Ontario is providing an additional $6 million to help students with disabilities across the province pursue their passions and get the skills they need to succeed at college or university.
There are now twice as many students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education than there were in 2002-2003. Students with disabilities make up 8.8 per cent of postsecondary students, which totalled 54,300 students last year.
To help colleges and universities support students, the province is investing $4.5 million in the Accessibility Fund for Students with Disabilities and the Summer Transitions Program that:
- Provide a wide range of services to students with disabilities on campus
- Offer workshops and courses for high school students transitioning into postsecondary education
The province is also investing $1.5 million in other programs including:
- Note-taking services for students with visual impairments
- Interpreter services for students who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing
- Learning assessments to help students determine what accommodations they need
- Computers and tablet applications that change text-to-speech or speech-to-text, provide word prediction capabilities and graphic organizers
Enhancing funding for students with disabilities in colleges and universities supports the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Quick Facts
- In 2013-14, $48 million in funding was provided to assist students with disabilities succeed in postsecondary studies — an increase of more than 45 per cent since 2002-03.
“Our government has made it a priority to make postsecondary education more accessible for any student who wants to get an education at one of our province’s world-class colleges or universities. I’m thrilled to see that so many more Ontarians with disabilities are now attending postsecondary institutions and this increased funding will help provide additional support so these students can thrive at each campus across the province.”
David Wilkinson – Provost and Vice President Academic, McMaster University
“Improving accessibility for students and ensuring they are well-prepared for transitioning to campus is a primary priority. The government of Ontario’s investment will help students prepare for university and succeed when they arrive here.”
Sarah Jama – McMaster University Student and Ontario Director, National Educational Association of Disabled Students
“Student Accessibility Services and the McMaster Students Union have, over the course of the last two years, shown me that students with disabilities have the ability to make valuable impacts in our community, and that we are the future leaders of this generation.”
Additional ResourcesSource: News.Ontario.ca: Ontario Increasing Funding for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities