Lack of social, material, and informational support for disabled students during WIL

Students with disabilities do not receive enough social, material, informational, and logistical support from their institutions and placements at all stages of the accommodations process, which can extend beyond accessibility services.  
 

Action Area #1: Improve education and training 

Example tactics: 

• Mandate training where appropriate 
• Share/enhance existing resources 
• Create new training programs 
• Develop continuing education courses 

Action Area #2: Ensure support at all stages of placements – before, during, and after 

• Allow for site visits beforehand 
• Offer more checkpoints throughout placements 

• Develop a platform for students to give feedback to sites post-placement 

Action Area #3: Ensure better matches between students and placement sites 

• Allow for site visits beforehand 

Action Area #4: Connect students with disabilities to one another 

• Implement peer support groups 
• Implement mentorship programs 

Action Area #5: Reduce the labour for students with disabilities wishing to engage in WIL 

• Change HEI policies to allow for a greater number of coursework extensions 
• Put pressure on HEIs to decrease part-time tuition fees so that taking a reduced course load is a more viable option 

• Hire disability clinicians with the authority to implement accommodations as issues arise, with or without an official diagnosis