Disability Services and You
Many students think Disability Services is only available to students with visible physical disabilities. This is not the case. It is the responsibility of director Nora Simpson, to provide students and faculty with information about the program. With her team of nine Accessibility Consultants at North Campus, they help register students and get accommodations for their classes. Simpson says that students can easily contact the Center via email, phone, or in person. She notes the importance of self-identifying. Disability Services can only help those who seek it.
With that being said, Simpson agrees that there are a few misconceptions about Disability Services and the Test Center. About 2,300 students are registered at Disability Services. This number includes students at all of Humber’s campuses, including Lakeshore, Orangeville, North Campus, and a location on Carrier Road. Simpson is aware that there are more students with disabilities who have chosen not to use the program. “Providing support is an intuitional obligation,” she says. “But we know there are all kinds of students who don’t come forward.”
In order to register, students need documentation of a physical, mental, or learning disability that might impede on your ability to get work done. Documentation is any written letter from a doctor that verifies your particular illness. After providing documentation, students meet with a consultant. The initial appointments are spent talking about what can help with learning. These accommodations may include extensions on essays or make up tests. Students must then take the memos to their professors and program advisor, who may offer additional support. Consultants also contact professors about the student, and they will also discuss what is best for them both.
Disability Services is not exclusively for students, though. Simpson points out that she and other members of staff often talk to professors about students. There is often communication between the Center and various departments. Their aim is informing professors about what disability services offers, so they in turn can provide accurate information to students. Not only do they talk to faculty here at Humber, they also reach out to guidance counsellors at high schools. Simpson wants incoming students to have a smooth transition into secondary school.
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