Accessibility Services
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Student Accessibility Services supports all OCAD U students with temporary and permanent disabilities. After completing a registration meeting with an accessibility advisor, students can access academic accommodations and other supports, including flexible deadlines for assignments, alternate formats for course materials, and notetaking support. Students can also ask for extra time to complete tests and get access to ASL interpreters and disability-related financial supports.
Accessibility Advisors at OCAD U
All students registered with Student Accessibility Services have a primary Accessibility Advisor available to support them. Advisors are always happy to connect in person, on MS Teams, over the phone, or via email to address any disability-related questions or concerns students have.
Once registered, your Accessibility Advisor is available to discuss a variety of topics including general accessibility advising like support around communicating with instructors, academic petitions and appeals. Advisors also provide referrals to on-campus services (counselling, tutoring, advising) and external services including psychoeducational assessments, counselling, and training on assistive technology. Student Accessibility Services can also address any concerns or updates to your accommodation plan and provide information about disability-related financial supports like the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and provide support with registering a Service Animal.
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Registering with Accessibility Services
Students registering with Student Accessibility Services first download and complete our registration package (PDF). Once completed, students contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment by emailing sas@ocadu.ca or calling 416‐977‐6000, Ext. 339. Appointments can also be made in-person during office hours.
Students are asked to bring their completed medical and/or psychoeducational documentation to their registration appointment, if available. During the registration appointment, students meet with an Accessibility Advisor who will review their medical/psychoeducational documentation with them and discuss the functional impact of their disability(ies), strengths, essential requirements of their program of study, and previous academic accommodations (if applicable). Following this discussion, appropriate academic accommodations are identified, an accommodation plan is developed together with their Advisor.
Documentation guidelines
Medical Documentation
In order to finalize registration with Student Accessibility Services, students are required to submit supporting medical documentation from a regulated health care professional (e.g. medical doctor, medical specialist or registered psychologist). Students are eligible for interim accommodations and can receive accommodations while in the process of obtaining their medical documentation.
If applicable, please bring a psychoeducational assessment (for LD, ADHD or ASD) completed by a registered psychologist to your registration meeting. This documentation is sufficient for Accessibility Services, in which case students are not required to complete Accessibility Services' medical documentation form.
Medical documentation provided should include confirmation that the student has a disability or medical condition, the functional impact, limitation or needs associated with the disability or medical condition, and recommendations of the type of accommodation(s) that may be needed to allow the student to fulfill the requirements of their course/program of study.
Note: Individual Education Plans (IEPs) can support the process but are not considered sufficient documentation.
Supporting documenration guidelines
As per the Ontario Human Rights Code, students are not required to disclose their disability diagnosis to register with Student Accessibility Services or to receive academic accommodations and supports. There may be instances when a disability diagnosis is required, for example when academic accommodation needs are complex. There will be instances when the type of disability is required to establish eligibility for specific disability‐related supports or funding under the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
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Privacy and confidentiality
OCAD University actively promotes an environment that ensures students feel safe disclosing a disability. The University requires sufficient information to reasonably evaluate and respond to a student’s request for accommodations. For this reason, students requesting academic accommodations are required to provide information pertaining to their disability and its impact to Student Accessibility Services. To protect privacy, personal information identifying a student's disability will not be added to their academic record.
All disability information shared with Student Accessibility Services is confidential and will not be released without a student's written consent. Students' status with Student Accessibility Services will not be identified on their official University record, test results, academic transcripts or graduation documentation.
At times, the accommodation process may require that the student disclose information regarding the impact of their disability to other staff and instructors on a need‐to‐know basis so that specific responsibilities can be met under the terms of OCAD U's Policy on Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
All personal information disclosed to Student Accessibility Services is governed by OCAD University’s Privacy and Personal Information Collection Procedures and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
Student Accessibility Services requires students' consent in order to communicate with course instructors, TAs, on‐campus departments, parents, and external organizations.
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Location
We are located on the 6th floor in the Student Wellness Centre at 230 Richmond St. West.
Hours
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact
If you have specific questions about OCAD U's health and dental plan, email us at healthdental@ocadu.ca.
To request your health records or if you have questions about them, email us at swcrecords@ocadu.ca.
We encourage students to give us any feedback directly. If you have any suggestions, compliments, or concerns about our services, you can also email us at hwcfeedback@ocadu.ca.