School of Social Work
Disability and Access - Information and Resources
Ryerson Access Centre
The Ryerson Access Centre is a department of Ryerson University that provides a wide variety of supports and resources to students who identify as having a disability. The Centre works directly with students to ensure that accommodation needs are met and to help students receive all the information and support they require.
In addition to supporting students with their accommodation needs, the Ryerson Access Centre can assist placement settings in identifying accommodation needs and facilitating necessary accommodations. Field Instructors who have questions or concerns with regard to access issues are encouraged to make use of the resources at the Ryerson Access Centre.
Visit the Ryerson Access Centre's website for additional information about the Centre, as well as information and resources about disability and access issues.
The School of Social Work recommends that students who are registered with the Ryerson Access Centre contact their Counsellor as soon as possible to discuss any potential accommodation needs related to successful completion of a field placement. Students requiring special accommodations should inform their Field Education Coordinator at the time they are registering their placement preferences in the on-line system.
Student Survey on Access and Disability Issues
The School of Social Work has a commitment to ensuring that students who identify as having a disability are able to participate fully in all aspects of the University and its various academic and non-academic programs. We recognize that accessibility issues are of critical importance and that serious effort must be continuously made to ensure inclusive and fully accessible programs.
During 2008, as part of its own process in the School of Social Work, the Field Education Office began to explore how to better assist students who require accommodations in their field placements and to develop the capacity of Field Instructors to respond more effectively to students’ needs for accommodations. One of the outcomes of this process was a survey that was developed by the Field Education Office in March 2008. The purpose of the survey was to collect information from students with disabilities about their experiences in field placements. The survey was designed to gather information about what was helpful to them and what challenges they experienced with respect to access issues.
Eight students responded to the survey. Although this is a limited number, the responses were insightful, consistent, and provided an excellent framework from which to begin a discussion of how to increase accessibility within field placement settings. One of the most useful aspects of the survey is in the ways it provides some concrete examples of ways that placement settings could be more supportive to students with disabilities.
The following is an overview of the survey responses.
March 2008 Student Survey on Access and Disability Issues 
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