Access Centrefor Students with Disabilities

An Orientation Workshop

For newly registered and/or prospective students and parents to feel comfortable, confident, and clear about how Ryerson’s Access Centre supports students with disabilities

To offer a detailed description of our services and processes, including registration, documentation requirements, and student responsibilities

Workshop Objectives

Monday – Friday, 9am - 4:30pm (closed 12pm - 1pm)

POD 62B, 350 Victoria Street (area connecting Jorgenson Hall to Library)

416-979-5290 accessfrontdesk@ryerson.ca

www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/accesscentre/ @RUAccessCentre

Contact

Introduction & What We Do

Student Services & SLS

How to Register

Confidentiality  OSAP & BSWD

Reminders & Responsibilitie

s

FAQ

Agenda

WHAT WE DO

What We Do: The Roles of the Access Centre

What we DO:

Put accommodations in place

Support students being their own advocates, and advocate on their behalf

Help with BSWD funding Suggest RU and

community resources

What we DON’T DO:

Counselling Therapeutic CSDC Academic Department

Help with housing accommodations Student Housing Services

General Financial Aid Student Financial Assistance

Library or academic research access Diane Michaud (Library Services for

Persons with Disabilities)

What We Do: Other Resources

RYERSON• Counselling (CSDC)• Medical Centre• Health Promotion• Library• Aboriginal Services (R.A.S.S.)• Tri-Mentoring• Discrimination & Harassment• Other SLS Services (to follow)

COMMUNITY • LDAO, LDAC• CAMH, CMHA (Metro)• 519 Church St Community

Ctr.• St. Michael's Hospital • SpringBoard, ADHD Clinic • CogMed, Working Memory

Training • CNIB, CHS

What We Do: Who We Serve

“I live with an invisible disability and as a result started university fearing that this might be a barrier. Ryerson’s Access Centre helped me to thrive at school. Their support has been crucial to my success.”

—4th year student

What We Do: Testimonial

What We Do: What We Believe

Leveling the playing field

STUDENT SERVICES & SLS

STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT

Access Centre for Students

with Disabilities

Student Services & SLS:Where the AC fits…

Writing Centre Math Assistance Centre

Learning Success Centre

English Language Support

Student Services for TRSM

Writing Centre: Scheduled one-on-one

support during ANY stage of the writing process

Students registered with the Access Centre can book two 50-minute sessions per week

Math Assistance Centre: Drop-in individual or

group support for range of math courses

FA-ST facilitated study groups

Learning Success Centre: Scheduled and drop-in

learning strategies support

In-person and online workshops

English Language Support: Scheduled, drop-in, and

Skype support for written and spoken English

Student Services in TRSM: Management-specific

workshops and scheduled, drop-in, and Skype support

HOW TO REGISTER

We assist in setting up academic accommodations for students with

documented disabilities by reviewing disability documentation

and creating an individualized accommodation plan

Thus, to start the registration process it is important to have your disability

documentation in order

How to Register: Initial Thoughts

For students living with ADHD, Asperger’s or an LD: We require a copy of a psycho-educational

assessment (completed within the last 3 - 5 years, or over the age of 18)

Assessments must be completed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist, trained to test for, and diagnose, the condition

How to Register (1/4)

For students living with a medical or mental health condition or sensory impairments: We require the Disability Documentation

Form to be completed by your doctor, specialist, psychologist or psychiatrist who is aware of your disability and can speak to the impact it has on your academics (pick up copy of our medical documentation form)

How to Register (2/4)

Documentation must clearly state functional limitations with recommendations for accommodation required for disability reasons

Must include direct, explained correlation between diagnosis and accommodation(s) recommended

How to Register (3/4)

Common Question: What if I only have an old assessment, or an IEP with no assessment?

You can book a meeting with a Facilitator to discuss options for getting updated assessment completed, but depending on date of assessment or IEP, we may not be able to provide accommodations until a full assessment is received

How to Register: Q

Financial Support: Some workplace insurance plans can help

with updated assessments Check with your service provider to

determine if a psycho-educational assessment would be covered

OSAP loans and bursaries (to follow)

How to Register: Cost Coverage

When documentation acquired, next step is to connect with AC front desk to book registration appointment with an Accommodation Facilitator

Connect with us ASAP, as AC becomes very busy when school year begins (2 - 3 week appt wait times)

Please remember, you must bring/fax appropriate documentation before you can book an appointment

How to Register (4/4)

Please be aware that while we always do our best in getting back to you promptly, the Access Centre is a very busy place:Appointments in September/January: 2-3 weeksAppointments (rest of year): 1-2 weeksReturning e-mails: 2-3 business daysReturning phone calls: 1-2 business days• Note: Please register with us as early on as

you can• Note: The above times are estimates only

A Word on Wait Times…

CONFIDENTIALITY

All AC staff have signed an oath of confidentiality: we will not disclose your info to anyone outside of the AC without your written permission and will NEVER disclose your diagnosis 1. Signed consent to speak with your profs about AC

registration and accommodation2. Confirmation of AC registration 3. Answering profs’ questions/concerns

Confidentiality

Confidentiality: Q

Common Question: What if my mom or dad calls to find out how I am doing, or if I am using my accommodations?

Under our confidentiality agreement, unless specified otherwise, we cannot respond

OSAP & BSWD

Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) & Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE)

Only available to students who APPLY and are ELIGIBLE for OSAP

BSWD

Step 1: Apply for OSAP Funding http://osap.gov.on.ca

Step 2: Meet with Accommodation Facilitator

BSWD: How to Apply (1/2)

BSWD: Expenses (Examples)

BSWD ELIGIBLE EXPENSES*• Note takers• Tutoring services• Psycho-educational assessments• Specialized transportation for

students with mobility impairments• Alternative to text material• Digital Voice Recorders• Vision aids (i.e. Zoom Text) • FM Systems and repairs• Voice to Text, Text to Voice and

other assistive software

INELEGIBLE EXPENSES• Non-disability related

educational expenses, such as tuition, residence or books

• Expenses not related to a student’s attendance in PSE

• Expenses typically incurred by all students participating in PSE courses ( i.e. camera in photography course)

• Expenses incurred during time periods that OSAP or OSBP funding was not provided

*Note: These are examples only.

Step 3: Complete BSWD/CSG-PDSE application with your Facilitator Note: You must obtain necessary quotes

Step 4: Provide Receipts to the Financial Aid Office If funding request approved, cheque will be mailed

to you to purchase the equipment/ service(s) Note: You will be asked to provide receipts

BSWD: How to Apply (2/2)

BSWD: Q

Common Question: If I am taking a semester off, can I apply for the equipment early to be ready for the next semester? Funds are only available to

students in the semester in which the expense is incurred AND where the student is registered in classes

BSWD: Q

Common Question: What if I am not OSAP eligible? If you are not OSAP eligible

you will not qualify for the CSG-CDSE or BSWD, however you can check out other funding options through the Ryerson listing of scholarships and awards at www.ryerson.ca/currentstudents/awards/index.html

Reminders & Responsibilities

Accommodations = Responsibilities

Duty to inform profs

of AC registration

Negotiating accommodation requests with profs

Test booking procedures

How and when to use the Access Centre for advocacy purposes

Student Responsibilities

“Self-advocacy refers to ‘an individual’s ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs, and rights. It involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions’ (VanReusen et al., 1994). Self-knowledge is the first step towards advocating for your rights. You need to know your strengths, needs, and interests before you can begin to advocate.” (Kent State University, www.ehhs.kent.edu/cite/CASAP/docs/SADef+tips.pdf)

Self-Advocacy

FAQ

FAQ:

What is best way to disclose registration/disability to profs?

What do you do with my personal information/ documentation?

Will my AC registration appear on my transcript or otherwise be known by future schools or employers?

How can I request/arrange reduced course load?

“I live with a learning disability. With the help of the Access Centre, Ryerson community, and my own hard work, I now see that so-called ‘disabilities’ can serve as positive and motivational catalysts. I now strive to be the very best I can be, am inspired to work harder than most others around me, and strongly encourage others with learning disabilities and mental health issues to do the same.” –2nd Year Radio and Television student

What We Do: Testimonial

Questions?

Thank You!

Monday – Friday, 9am - 4:30pm (closed 12pm - 1pm)

POD 62B, 350 Victoria Street (area connecting Jorgenson Hall to Library)

416-979-5290 accessfrontdesk@ryerson.ca

www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/accesscentre/ @RUAccessCentre

Contact