilities
Association of Canada, a national non-profit voluntary association for persons with
learning disabilities. Visit their Youth2Youth website.
Ontario Programs for People with Disabilities
A list of programs and services for people with disabilities in Ontario, including some
which are available for students with disabilities.
You can also talk with your teachers or guidance counsellors, or contact the disability
services office at thecollege or university you are considering.
Meeting the requirements and deadlines you agree to with staff at the
office for students with disabilities.
Managing your time – class work, attendance and study time.
Although staff at the office for students with disabilities will provide
reasonable educational accommodations, you are responsible for your
academic success.
How should I disclose my disability, when and to whom?
It is a personal choice if you want to share information about your
disability with others.
However, if you require educational accommodations in college or
university, you need to disclose your disability to a counsellor in
the office for students with disabilities. They can set up the
accommodations and provide other support. You should talk to them
as early as possible.
It is up to you whether you want to share information about your
disability with anyone else, such as your professors or your peers.
Although you should discuss your accommodations with your
professors, you do not have to disclose your disability to them.
How can I ensure that my educational accommodation needs
are being met?
You need to advocate for yourself. Talk to your disability counsellor,

who will work with you and your educators to ensure that the
appropriate disability accommodations and services are in place. You
may also ask for a referral to a local community agency or
organization that can help support you.
As a parent, what are my responsibilities as my son or
daughter makes the transition to college or university?
Parents and other guardians should support their son or daughter with
the transition into postsecondary education.
Help your son or daughter identify the resources he or she will need to
succeed and how to access them.

Support your son or daughter as he or she develops and strengthens
their self-advocacy skills. Often, he or she will have to deal
independently with any issues that arise at college or university.
Knowing how to self-advocate is crucial.

Talk with your son or daughter to find out how involved he or she
wants you to be – and respect his or her choices. Because most
students are over 18, staff at the disability services office must have a
student's permission to disclose information to others, including their
parents. Talk with your child to establish an information-sharing
arrangement you are all comfortable with.
As an educator, what are my responsibilities when teaching
students with disabilities?
You are required to accommodate students with disabilities as
determined by the student and the disability counsellor at your
institution's office for students with disabilities. You need to know the
type of accommodations to provide, but not the nature of the
disability.
What kinds of supports are available to help me at school?
The office for students with disabilities can provide you with different
types of supports. Learn more about what types of supports you might
receive, and how they might differ from what you were used to in high
school.
I was identified as a student with an exceptionality in high
school. Will this apply at college or university?
Your identification as a student with an exceptionality in high school
will not automatically transfer to college or university. A student with
an exceptionality in high school is different from a student with a
disability in college or university.
In elementary and secondary school, a committee decides if a student
should be placed in a special education program.
In college and university, you must identify yourself as a student with
a disability and provide documented proof of your disability (from a
certified practitioner) to staff at the disability services office. Check
with staff at the disability services office to find out what
documentation you need to provide in order to receive educational
accommodations and other supports. Documentation of the services
you received in high school will not be enough.
In high school, some of my courses were modified. Will this
continue in college or university?
In elementary and secondary school, an educational modification
means that changes are made to the expectations for a subject or
course to correspond to the capabilities of the student. For example,
you may be asked to complete work at a different grade level or
complete a different amount of work.
Educational modifications are not available in college or university.
Instead, you may receive an educational accommodation.
Accommodations are available for students in elementary, secondary
and postsecondary education. Accommodations don't change the level
or amount of work you are expected to complete. Instead, they are
resources or services to provide you with an equal opportunity to
complete the work, should you require them.
Educational accommodations may include: alternate format textbooks
and other materials, the use of assistive technology, alternate testing
locations or extended time for tests. Accommodations are designed to
meet your individual needs.
Are there any postsecondary programs that I can't enrol in
because of my disability?
Generally speaking, if you meet the entry requirements and are
accepted into a postsecondary program, you can enrol in the program
of your choice.
However, you should look at the graduation requirements for the
program you are interested in. Make sure you will be able to complete
these requirements. For example, some programs require students to
complete an internship, co-op term or practicum placement.
If you feel unsure that you will be able to complete all the program
requirements, talk to a counsellor at the disability services office or to
a representative from the program. They can help you determine if
you can complete the requirements or if you need to consider other
program options.
Can my college or university provide any non-educational,
disability-related supports?
Postsecondary education is about a lot more than classes and tests! If
you're living on your own, you might need to find accessible housing,
attendant care and/or accessible transportation around campus and in
town.
For more information, contact staff at the disability services office.
They can answer these questions or direct you to the appropriate
campus or local resource.
How do I pay for my education? Is there special funding for students with disabilities?
Learn more about the many resources to help you pay for your
postsecondary education.