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Parents' Information ______________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions By Parents

Please contact the Centre at 905-569-4699 if you have a question that is not answered below.

Is special consideration given to students with disabilities who are applying to UTM?

Is there a transition program my son/daughter can participate in so they can learn about the campus and its services?

What services does the AccessAbility Resource Centre provide?

Is my daughter / son eligible for the services offered through the AccessAbility Resource Center?

How does my daughter / son access the services offered?

Who will manage their academic accommodations?

How do we locate a personal care attendant?

My child experiences seizures.  Are there staff check to on her/him overnight in the residence?

How do I find out more about financial aid?

What other sources of help are available for students?

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Is special consideration given to students with disabilities who are applying to UTM?

All students, regardless of disability, are evaluated on the same criteria. There are no specific exceptions for students with disabilities. However, if you feel that there are extenuating or special circumstances which the admissions office needs to know about, your student can :

• Write a letter describing their situation and how it directly influenced their grades,
• Provide their complete academic documentation,
• Provide corroborating letter(s) from their guidance counsellor/social worker, etc.,
• Inform the Admissions Office that you have provided a letter from a physician if you are citing medical grounds so the Centre can consult with them and / or
• Inform the Admission Office that you have provided a recent psycho-educational assessment if they have a learning disability to the Centre so the staff can consult with them.

If you require further information about the admission process, please call the admissions counsellors at (905) 828-5399.

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Is there a transition program my son / daughter can participate in so they can learn about the campus and its services?

The AccessAbility Resource Centre offers a comprehensive transition program for students with disabilities where they will learn about the campus, its services and also learning strategies that will be useful to them when they begin their academic year.  Please go to the Transition Program web page for more information.

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What services does the AccessAbility Resource Centre provide?

The Centre provides academic accommodations and services to students who have a documented disability including:

• 2-day Transition Program from High School to the University of Toronto Mississauga held in August.
• Disability Management Advising (e.g. setting up and using academic accommodations, course load, referrals to other services on campus and in the community)
• Test/Exam Accommodations (e.g., extended testing time, rest breaks, use of computer, alternate test/exam schedule, scribes)
• Volunteer Services (e.g. Note-taking, Readers, Support Workers, Library Assistance)
• On-campus psycho-educational assessments by a Clinical Psychologist
• Print Materials in Alternate Format (e.g., enlargement of readings and exams, e-text, brailed materials)
• Access to the OSAP Bursary for Students with Disabilities
• Adaptive Equipment/Assistive Devices (e.g. software and hardware)
• Alternate Communication (i.e., Sign/Oral Interpreters and Interveners)
• Learning strategies sessions for students who have learning disabilities which address areas such as organization, analysis, comprehension and general study and coping skills.
• Learning Strategy Workshops for students with disabilities

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Is my daughter/son eligible for the services offered through the AccessAbility Resource Center?

To be eligible to receive services through the AccessAbility Resource Centre your student must be a registered University of Toronto student (has sent in their acceptance to attend  the University of Toronto Mississauga) and have a documented disability including:

• Physical disability (e.g. spina bifida, arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, cerebral palsy, back injury, etc)
• Medical condition (e.g. cancer, lupus, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, etc)
• mental health disability (e.g. depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc)
• Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing
• Blind or low vision
• Asperger’s Syndrome
• Learning disability
• ADD/ADHD
• Acquired brain injury/head injury
• Temporary disabilities (e.g. broken dominant arm)

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How does my daughter / son access the services offered?

As soon as your daughter/son accepts their offer to attend UTM, they are encouraged to contact the Centre at 905-569-4699.

All students registering with the Centre must provide updated medical documentation or a psycho-educational report.  The documentation can be mailed to:

AccessAbility Resource Centre
University of Toronto Mississauga
3359 Mississauga Road North
Room 2047, South Building
Mississauga ON    L5L 1C6

We recommend that individuals with medical conditions that may only be an issue at times of high stress or only occur occasionally register with the Centre in September to ensure that they do not have to wait to access services from the Centre later in the academic year.

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Who will manage their academic accommodations?

Students are ultimately responsible for managing their own accommodations.  The staff at the Centre will assist first year students in understanding the accommodation process, the Centre’s procedures and Centre staff also assist students in understanding how their disability will affect them in the university environment.

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How do we locate a personal care attendant?

UTM has a working relationship with the Ontario March of Dimes.  Once your student has accepted their offer to attend UTM they must make contact with the AccessAbility Resource Centre and Ontario March of Dimes. UTM does not recruit or train personal care attendants so obtaining an attendant is the responsibility of the student and/or family. The UTM residence expects that if the student requires a personal care attendant, the student will arrive on campus with one in place.

If you have questions please contact the AccessAbility Resource Centre at 905-569-4699 or email access.utm@utoronto.ca.

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My child experiences seizures.  Are there staff check to on her / him overnight in the residence?

No.  If there is a serious concern that the student may have constant problems overnight and will require frequent monitoring, then living in residence on campus may not be an appropriate place for the student to live. Your child may be safer living with a relative or personal care attendant.

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How do I find out more about financial aid?

The Office of the Registrar has a financial aid officer who can answer your questions.  Please visit the Financial Aid and Awards webpage

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What other sources of help are available for students?

Student Affairs First Year Programs at UTM
www.utm.utoronto.ca/firstyear/

Office of the Regsistrar (905-828-5399) offers:

Academic Advising:
provides information related to degree requirements, University rules and regulations, interpretation of the Calendar, and personal or academic concerns that influence academic performance.

StepONE Transition Program for First Year Students

HotLink Newsletter

Health Services (905-828-5255)

UTM's Health Service offers confidential services to assist students in achieving and maintaining physical and emotional health while studying at UTM.  Most services are free to UTM students.

The service is staffed by professional nurses, physicians, counselors and psychiatrists.  The staff takes pride in providing appropriate, supportive and confidential service to UTM's rich diversity of students.
Student's are encouraged to come and discuss any concerns with the nurses and physicians.

Housing and Residence Life (905-828-5286)
Information about applying to live in residence , application deadlines and accessible housing. Click here for the "Accessible Needs in Residence" form.

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AccessAbility Resource Centre
Room 2047, South Building
Tel: (905) 569-4699 | Fax: (905) 569-4366
Email: access.utm@utoronto.ca | Website: www.utm.utoronto.ca/access