Students with Disabilities

In college and university, your classes, teachers, workload and lifestyle may be very different than in high school. It is important that you prepare yourself as much as possible for the transition. You may need to take certain high school credits to meet entry requirements or you may need to start saving money to pay for tuition and other expenses. You also may need to arrange specific supports due to your disability. Follow these easy steps to help prepare.

1. Talk to a counsellor at the office for students with disabilities or a high school teacher or counsellor about getting help to adjust to the different work load, class schedule, teacher-student relationship and other lifestyle changes that come with postsecondary education.

They can also help you identify learning strategies and develop personal time management and organizational skills so that you're ready from Day One of college or university.

Learn more about what to do to prepare for postsecondary education whether you’re currently in high school or if you've been away from school for a while.

2. In college and university you have to advocate for yourself to ensure you get the supports you need.
This includes:

• Understanding your disability
• Knowing and being able to explain your needs
• Knowing when and where to ask for help
• Being aware of your responsibilities

3. If you need educational accommodations – or if you need help accessing any resources on campus or in the community – the staff at the office for students with disabilities can help you. But it's your responsibility to identify yourself to them as a student with a disability, so set up a meeting as soon as possible.

I'm in high school. What can I do now?
Whether you're just starting Grade 9 or you're getting close to graduation, there are some important things you can do in high school to get ready for college or university.

Talk to your teachers or guidance counsellors. They can help you plan which courses to take in high school to prepare for the application and admission process.

If you have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), work with your teachers, guidance counsellors and parents to make sure the plan will keep you on-track for success in high school and in college or university.

Explore your personal interests, learning preferences and future goals. High school is a great time to explore your options and find your passion! Knowing what you want to do, how to get there, and how you’ll adjust to changes along the way will help you prepare for the transition to postsecondary education, and for any other transitions in your future.

Start researching schools and programs. Find out more about Ontario's colleges, universities and apprenticeship training programs. Find out what the admission requirements are, and make sure you're on track to meet them. And contact staff at schools' disability services office for information about their services. It's important to find a school and a program that fits your needs, interests and abilities – and it's never too early to start looking!

Find a college or university program that matches your interests. Find out about the type of work and workload you might have. Look at program requirements for graduation at colleges and universities. If you receive educational modifications in high school, remember that you might not receive the same accommodations at college or university. Make sure you'll be able to handle the workload, and know where to turn for help.

Advocate for yourself. Speak up for yourself, take responsibility for your school work and your future, and talk to your parents, teachers and guidance counsellors about your plans.
If you're considering moving away from home to attend college or university, make sure you're ready for the increased independence.

Practice strong study habits. In college or university, you'll be responsible for managing your class schedule and class work. By getting in the habit of organizing your work, managing your time wisely and using studying methods that work best for you, you're setting yourself up for future success.

I've been out of school for a few years. Where do I start?
Learn about your options. Find out more about the postsecondary options available in Ontario.

Make sure you meet the admission requirements. Visit college or university websites to find out about their specific requirements. If you don't think you have the necessary courses or marks, look into academic upgrading. Or contact your local school board for assistance.

Find out what supports you might qualify for as a mature student and as a student with a disability.

Contact staff at the school you're interested in attending. Staff at the disability services office can help connect you with other resources on campus, if necessary.

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.

What can disability services office staff do?

• Arrange educational accommodations
• Teach you how to use assistive devices and technology, if you require them
• Help you develop a learning strategy and plan
• Help you register for classes
• Connect you with other valuable resources on campus, such as writing workshops, tutoring services or local support organizations
• Help you access non-educational supports (such as attendant care)
• 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
• 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
• An audiology report from a qualified practitioner
• A psychological assessment from a qualified practitioner diagnosing a learning disability
• 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)
• Transition Plans
• Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) forms
• 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.

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, 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.

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.

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

• 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 the college or university you are considering.