• The ATRC, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, sees disability as a mismatch between the needs of the individual and the service, education, tools or environment provided and accessibility as the adaptability of the system to the needs of each individual. Their research, development, education and service are all grounded in this principle.

If you have a disability, U of T has a number of services to support you in every aspect of your schooling, from financial aid to note-taking help to assistance getting around campus. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with U of T’s Accessibility Services, Students for Barrier-free Access (SFBA), the Hart House Accessibility Fund, intercampus transportation, financial assistance and library resources.

Accessibility Services

We want to make sure that you are able to participate in as much of university life as possible. That’s why Accessibility Services (UTM | UTSC | St. George) provides assistance to students with physical, sensory and learning disabilities, as well as chronic health conditions, brain injuries, mental health disorders and temporary disabilities, such as a broken limb.

Services available

The Accessibility Services offices can help you develop self-advocacy and academic skills, as well as provide:

• Learning disability and psychoeducational assessments
• Adaptive technologies, including assessments and assistive devices
• Alternative test and examination arrangements
• Volunteer note-taking services
• Sign language interpreters
• Information on disability-related issues
• Liaison with academic administrative offices within the university and with off-campus agencies
• On-campus transportation
• Financial assistance
• Alternative formats for printed materials
• Alternative arrangements for inaccessible classrooms

Accessing services

To access these services, contact the Accessibility Services office at either UTM, UTSC or St. George. On St. George, you can get in touch with them by visiting the office on the first floor of Robarts Library, calling 416-287-7560 or sending an email to disability.services@utoronto.ca. You will be asked to fill out a form and will be given a registration package.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll meet with a disability advisor. It is important to bring updated documentation about your disability, how it impacts your education and the accommodations you need. If you don’t have medical records for your disability, you may be referred to a specialist to assist you with documentation. All information is kept confidential.

The Hart House Accessibility Fund

The Hart House Accessibility Fund helps accommodate students who want to participate in co-curricular activities organized by or that take place at Hart House. Full- and part-time U of T students who wish to apply for funding need to contact Hart House via email at least two weeks before the event they wish to attend.

Financial Assistance

If you are eligible for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), you may be eligible for the Bursary for Students with a Disability, which is a combination of provincial and federal funding that you can use to buy goods and services for your educational needs as a disabled student. If you don’t qualify for OSAP, you might be eligible for a University of Toronto Bursary. For more information about Financial Assistance, contact Enrollment Services.

Library Resources

We do our best to make sure that everyone has access to the resources in our over 40 libraries. If you need special accommodations while conducting research, feel free to contact the Office of Library Services to Persons with Disabilities in Robarts Library for help.

Intercampus Transportation

U of T runs shuttle buses that take students between the St. George and University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campuses. Some intercampus shuttles can accommodate students in wheelchairs so we suggest that you book your ride in advance to make sure you connect with a properly equipped vehicle. You can do this by completing an AccessAbility registration form, which you can pick up from the Parking & Transportation Office in Alumni House, room 108. Wheelchair service is available:

• At UTM’s Kaneff Centre stop (but NOT at UTM’s North Building stop)
• At St. George’s Hart House shuttle stop