Improve the existing process

As previously discussed, the existing process can be confusing, time-consuming, and labour-intensive for students, faculty, and professionals.  

One major issue with the existing process is the difficulty of acquiring the correct forms of documentation. Students in AcTinSite’s research suggested that the accessibility services departments of HEIs could hire disability clinicians who are qualified to assess students’ limitations. For example, at the University of Toronto, a standard accommodation provided to some students is the power to get extensions for coursework of up to one week. When a student requires a longer extension, they typically need a specific form to be completed by a Dentist, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Pharmacist at Discovery Pharmacy UTSG, Physician/Surgeon, Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Social Worker (Verification of Illness Form). If Accessibility Advisors were able to complete these forms and assess students’ limitations, this would cut out the unnecessary step of getting in touch with a different professional and potentially having to pay a fee for a doctor’s note. However, not all of these professionals are qualified to provide diagnoses. If Accessibility Services hired different types of professionals who are able to diagnose students, this would cut out the time and cost associated with seeing an additional health professional.  

Another issue is that students must often disclose their disabilities over and over again, to a variety of different people, which can be emotionally draining and time-consuming. As previously mentioned, if Accessibility Services had the appropriate staff and power, students would only need to speak to their advisor. Similarly, if HEIs could implement a system where students’ accommodations remain minimally consistent across institutions, this would make it easier for students transferring between schools. 

For students requiring grants/bursaries to pay for special services and equipment, the process is currently quite slow. The previously mentioned steps could help to reduce the time required to obtain the necessary documentation. Furthermore, if there was greater funding for those in charge of the grant/bursary process, they could hire additional staff to help process applications more quickly and speed up this funding process. 

The entire accommodations process can be difficult to navigate for students, who must often spend a lot of time looking for the appropriate resources, reading through those resources, and contacting the appropriate professionals. To simplify this process, it would be helpful to create new student-facing resources e.g. a simplified decision tree or road map that outlines the steps involved in the accommodations process without overwhelming students with excessive information found in multiple different locations. In addition to creating these resources, it is also important to ensure that students know about and can access them with ease. AcTinSite has used participatory methods to develop some student resources that should be available soon. Please contact us for further information.  

Finally, in the context of WIL, there are currently difficulties with stakeholders communicating between one another. This issue is addressed in more detail by Call to Action #5.  

Example tactics: 

• Create a decision-tree or road map for students: Given that there is often a lot of confusion around accommodations, you can create a new resource that helps student navigate this process. It should be clear and concise, with all steps included in one place, but without overwhelming students with too much information. 
• Establish relationships with key decision-makers: Forming these relationships will help you gain opportunities to influence their decisions. 
• Coalition building: Forming a coalition with like-minded groups and working on this issue together can be more influential than working alone. 
• Policy brief: Preparing a policy brief that outlines your rationale for the previously mentioned issue can help clarify the benefits and influence decisions. 

Relevant Organizations:

• Accessible Campus
• Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health
• Citizens with Disabilities – Ontario
• Experiential and Work Integrated Learning Ontario
• Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
• Inter-University Disability Issues Association
• National Educational Association of Disabled Students
• Students for Barrier-Free Access
• WILAA Community of Practice