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Accessibility

Laurier is committed to creating a barrier-free environment for everyone, including persons with disabilities, while studying, visiting or working. As part of this commitment, we offer a variety of services and supports to create an accessible Laurier.

We welcome feedback about how the university provides goods and services to persons with disabilities. If you experience an issue or have suggestion, you can contact the department responsible directly, or the Equity and Accessibility office.

If you are experiencing more complex or elevated challenges, or require support to be coordinated through multiple departments or services, please connect with the Dean of Students office directly for support.

Campus Status Updates

Stay up to date with building/ facility service disruptions on our Campus Status page. Contact the iservicedesk at 519.884.0710 x6280 or iservicedesk@wlu.ca to report a disruption.

Dean of Students, Waterloo campus

Dean of Students, Brantford campus

Academic

Accessible Learning 

Accessible Learning is your central support for all academic accommodations. Whether you have a permanent or temporary disability, they can help level the playing field and empower you to reach your full academic potential. Once you have registered with Accessible Learning and have submitted your documentation, they will work with you to determine appropriate academic accommodations. Some options may include strategy support, note-taking and/or exam accommodations.

Accessible Learning, Waterloo

Accessible Learning, Brantford

Library

The Laurier Library will likely play a huge role in your academics, so it's important to get familiar with all of their services.

The Library has services for students with disabilities including research help, book retrieval and delivery, digitization of print books and articles, and creating more accessible formats of Library materials. Students registered with the ALC can book individual study spaces for quiet study at the Waterloo Campus Library.

For details see the Library Accessibility Hub, or ask the Library Accessibility staff at libaccessibility@wlu.ca.

Experiential Learning and Career Development

Co-op

Want to gain real-world experience while you study? Co-op is a great way to diversify your learning! The Co-op Office has coordinators to help you explore organizations you're interested in working with and research employers who have specific recruiting initiatives targeted towards students with disabilities (such as banks and CPA firms). They can also help you identify your needs with employers to ensure you are fully supported and provided any required equipment during work terms.

Waterloo Co-op Office

Brantford Co-op Office

Community and Workplace Partnerships

The Community and Workplace Partnerships office works to integrate your in-class learning with experiences outside the traditional classroom. They will work with you, as well as your professors and ALC consultants, to ensure you find a placement that meets your needs and figure out which accommodations will work best for you. They can also support you with self-identifying necessary accommodations to community or industry partners, and work with the partners to confirm they are able to address your requested accommodations.

Community and Workplace Partnerships, Waterloo

Community and Workplace Partnerships, Brantford

Career Centre

The Career Centre is a great resource to take advantage of while you're still a student. They can support you while you think ahead about career decisions or when you're looking for experiences while you study or upon graduation, whether it's a job, volunteer work or other experiential learning opportunities.

The Career Centre has a dedicated career consultant who focuses on students with disabilities and works with the ALC to offer monthly drop-in sessions and other workshops. They can give you a lot of helpful information about your rights during an interview, disclosure options, accommodations and any other career questions you might have. They can also set you up with external resources on workplace accessibility.

Human Resources

Equity and Accessibility

The Equity and Accessibility department in Human Resources is committed to inclusion at Laurier. They  develop training and workshops related to accessibility, consult on AODA legislation and advocate for accessibility in policies.  

Contact them if you experience a barrier to inclusion or if you wish to provide feedback on accessibility at Laurier.

Employee Health and Well-Being

If you're a student employee not registered with the ALC, the Employee Health and Well-Being department can work with you to ensure you have all accommodations you need as a Laurier employee. They can also offer accommodations during your job interview.

Cindy Gruhl
Health and Abilities Consultant

Health and Wellness

Athletics

Athletics and recreation activities can be a great way to balance your academic life, get involved with your community and stay healthy – both physically and mentally. A few years ago, the Athletic Complex in Waterloo underwent substantial updates to ensure the facility is accessible. In 2018, the Brantford campus unveiled a brand new, fully accessible complex in partnership with the YMCA.

Staff are available to take you on guided tours and answer any questions you have about accessibility and accommodations they offer in the facilities and the various programs they run.

Sarah Broderick
Manager of Recreation and Wellness

Wellness Centre

The Wellness Centre provides counselling and health services by a multidisciplinary team to all Laurier students, covered through your OHIP and extended health plans.

They offer everything from individual and group counselling, to doctor's appointments, massage therapy and chiropractor's appointments – all conveniently located on campus in both Waterloo and Brantford. You can also get medical documentation from the practitioners at the centre, if they are your primary care physician.

They also have a ton of programming throughout the year with Wellness Education to help you take a proactive approach to your health. This includes free workshops, peer-led initiatives and yearly events like Thrive Week. Interested in getting involved? They hire peer wellness educators every March.

Waterloo Wellness Centre

  • T: 548.889.3239
  • E: wellness@wlu.ca
  • Office location: Student Services Building, second floor

Brantford Wellness Centre

Delton Glebe Counselling

The Delton Glebe Centre is a valuable wellness resource for our community run by Martin Luther University College. The centre offers a unique multi-faith approach to counselling, taking into account a variety of spiritual or faith-based belief systems, to help you strengthen your emotional and spiritual well-being.

  • T: 519.884.3305 (Albert location) or 226.898.4016 (Weber location)
  • E: glebecentre@wlu.ca

Indigenous Student Centre

The Indigenous Student Centre strives to make sure their services and spaces are accessible for everyone and that the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve their full potential. They work to support students in navigating systems and resources both within the university and the broader community.

If you require an accommodation or would like to provide feedback about accessibility within the Indigenous Student Centre, supports and services or events, please contact your Indigenous Student Support Coordinator.

Emily Daniel
Indigenous Student Support Coordinator, Waterloo and Kitchener

Margaret Neveau
Indigenous Student Support Coordinator, Brantford

Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (formerly the Diversity and Equity Office), works to cultivate a culture on campus that respects and promotes equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in all aspects of Laurier – from classrooms to residence communities. They offer support and community connections, educational programming and volunteer opportunities.

Centre for Equity Diversity and Inclusion, Waterloo

  • E: diversity@wlu.ca
  • Office location: Macdonald House Residence, main floor, room 117

Centre for Equity Diversity and Inclusion, Brantford

  • E: lburrows@wlu.ca
  • Office location: Grand River Hall, main floor, room 206

Community Services

There are many supports and services to assist persons with disabilities in the communities in which Laurier's campuses are located.