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The needs of persons with
differing abilities are as unique as the individual. Identifying,
understanding, and accepting your disability is the first step to
becoming an independent person. Meeting the needs of students at
the post-secondary level represents a cross-section of special challenges.
They include blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, mobility impaired,
learning disabled, or any other challenges a student may confront
in obtaining their goal.
The biggest challenge posed by a disability maybe breaking the social
barrier: Knowing your own limitations and capabilities is the key
for you to be able to set realistic goals. Many people are uncomfortable
with a disabled person, so try to make them feel at ease; give them
a chance to overcome those fears; fears which at sometime you as
a disabled person might have had as well. As part of self-directed
learning we encourage and support all of our students to be active
and involved.
Blind/Low Vision
Blind/low vision individuals are enrolling in the Ontario Colleges
in increasing numbers, and are, thereby, creating demands for accommodations
to be provided by these institutions.
Many blind/low vision students are not easily or quickly identified
if they do not make use of a white cane or are not accompanied by
a guide dog. There are, however, characteristics which may assist
in identification, including the following:
 Relying
on others for written communication
Reading
with one eye only, holding a book at close proximity to the eyes,
or viewing only a few words at a time
Making
errors in copying
Taking
more time and effort to complete tests and assignments, especially
those with required reading
Depending
on sound and touch
Experiencing
difficulty in moving from one location to another
Requiring
encouragement to socialize and participate in campus activities
Appearing
to be unable to make eye contact.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Post-secondary educational opportunities for deaf/hard of hearing
individuals continues to develop at Ontario Colleges. Creating appropriate
programs and developing constructive services for deaf/hard of hearing
students in colleges that primarily serve "hearing" students
is a challenging task. If a student requires interpreting or computerized
notetaking services it is essential that early identification takes
place. Students who require manual communication may have difficulty
with English language much like students with ESL issues.
Should a student be accompanied to class by an interpreter everything
the instructor or other students say will be interpreted to the
deaf/hard of hearing student. Conversely, everything the deaf student
signs will be translated into spoken English. In-service training
for students and faculty will help make the integration of easier.
Contact the SOAR office
for further information on support services for deaf or hard of
hearing students.
Learning Disability
At present, students with learning disabilities represent the largest
number of students with special needs in our school system. College
staff need to increase their knowledge and understanding of learning
disabilities in order to help learning disabled students succeed.
Students with learning disabilities experience difficulties in processing
various types of information. A learning disability is defined as
a lifelong condition experienced by a person with average intelligence
but who experiences difficulty in such areas as reading math or
spelling.
An in-depth view of the L.O.T.F. Program
Physical Disability
Physical impairment can be defined as any physical limitation which
may necessitate physical and learning accommodations, adaptations,
and adjustments to permit the individual student full access and
participation in all aspects of college life. Physical impairment
can be invisible or visible depending on the type, the degree, and
whether the impairment is characterized by remissions.
Physical impairment can include: multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy,
epilepsy, spinal cord injury, arthritis, diabetes, heart and respiratory
problems and many others. In college programs there are not standard
substitutions that can be made, but rather modifications based on
the needs of individual students. Technical aids need to be provided
to students where necessary for their participation in and benefit
from an academic program.
Support Strategies
Support services that may be required include:
Tutors
Readers
Notetakers
Test Adaptations
Taped Books
Computer
Accessibility
Specialized
Computer Programs
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