Canadian Health Network

Send this to a friend Print-friendly version National Educational Association of Disabled Students Past Articles Subscribe to our Healthlink newsletter

hinking about going (or going back) to college or university, but concerned that the school you are interested in may not be accessible to you because of a disability?

The first year of post-secondary education is a very hectic and often stressful event for adults of all ages and abilities. Whether you are continuing your education right out of high school or have been away from school for many years (very common these days), adjusting to a brand new way of learning, finding the right books for all your classes (if you can find the bookstore) and the right classrooms for your lectures (if you can find the right building) can feel like an initiation ritual all in itself!

For people with certain disabilities the situation is even more complicated, and may even seem impossible, but many things have changed for people with disabilities at Canadian colleges and universities in the past ten years. Significant progress is being made at Canadian post-secondary institutions to fully accommodate people who use wheelchairs, and most offer a wide variety of services to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities and make education equally accessible to everyone.

			Common services for post-secondary students with disabilities
			Designated note-taking If you have difficulty taking notes in class, a student volunteer may be available to take them for you. Assistive technology Many institutions will lend or purchase special devices such as portable computers and audio recorders for you to use for the duration of your studies. Alternative format materials In some cases, standard textbooks can be transferred into a format that works for you (such as Braille, enlarged print, or audio-book). Correspondence courses If limited mobility is a barrier to attending classes, many institutions will allow you to study from home. Designated parking Many institutions offer designated parking for students with disabilities that affect their mobility. Examination accommodations Some institutions will grant you extra time to complete assignments and examinations. Student organizations Many institutions have student organizations where you can get advice about all aspects of college life from other students with disabilities. One on one assistance If you need a sign-language interpreter or just a little extra help with your studying, writing skills, or that one really difficult class; volunteers may be available to work with you in person. Scholarships and bursaries only available to students with disabilities Call your school for information.

The guiding principle behind these services is that all students should have the same opportunity to advance (and prove) their knowledge and skills. True, some programs are very competitive, but most educators recognize that students should be evaluated equally for what they know, not how well they can prove it under standard testing conditions.

For example, a student who has a disability that severely limits how fast he or she can read or write may be granted an appropriate amount of additional time to complete an examination.

Services are not just provided to people with physical disabilities - students with learning disabilities often receive the same level of accommodation.

Jenna* is a 26 year old, first-year Canadian university student, and she has used a wheelchair for most of her life. Like most first-year students, Jenna is not really sure what she wants to do with her life - but since she knows that history interests her she signed up for a full load of mostly history classes.

Like all post-secondary students, Jenna's typical day is a busy one. Here's what her average Monday looks like:

7:30 a.m.
Jenna wakes up in her dorm room and gets ready in the dorm's fully accessible washrooms. Frantically scrambling to find one of her textbooks (it was under that pizza box from Saturday night) she quickly makes her way to class. If she hurries this might be one of those rare Monday mornings where she's actually on time!

8:15 a.m.
The route to all of Jenna's classes is fully wheelchair accessible: where there are stairs, there is also a ramp, and where there is an escalator, there is also an elevator. Some of the older buildings on campus are not conveniently accessible, but she is still always able to get to where she wants to be. Most of Jenna's morning classes are in small rooms where students sit at tables, so if someone from the day before moved a chair into "her" spot, she just sets it aside and pulls up to the table.

11:00 a.m.
Jenna's last class before lunch is a little different: it's booked into an old lecture hall (which resembles and has seats like a movie theater) that holds 300 students. This lecture hall has been adapted to be accessible too, and the best spot in the room just so happens to be the table at the top reserved for people who use wheelchairs. To help out (and make a little money too) Jenna takes especially good notes in this class and photocopies them for a classmate who is deaf.

Lunchtime
Every day at lunch Jenna meets some of her friends at the fully accessible campus food court. Her friend Bev is a nutrition major and tries to get them all to avoid the fast food restaurants, but since Bev was the one who ordered the pizza last Saturday night no one pays much attention.

1:00 p.m.
Jenna only has one class in the afternoon on Mondays, but it's a really long one. It's also the most difficult to get to. The class is held on the second floor of one of the oldest buildings on campus, and to get to the classroom Jenna has to go all the way to the west wing (the classroom is on the east wing) to access a ramp to the second floor. Not happy with the situation, a few weeks ago Jenna called the campus society for students with disabilities, and they set up an appointment for her with a manager from campus building maintenance. It turns out they were not aware of the issue at all, and are meeting with her on Thursday to work out a solution to the problem.

3:00 p.m.
On Mondays after classes Jenna meets up with the campus wheelchair sports club, a very active and athletic group. Today they're playing basketball, but this is no ordinary game - on Mondays the losing team has to foot the bill at the campus coffee house after the game. As usual, Jenna does her best to make sure she's on the winning team!

7:00 p.m.
After dinner Jenna usually relaxes, studies a little and watches television. "Tomorrow," she tells herself, "tomorrow I'll hit the books".

Not every day is quite so relaxing. The midterms and final exams are much different than the ones they give you in high school, and many students have difficulty adjusting to the new academic challenges. Be prepared and don't let the stress get to you.

*Jenna is fictional, but her story reflects many of the positive experiences of past and present university students with disabilities)

College and university aren't free, but there are a number of ways that students with disabilities can reduce the cost of their post-secondary education.

The Canada Study Grants program provides funding for people with permanent disabilities who are eligible for the Canada, Canada-Ontario Integrated, or Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan programs.

You might also want to check the CanLearn Interactive website for answers to questions that many students with disabilities ask about funding their education.

You may also qualify for a Canada Student Loan. Canada Student Loans must ultimately be repaid, but have more forgiving interest rates and repayment plans than a standard loan from your bank.

Most schools have guidance counselors that can help students prepare for the post-secondary experience. They will be able to help you apply for funding (or loans) and can answer many of the questions you might have about the school.

Just call your school and ask to speak with a guidance counselor.

• Clearly inform your school that you have special needs
  
  It is very important to let your school and program administration know that you have special needs as early as possible. In many cases they will be better able to accommodate your needs if they have enough time to prepare.
  
  
• If going to school means moving away from home, make sure that any medical or attendant services you may require are available nearby
  
  This can be as simple as making sure you have access to the exercise equipment you need or as complex as scheduling attendant services or locating a local neurologist who specializes in treating your condition. Never assume when it comes to your health.
  
  
• Find out what services the school offers for people with disabilities
  
  If you are not satisfied with the accessibility of your school, let the administration know. They may not be aware that there is an issue, and they might be able to do something about it. You can find contact information for the office that provides services to people with disabilities at your school by searching the NEADS directory of disability service providers.
  
  
• Determine whether you qualify for any special funding
  
  Don't spend more money than you need to. You might qualify for scholarships, bursaries, or funding from provincial or federal government programs. Check out the NEADS directory of financial aid providers to find out about funding opportunities.
  
  
• Get involved!
  
  Whether you are into athletics, debate, monster movies or video games, being involved in your campus clubs is an important and rewarding part of the post-secondary experience. It's also a great place to show (or learn) leadership skills - you may even want to represent students with disabilities on a campus committee.
  

Moving On - A Guide for Students With Disabilities Making the Transition to Post-Secondary Education (NEADS)