Student Accessibility Services hosted Get Set for Success welcome weeks. Sessions helped students set up their academic accommodations and navigate York supports.  

SAS hosted a week-long enriched transition program for incoming students with disabilities. Participants learned about self-advocacy, wellness, community involvement and career development in collaboration with campus partners.

Student Accessibility Services is hosting Transition Tuesday workshops to answer questions about the academic accommodation process, introduce students to key campus supports and help facilitate a successful transition to York.

The SAS Project ADVANCE facilitators team have been hosting socials, campus tours and skill-based workshops to support students with disabilities as they transition to York. 

Student Accessibility Services gave a presentation at CACUSS highlighting various initiatives for autistic students. The session highlighted the program's achievements such as increased enrolment, improved retention and graduation rates and collaborative programming.

SAS is hosting Registration Open Houses to support incoming York students and their families/support persons. Participants will learn about services and the registration process with SAS Project ADVANCE peer facilitators.

Student Accessibility Services peer mentors hosted a hybrid talent show to celebrate the term. Eight students showcased their talents which included singing, piano and works of art.

SAS hosted its first professional development day event in partnership with the Career Centre and Student Community & Leadership Development. Attendees were able to focus on their academic, leadership and career development.

On Thursday, February 22, SAS hosted hybrid sessions focusing on transition, accessing support, strategies for academic success and methods to nurture and strengthen independence. Participants also got the chance to engage in a student panel and tour.

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) high school students, parents and teachers from the Toronto District School Board joined SAS, students and faculty members from the DHH teaching program. Participants learned about transitions through a panel discussion, on a tour and by watching a presentation.

Student Accessibility Services hosted its first American Sign Language (ASL) social. Students gathered to practice and learn ASL, get connected as a community and enjoy refreshments with student success mentors.

Student Accessibility Services began hosting therapy dog afternoons to support students' well-being during stressful fall term periods. These sessions allowed registrants to de-stress while spending time with a furry friend.

In collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Student Accessibility Services hosted its first workshop for prospective graduate students with disabilities. The session focused on applying to graduate studies and the academic accommodations available on campus to support their transition.

Over the first three weeks of the term, students were supported through the Get Set for Success initiative. Peer leaders worked one-on-one with students to prepare them for the term by helping send their letters of accommodation and signing them up for accommodated tests and exams.

Student Accessibility Services hosted Project ADVANCE, a week-long enriched transition program for incoming students with disabilities. Thirty three students attended workshops on self-advocacy, services, wellness, community involvement and career development in collaboration with campus partners.

Christina Abounassar, Accessibility Counsellor at SAS created, and co-chairs, the Ontario BIPOC Counsellor & Accessibility Counsellor Group for over 16 different institutions and expanding. The group won the President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning & Success from Niagara College.

Since launching the Letters of Accommodation (LOA) portal in 2021, students have experienced a more seamless and accessible process with more than 25,000 letters delivered during the school terms. Prior to 2021, students were responsible for providing each of their professors with their LOAs.

Student Accessibility Services hosted its annual End-of-Year Celebration with 19 Faculty and staff who were recognized for their commitment to student-centricity, collaboration, care and innovation for students with disabilities. Sixty York community members participated in the celebration.

For National Procrastination Awareness Week, Student Accessibility Services hosted a session on Procrastination Strategies for the Neurodiverse. The workshop explored neurodiversity and effective time management strategies to support executive functioning.

SAS hosted a half-day transition event for 80 autistic high school students and their families/support people on February 17. Attendees participated in a student or parent workshop and a York student panel where tips and experiences about transitioning to post-secondary were shared. 

Sixty students received support accessing accommodations, navigating supports and creating schedules during a week-long, winter orientation event, Get Set for Success, for students registered with Student Accessibility Services. This event was offered by peer leaders.

Through Project ADVANCE, peer mentors provided support to students with disabilities transition to post-secondary education. During July and August, mentors ran 27 workshops on topics including: navigating campus supports, self-advocacy, assistive technology and how to access accommodations. 

In partnership with a community school board and agency, Student Accessibility Services invited high school students with disabilities to York to support their move to post-secondary education. Visitors had the opportunity to speak to peer mentors and visit various services across the campus.

Student Accessibility Services launched a new form that allows a seamless gathering of student registration documentation. Partners in Communications & Marketing designed the form to be fillable and compliant for accessibility.

“Our end-of-year celebration is a wonderful opportunity to see the interconnection between us – giving students a chance to nominate faculty and staff who have supported them in their academic journey,” says Maureen Barnes, Director of Student Accessibility Services. 

Student Accessibility Services celebrated interconnectedness during the fourth annual Faculty and Staff Recognition event on April 28.  Knowledge Keeper Amy Desjarlais, Centre for Indigenous Students Success, shared insights as the keynote speaker.

Student Accessibility Services and the Division of Students' Communications team launched a social media campaign aimed at demystifying disability. The first of four posts went out over Twitter and Facebook in February and will continue into April. #YorkAccessibility

Autism Spectrum Transition Day provides additional support for students with autism. High school students diagnosed with autism attend a half-day workshop preparing them for the post-secondary education transition, while their guardians attend a presentation and peer-parent panel with a Q&A session.

Student Accessibility Services hosted a virtual event to provide information to incoming prospective students with disabilities and their families. The workshop, held on Jan. 19, provided attendees with necessary information and resources to ease their transition to post-secondary education.

Student Accessibility Services supports students with making connections through its virtual programming. Programs include Virtual Support Zone, Time Management Tuesday and Peer Mentor drop-ins. Each event is student-driven and socially engaging.

High school special education teachers, guidance counsellors, school board psychologists, and special education consultants attended a workshop that highlighted information on accommodations supports, documentation, registering and accessing financial information on Dec. 8, 2021.

Student Accessibility Services worked in concert with Epilepsy Toronto to create Epilepsy and U, a guide for accommodations for students with epilepsy. The website aims to educate how to support and accommodate students with seizures.

SAS is part of a pan-university group aiming to support students in settings outside the classroom. The Academic Requirements in Placements, Practicums, Experiential Education and the WIL Working Group developed two resources to support the creation of effective accommodations.  

We have moved to a NEW way of delivering our Letters of Accommodation. Student and faculty log in to Passport York to request, review and approve letters that will be sent to the faculty portal. Faculty will be notified by e-mail and log in using passport York to receive student’s letters.  

Project Advance is designed for students transitioning from high school to university. Virtual sessions were held from August 3rd to August 31st, 2021. Students developed self-advocacy skills, learned about resources and wellness supports, assistive technology, engaged in eClass and met peers.

Student Accessibility Services recently celebrated and recognized faculty and staff at our first-ever virtual End of Year celebration with a focus on resilience. We also congratulated our recent graduates and returning students.