College and university students are typically expected to be more independent than high school or elementary school students. It is important to be proactive by letting your post-secondary institution know about your disability before beginning your classes. Your post-secondary institution may have an accessibility office that you can contact.
You can also contact Nova Scotia Post-Secondary Accessibility Services, which helps provide access to disability-related resources relating to education.
Once you have informed your post-secondary institution of your needs, their legal duty to accommodate you up until the point of undue hardship is initiated.
As a post-secondary student, it is important to be able to self-advocate. Informing your post-secondary institution of your exact needs, and helping to facilitate reasonable efforts at the accommodation, are vital. For example, you may want to request class materials in an accessible format. Letting your professors know your requests in advance will help ensure that your needs are met in a timely manner.
You may also find it helpful to review your school’s human rights and accessibility policies. In some circumstances, there may be accessibility policies that are specific to your program as well.
A note about financing post-secondary education
Students with disabilities may be eligible for government grants. For example, the government offers funding for expenses like transportation, learning support services, and special materials. The government also grants students with disabilities more time to receive student assistance funding.