What is Accessibility and Why is it Important?
Accessibility is the practice of making things available to and usable by as many people as possible. It is based on ensuring equity among the student body by recognizing that everyone has different circumstances which require different support. Facilitating an equitable environment allows everyone to access the necessary resources they need to thrive and succeed.
Accessibility Services at U of T
U of T Accessibility Services support students who experience difficulties that affect their learning in lectures, tutorials, practicals and academic evaluations. They provide a variety of resources to support students including but not limited to residence accommodations, accommodated testing, note-taking support, and a variety of workshops, a few of which are highlighted below. For a full list of programs and services and how to access them, please refer to the Programs and Services sections of the Accessibility Services webpage here.
This program is open to incoming students entering their first year at any post-secondary institution in Canada who self-identify as having disabilities. Moving Forward is a one-day program that supports students living with disabilities by:
- helping you navigate academic accommodations at the post-secondary level
- introducing you to online, hybrid, and in-person learning, lectures and note-taking
- giving you strategies for managing life in and out of the classroom (including tips for virtual and hybrid learning)
- teaching you university-level academic learning strategies and skills
- connecting you with a community of peers and Accessibility Services staff
- helping you transition to the next stage of your academic career
This program is offered several times throughout the summer. Moving Forward offers general programming for students at any study level, and specific programming for:
- incoming students on the Autism Spectrum
- incoming students who are international/living outside of Ontario
In these sessions, you can get in-depth information on all the accessibility and accommodation services offered throughout the year, along with a series of workshops, panels, and strategy sessions. For detailed information on program eligibility and event dates, you can check out the Moving Forward Program overview here.
The Access Us Peer Mentorship Program pairs students who are new to Accessibility Services or new to U of T with a peer mentor and gives them access to a supportive community that includes
- mentorship by an upper-year student
- social events throughout the semester
- academic workshops led by a learning strategist or other professional (e.g. time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking, etc.)
- leadership, professional, and career development opportunities
You can read more at U of T Accessibility Services – Access Us Peer Mentorship Program.
Accessibility Services offers the ASD Peer Connections for Women & Trans Students program for women and trans students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the ADHD Peer Connections program for students who currently have a diagnosis of ADHD or suspect that they do.
The Peer Connection programs provide eligible students an informal space to connect and discuss topics relevant to their disability and identity. For detailed information on program eligibility and registration, check out the Accessibility Services page on Peer Connection programs here.
If you are registered with Accessibility Services, you can meet with their in-house learning strategists individually or in small groups. These sessions are designed to help you develop strategies for achieving your academic goals and addressing any challenges your disability may pose to your learning.
An adaptive technologist can help students with disabilities find ways in which technology can support them in their learning. If you are registered with Accessibility Services, your accessibility advisor can refer you to an adaptive technologist for an assessment.
Accessibility Services aims to provide a culturally supportive environment for Indigenous students with disabilities. If you are an indigenous student who satisfies the eligibility criteria listed here, you can book a consultation with the Accessibility Services Indigenous Liaison, Erin Martin, to discuss available pathways, the registration process, and documentation requirements.
U of T provides an optional registration process for service animals to minimize the need for producing health documentation and allow seamless integration into campus life. Students can register their service animal to receive a TCard sticker that notifies others that their animal qualifies as a service animal under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). For more information about life on campus with a service animal, you can check out the Service Animals Guideline page here.
Note: There may still be circumstances where a service animal may need to be excluded from certain spaces. Please refer to the guidelines on the Service Animal Registration page here.
If you require residence accommodations, you are encouraged to register with Accessibility Services as soon as possible. For important dates and deadlines regarding residence applications, you can refer to the Student Life Housing page here.
If you require accommodation for course assessments, such as quizzes, tests, exams, and online assessments, you will have to first register with Accessibility Services and request approval to write your assessments with accommodations. Once approved, you will then have to register with Accommodated Testing Services (ATS). For more details on the process, check out the Accommodated Testing Services page here.
If you require assistance with notetaking in class, you register to receive peer-written notes for certain classes.
If you are not registered with Accessibility Services, you may want to become a volunteer notetaker! As a volunteer notetaker, you will help contribute to others’ academic success and an equitable learning environment. All you need to do is sign up to become a volunteer (usually at the beginning of the semester) and then upload your class notes to a portal. Based on certain conditions, your volunteering may be eligible for a co-curricular record. To learn more, visit the Accessibility Services page on Volunteer Notetaking.
Contacting Accessibility Services
If you have any questions or concerns about registering with U of T Accessibility Services, or about the programs they offer, feel free to reach out to their office. Their friendly staff is here to support you with your transition into and time in university. To book an appointment with your assigned accessibility advisor, an adaptive technologist, or a learning strategist, please contact reception (contact information provided below and on the Accessibility Services webpage here).
If you are not yet registered with Accessibility Services and would like to have accommodation in place for the start of classes in Fall 2024, the early registration deadline is July 12, 2024 by 5 p.m. To have accommodations in place for the Fall final exam period, you must register by 5 p.m. on October 11, 2024. For a regularly updated list of registration deadlines, please refer to the Accessibility Services Registration page here.
You can sign up for academic accommodations with Accessibility Services at any point during your time at U of T after you’ve accepted your admission offer and have your UTORid or JOINid. However, it’s essential to complete your registration by the deadlines specified above to ensure accommodations are available at the start of each semester and during exam periods.
You can follow the three steps below to register with Accessibility Services; more details can be found on the Accessibility Services registration & documentation requirements page here.
1. Gather the necessary documentation and obtain your UTORid.
2. Fill out the online Student Intake Form and include all required documentation.
3. Schedule and attend an intake appointment.
Accessibility Services Reception
Contact Information
Address: 455 Spadina Avenue, 4th floor, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2G8
Phone: 416-978-8060
Email: accessibility.services@utoronto.ca
Accessibility Services reception is available by phone and by email Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone lines close at 4:30 p.m.
Accessibility Services will be closed:
- Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. for scheduled staff meetings
- Friday, June 28, 2024 – Presidential Day
- Monday, July 1, 2024 – Canada Day
- Friday, August 2, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, August 5, 2024 – Civic Holiday
- Friday, August 30, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labour Day
- Friday, October 11, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 14, 2024 – Thanksgiving Day
- Tuesday, December 24, 2024, to Friday, January 3, 2025 – U of T Holidays