Register with Accessibility Services before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024 for fall 2024 accommodations.
THE STUDENT LIFE ESCALATION PROCESS
If you have a concern about a student service located on the St. George Campus, your first step is to talk to the Director of the service.
If your concern has not been resolved after taking this step, your second step should be to contact the Executive/Senior Director of the service.
Our team assists in navigating disability-related barriers to your academic success at U of T for your on-going or temporary disability. We provide services and supports for learning, problem solving and inclusion.
A summer transition program designed for new, incoming students who self-identify as having disabilities and who are entering any level of post-secondary education at any institution
Learn more about Moving Forward Summer Transition ProgramLearn about documentation requirements and accommodations for students with Learning Disabilities (LD), ADHD and ASD
Learn more about LD, ADHD and ASD Pre-Registration Info SessionsDiscussions facilitated by peer facilitators in an informal but private setting. Share your experiences and connect with others who might be navigating accommodations and disability at U of T.
Learn more about Accessibility DialoguesOnline group sessions foster community and offer offer strategies to help students navigate common challenge areas.
Learn more about Group Learning Strategy SessionsDrop-in sessions designed for students registered with Accessibility Services to chat with their peers and learn more about using accommodations
Learn more about Peer Advisor Drop-in SessionsAn informal space for students to connect and discuss topics relevant to their disability.
Learn more about Peer ConnectionsOnline sessions to help you develop the academic skills needed to succeed in a remote learning environment
Learn more about Learning Skills WorkshopsVirtual Accountability Check-ins offer the opportunity to connect with Accessibility Services staff and your peers twice a week.
Learn more about Virtual Accountability Check-insPair with an Access Us peer mentor and be part of a supportive community.
Learn more about Access Us Peer Mentorship ProgramBecome a volunteer note-taker through our Volunteer Note-taking program. Note-taking is one of the most common academic accommodations given to students registered with Accessibility Services.
Learn more about Volunteer Note-takingProvides students with ASD a chance to connect, contribute and develop new friendships
Learn more about Social Association for Students with ASDThe ADHD Skills Group is a five-session facilitated learning community for students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) registered with Accessibility Services.
Learn more about ADHD Skills GroupAn annual opportunity to learn about starting university for students with disabilities
Learn more about Transition DayThis is an annual, free virtual conference to explore the enhancement of equity, accessibility and inclusion within professional programs, specifically in practicums and experiential learning settings.
Learn more about Strengthening Accessibility & Inclusion within Professional ProgramsThese online modules provide education for staff and faculty who may be working with a student or colleague who has seizures/epilepsy.
Learn more about FACULTY & STAFF: Seizure Education ModulesJoin the Accessibility Grad Writing Group and Accessibility Grad Productivity Group: Actually Work From Home! to work with other grad students with accessibility needs.
Learn more about Grad Productivity and Writing GroupsExplore career-related programming and events for students who self-identify as living with a disability.
Learn more about Navigating Accessibility in CareersA joint effort between students and Accessibility Services staff to advise and inform matters relating to the Accessibility Services office on the St. George campus.
Learn more about Accessibility Services Student Advisory CommitteeAccess Us Study Hubs are scheduled times for you to set and meet your studying goals. Quiet, welcoming virtual spaces allow you to complete readings, work on assignments and prepare for tests and exams.
Learn more about Access Us Study HubsMeet up with other students once a month to play games, enjoy light snacks, and discuss mutual interests and topics in a supportive, relaxed and interactive manner.
Learn more about Social Connections
The staff at Accessibility Services can help you navigate U of T and get you the support you need.
Once you submit a complete registration package, you will be scheduled for an intake appointment with an accessibility advisor. You may be referred to an additional resource in our office, such as a learning strategist or adaptive technologist. You might also be interested in attending a group or participating in our peer programming.
Our staff are located both in our central office and on location in faculties and colleges across campus. Contact information for accessibility professionals is listed below.
A reminder that our front desk is open for in-person visits. Feel free to drop by if you need assistance in registering with our office or have questions about the services and programs offered to new and returning students.
In-person appointments with your Accessibility Advisor, Learning Strategist or Adaptive Technologist are available and are subject to availability at the point of booking. Virtual appointments continue to be available over the phone or Microsoft Teams audio or video conferencing.
Read When to connect with Accessibility Services staff if you need help deciding when to reach out and who to connect with.
Occasionally, based on caseload numbers, staffing, or the personal circumstances of your advisor (e.g. maternity leave, promotion to a new role in another office, retirement), your accessibility advisor may change throughout the year or the duration of your degree. We aim to provide you with as much communication and transparency as possible when this happens.
Health Screening
Individuals can monitor their health using the provincial health screening tool. Completing a health screening before coming to campus is highly recommended, and we continue to ask members of our community to remain at home if they are ill.
Please follow the procedures for individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Read the University’s case management process.
For questions related to university-wide or procedural concerns, email the Director, Michael Nicholson at michael.nicholson@utoronto.ca.
If you are a staff or faculty member who would like to request Accessibility Services’ participation in a workshop or event, email accessibility.services@utoronto.ca.
455 Spadina Avenue, 4th floor, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2G8. We're experiencing an exceptionally high volume of emails, phone calls and voicemails at this time. Messages are triaged for urgency, however, we urge students to visit the reception desk in person, if possible. Please note email and voicemail responses may take an extended period of time. Please come into our office if you have an urgent disability-related concern.
416-978-8060
accessibility.services@utoronto.ca
Fax: 416-978-5729
Hours of operation: Summer hours are in effect from July 1st to September 2nd, 2024.
Monday through Friday from
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone lines close at 4:00 p.m.
Upcoming office closures
Accessibility Services will be closed:
Accessibility Advisor
Accessibility Advisor
(416) 978-8060 (main line)
accessibility.services@utoronto.ca
On Location Accessibility Team Lead, FAS.
Accessibility Advisor Medicine, SLP/OT/PT, Radiation Science
Accessibility Advisor
(416) 978-8060 (main line)
accessibility.services@utoronto.ca
Accommodations Specialist for Practicums/Placements/Laboratories
Accessibility Advisor and Team Lead
On Location Team Lead, Graduate and Professional Programs.
Accessible and Inclusive Learning Strategies Team Lead
Experiential Learning Accommodations Coordinator
Director, Accessibility Services
416-946-7928
michael.nicholson@utoronto.ca
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
Assistant Director, Accessibility Services
416-978-1534
adina.burden@utoronto.ca
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
Assistant Director, Accessibility Services
416-978-1534
sarah.kloke@utoronto.ca
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
Intake Coordinator & Team Lead, Accessibility Services
Indigenous Liaison & Administrative Assistant
Have a question?
Peer Advisors will return in May 2024.
In order to chat, you must be a student at the University of Toronto and will need to log in using your UTORID. This chat is available to students who are registered with Accessibility Services as well as to students who are interested in learning more about our office.
Please note Peer Advisors can’t advise you on your specific accommodations or inform you of possible outcomes of your requests. For these inquiries, please connect with your Accessibility Advisor.
Here are some examples of questions you can ask:
We strive to provide equitable access to education for University of Toronto students with disabilities, health conditions, and diverse ways of learning. We collaborate with the University community to identify and remove barriers for students, and foster inclusion within learning environments.
Our office provides a range of programs for students to build academic skills, cultivate community, and feel empowered to design their university experience.
Through a collaborative, individualized, and affirming accommodations process, we support students to:
We envision a campus environment where disability is understood and embraced as a characteristic of human diversity.
We aspire to create stigma-free learning environments where students are comfortable requesting and accessing timely, individualized, and dignified accommodations. We believe that are critical to incorporate across the university to ensure equitable access to education for all students.
We believe that Universal Design for Learning principles are critical to incorporate across the university to ensure equitable access to education for all students.
We strive to facilitate equitable access to education for students that honours their lived experiences. We are committed to principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and intersectionality in the services and programs we provide to the campus community.
We provide a transparent accommodation process that upholds the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and the University of Toronto’s Statement of Commitment to Persons with Disabilities. As interdisciplinary professionals, we strive to uphold this Commitment in ways that provide equitable access to education while maintaining student privacy and academic integrity.
To ensure the accommodations process is individualized and dignified, we work creatively with students, faculty, and staff to implement accommodations across varying academic and professional learning environments. As a team with diverse life and professional experiences, we employ novel approaches when exploring alternate ways to accommodate and support our students.
Our office engages with students, faculty, and staff to build sustainable communities of learning and support while providing academic accommodations and resources. We recognize students with disabilities contribute significantly and critically to our campus. Our programming is informed by students and adapted to meet diverse learning needs, and develop peer connections that foster a sense of belonging.
We believe in sharing our work. Explore our reports and publications to better understand our progress and commitments, and how we engage in the U of T community.
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The Division of Student Life
– University of Toronto