Dispute Resolution
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) defines accommodations as appropriate when they provide students with disabilities meaningful access to education.
Accommodation planning begins with an identification of relevant disability related barriers to learning specific to the student. This then allows the student and advisor to work together in identifying and considering a range of accommodation options that could address these challenges. While student preference for certain accommodations is always strongly considered, it may not always be the deciding factor, especially when multiple accommodation options are available. The goal of accommodation is reasonableness, not perfection.
Occasionally, there may be situations where no accommodation can be identified that will effectively or fully mitigate a disability related barrier, particularly where an accommodation is in conflict with an academic standard/essential competency or the accommodation gives rise to safety concerns.
The University of Toronto provides students with a dispute resolution process which encompasses conflicts that may arise in the accommodations process. Questions, concerns, and issues should first be managed at the local, divisional, faculty, and college level as appropriate to the situation. For more information about policies, guidelines, publications, and resources that relate to your work and conduct as a student at the University of Toronto can be found through the Office of the Vice, Provost, Students.
Concerns About Prohibited Discrimination
If you believe an act of discrimination has taken place in violation of The University of Toronto’s Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment, these steps will assist you in reporting your concerns and finding a resolution. Please find more information about Complaints & Concerns about Discrimination & Harassment.
Disputes Within Accessibility Services Regarding Accommodations
- If you have a concern about your accommodations, the first step is to discuss this with your Accessibility Advisor. If you still have concerns after this meeting, you may discuss further with the Advisor’s Team Lead (if concern is with a Team Lead, please bring concerns forward to an Assistant Director or Director of Accessibility Services for further discussion.
- If the matter is not resolved at this point, the second step is to contact the Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services. Find an updated list of St. George Student Life contacts.
- If the matter is still not resolved, the third step should be to contact the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students at vp.students@utoronto.ca.
Accommodation Disputes in Relation to Academic Standards
Core competencies, essential requirements, and critical learning outcomes are pedagogical in nature and are established by academic programs and departments. They define the fundamental objectives and expectations a student must meet to receive credit for a course or program. Accommodations cannot be implemented if they compromise a student’s ability to demonstrate these competencies or limit the academic unit’s ability to assess learning in relation to these standards.
Professional standards are set by external regulatory bodies (e.g., the Ontario College of Social Workers, the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons). In some cases—particularly in clinical or experiential learning settings—these standards may limit the types of accommodations that can be implemented.
These standards are pedagogical in nature and Accessibility Services does not have authority to determine what constitutes an essential competency or requirement.
The following process is put in place to help navigate accommodation and academic standard conflicts when they arise:
Office of the Ombudsperson
- The University of Toronto Office of the Ombudsperson offers confidential advice and assistance to students, faculty, and staff on all three campuses of the University of Toronto.
- You may reach out to the office to discuss your concerns/problems at any point to get information about relevant policies and procedures and to help identify options. However, please note that the Ombudsperson cannot start an investigation until all other University avenues have been exhausted.
- For more information about their services and how to contact the office, visit the U of T Ombudsperson webpage.
Connect with our team
We experience a high volume of inquiries coinciding with key dates, particularly registration deadlines, exam accommodations, and other critical registrarial dates.
Please visit us in person if you have a time-sensitive need. We are located at:
455 Spadina Ave, 4th floor, Suite 400 and open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(except during scheduled closures)
Learn more about when to connect with Accessibility Services staff >
Use the Accessibility Services Portal to submit requests, track your inquiries and get answers faster. You’ll find everything you need to get support in one place, including forms, FAQs and a place to connect with the reception team.
Learn more about the programs, services and supports we offer on the Accessibility Services homepage >
