A Recap of the ODA Consultation on Improving Access for Students with Disabilities by Don Barrie
(originally appeared in the Spring 2004 edition of CILT In The Stream)
A consultation on the Ontarians with Disabilities Act was broadcast live on the Internet on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 – the first Webcast ever hosted by the Ontario government. The consultation was presided by Ryerson University Disability Studies professor Catherine Frazee, and Dr. Kuldip Kular, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship & Immigration (Dr. Marie Bountrogianni).
The discussion focused on how the ODA could improve access for students with disabilities. The featured panelists for this discussion were from Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Kitchener. (This group included a former ODA Committee member, and the former Direct Funding coordinator for the Thunder Bay ILRC.)
During the consultation, the panelists raised the following issues:
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the tuition costs for a person with a disability are too high, and need to be further subsidized
the tuition costs for a person with a disability are too high, and need to be further subsidized•the recent implementation of grade 10 literacy tests are exclusionary to consumers who have learning disabilities
the recent implementation of grade 10 literacy tests are exclusionary to consumers who have learning disabilities•a system needs to be created so deaf students can have access to sign language and related communication devices
a system needs to be created so deaf students can have access to sign language and related communication devices•a public school system is needed that would allow deaf consumers to communicate with faculty in English and/or French; it would allow for an easier transition from secondary to post-secondary education for deaf consumers
a public school system is needed that would allow deaf consumers to communicate with faculty in English and/or French; it would allow for an easier transition from secondary to post-secondary education for deaf consumers•the need for disability departments at schools to be better developed and responsive to the concerns of students with disabilities
the need for disability departments at schools to be better developed and responsive to the concerns of students with disabilities•there are not enough hiring and contracting opportunities for students who are disabled
there are not enough hiring and contracting opportunities for students who are disabled•the ODA lacks an all-encompassing definition of “barriers”
the ODA lacks an all-encompassing definition of “barriers”•methods need to be in place to reduce attitudinal barriers to education, as well as employment barriers
methods need to be in place to reduce attitudinal barriers to education, as well as employment barriers•accessing living allowance with ODSP often clashes with OSAP guidelines, as many students with disabilities are forced to pay back both the loan and ODSP
accessing living allowance with ODSP often clashes with OSAP guidelines, as many students with disabilities are forced to pay back both the loan and ODSP•consumers should be allowed to provide confidential info about their disabilities to their instructors when seeking accommodations
consumers should be allowed to provide confidential info about their disabilities to their instructors when seeking accommodations A question period followed the panel discussion. Several emails were sent to the panelists in response to their criticisms, ideas and suggestions. The question period began when the panelists responded to the concerns regarding difficulties of transition to or from post-secondary education to the professional level. This ensued a debate between the pros and cons of self-identification (i.e. disclosing your disability to faculty and school staff).
In response to other questions raised, the panelists revealed that:
•universities need to make its disability services more widely available to secondary schools
universities need to make its disability services more widely available to secondary schools•secondary and post-secondary schools lack understanding of academic and career opportunities for students with disabilities
secondary and post-secondary schools lack understanding of academic and career opportunities for students with disabilities•more disabled role models are needed for mentoring programs at secondary schools
more disabled role models are needed for mentoring programs at secondary schools•a $2500 bursary is available to some students with disabilities receiving ODSP, but it is seldom promoted
a $2500 bursary is available to some students with disabilities receiving ODSP, but it is seldom promoted•a transition to post-secondary school to work could include mentoring initiatives and subsidies
a transition to post-secondary school to work could include mentoring initiatives and subsidies•students with disabilities who are blind need better access to audio books needed for consumers who are blind (e.g. the University of Toronto doesn’t make its textbook lists available until the 3rd week of August, and this doesn’t provide enough time for students who are blind to prepare for the academic year)
students with disabilities who are blind need better access to audio books needed for consumers who are blind (e.g. the University of Toronto doesn’t make its textbook lists available until the 3rd week of August, and this doesn’t provide enough time for students who are blind to prepare for the academic year) At the end of the Webcast, Catherine Frazee summarized the following conclusions:
•students need to have information at the earliest stages (e.g. accommodations, opportunities, strategies for barrier removal)
students need to have information at the earliest stages (e.g. accommodations, opportunities, strategies for barrier removal)•they also need to know their rights
they also need to know their rights•a call is needed to make technology more easily available and permitted
a call is needed to make technology more easily available and permitted•literacy tests must be re-examined
literacy tests must be re-examined•recognition needs to be made for different learning levels
recognition needs to be made for different learning levels•improved accommodation is needed for Franco-Ontarian consumers
improved accommodation is needed for Franco-Ontarian consumers•post-secondary employers and employees need to be better trained to understand student needs + remove attitudinal barriers
post-secondary employers and employees need to be better trained to understand student needs + remove attitudinal barriers•there is a need for schools to make request book publishers to provide alternate formats
there is a need for schools to make request book publishers to provide alternate formats Dr. Kular thanked the participants, and noted that ODA comments will be “an important step in developing meaningful measures to strengthen the act with the government.”
Consumers viewing the Webcast were invited to submit their ODA ideas and suggestions to the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, by phone or regular mail, before the deadline of March 31.
