From the Desk of the Director
Updates from Michael Nicholson, Director, Accessibility Services.
Updated July 14, 2026
Advancing Transparency in Our Work
Accessibility Services was among the first offices on campus to establish a Student Advisory Committee. Today, this model has been adopted across the University of Toronto, with all Student Life offices maintaining their own student advisory groups. For many years, we have also conducted an annual student survey, the results of which are published and shared with the broader community.
Building on this longstanding commitment to collaboration and consultation, we introduced a Faculty Advisory Committee last year. This group strengthens dialogue with faculty and instructors and supports the development of clearer, more consistent approaches to implementing academic accommodations. Faculty play a vital role in this work, and their perspectives and engagement are essential to ensuring effective support for students.
A key theme emerging from both advisory committees is this: a desire for greater transparency from Accessibility Services. Students and faculty alike have expressed a strong interest in better understanding how accommodations are determined—including the factors we consider, the policies and legal frameworks that guide our decisions, and the processes involved in developing, revising, and updating accommodation plans over time.
The work of Accessibility Services is thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in established principles and practices. However, because much of this work takes place behind the scenes—and within strict privacy and confidentiality requirements—it is not always visible to the broader community. In response to this feedback, we are taking steps to make our processes more open, clear, and accessible, while continuing to ensure student privacy and confidentiality is maintained at the highest standards.
One of the most important initiatives supporting this goal is the development of a comprehensive “About Us” section on our website. This resource is designed to provide deeper insight into how we operate, the values that guide our work, our workflows and processes, and the ways we support students, faculty, and the wider University of Toronto community. The site is detailed and comprehensive, and being added to and improved over the coming months as we receive further feedback and bring more of our workflow and context forward for review by the wider community.
Please have a look and let us know how we are doing in addressing the key pieces you wish to understand and dive into further.
Updated July 3, 2026
Celebrating Excellence, Equity, and Community in Convocation 2026
Each June and November, the University of Toronto marks a significant milestone: the graduation of more than 24,000 students. Within this achievement is an important story. Approximately 11% of graduates—around 2,600 students—have formally engaged with accessibility services across the university’s three campuses during their studies.
Behind each of these numbers is a distinct and meaningful journey. This year’s graduates include students who have navigated complex paths, balancing academic demands with health conditions, learning differences, and unexpected challenges. Through these experiences, they have demonstrated resilience, growth, and determination. They are future engineers, educators, healthcare professionals, artists, and leaders. While their paths have not always been linear, they reflect a deep commitment to success.
These accomplishments take on even greater significance when we consider the diversity of identities and experiences students bring with them. We know from our survey data that students with disabilities encounter a multitude of intersecting barriers shaped by multiple aspects of identity and lived experience.
Each graduate contributes a unique perspective that enriches our community and challenges us to rethink how we define excellence at the University of Toronto. Excellence is not only measured by achievement, but also by perseverance, adaptability, and the capacity to thrive amid complexity. Few examples illustrate this more clearly than the achievements of students who have successfully navigated disability related barriers during their time at U of T.
On behalf of Accessibility Services at U of T, congratulations to all the graduates of 2026, and particularly those who have been part of our service. It has been an honour to share this journey with you and we wish you every success in the next stage of your journey!
