Disability Services
| This information pertains to distance learning through Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL). If you require information about on-campus learning at TRU Kamloops, click here. |
Disability Services Department
| Phone: |
1.888.828.6644 (toll-free in Canada)
250.828.5023 (Kamloops)
|
| Email: |
dso@tru.ca |
A student with a disability requiring additional arrangements and/or supports should contact Disability Services to begin the application review process.
Mission and Mandate
Disability Services is committed to providing services, and reasonable accomodations for students with disabilities, enabling them to integrate into the university environment and achieve their potential for success as self-directed, independent learners. Services and accommodations are tailored to students’ individual needs based on their documentation and the functional impact of their disability. Services may include but are not limited to the following:
The department assists in providing equal access to educational opportunities at Thompson Rivers University by reducing the physical, attitudinal, and systemic barriers for students.
Eligibility for Services
Services and Accommodations
TRU-OL Forms (Online and PDF)
Web Resources (Government Websites, Education-Related Websites, Community Organizations Websites, Employment-Related Websites)
Additional BC Resources
Eligibility for Services
Students who have verifiable permanent disabilities such as:
- Chronic health impairment
- Visual impairment/blind
- Mobility impairment
- Mental health disability
- Neurological impairment
- Deaf/hearing impaired
- Physical disability
- Learning disability
are eligible for disability services.
Students requiring services and/or additional arrangements are required to provide Disability Services with current documentation (within the last five years) of their medical condition and/or disability. Acceptable documentation must be obtained from a certified health-care professional who has specific training, the appropriate professional designation and expertise in the diagnosis of conditions for which the arrangements are being requested. The documentation must address the "functional impact" of the disability. Examples of appropriate health-care professionals include a physician or medical specialist, opthamologist, certified audiologist, psychiatrist, registered clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist (BCASP-registered if in BC), neurologist, neuropsychologist. The psychologist must provide a DSM diagnosis.
Additional arrangements are only provided upon clear diagnosis of a disability and are based on the "functional impact" of the disability. This is determined by a TRU disability advisor and, when necessary, in consultation with the TRU manager of Disability Services. Contact Disability Services for clarification regarding acceptable documentation.
Students with disabilities are required to contact the Disability Services Department at least 12 weeks before their intended course start date to determine eligibility and arrange both services and accommodations, which might require considerable lead time.
Services and Accommodations
Services and accommodations are tailored to students' individual needs based on their documentation and the functional impact of their disability. Services may include but are not limited to the following:
- Transition planning
- Assisted registration and admissions
- Accommodated examinations (extra time, scribing, etc.)
- Alternate format texts
- Mobility and physical access solutions
- Technical aids and adaptive equipment
- Tutoring
- Sign language interpretation
- Instructor liaison
- Referral to community resources
- Application for funding
Transition Planning
Disability Service provision is a key element of transition planning for students with disabilities but is only one piece of a much larger transition process into the university environment. The transition to the post-secondary environment signals a significant shift in the student's academic life whereby the student becomes an equal partner in her/his education as a self-directed, independent learner.
For students with disabilities requiring additional arrangements and who are registered with TRU it is crucial that they contact Disability Services a minimum of twelve (12) weeks prior to the start of their semester or course(s). In addition to our receipt and verification of disability documentation, some services, such as interpreting, alternate format texts, and external funding, require sufficient lead time to arrange.
A student with a disability requiring additional arrangements and/or supports should contact Disability Services to begin the application review process.
Web Resources
Government Websites
Advocate for Service Quality (BC)
Assistive Technology BC (government initiative to increase access to educational and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities; to facilitate independence with reading, writing, and communication within learning and work situations through the use of assistive technology; to assist adult with disabilities in making transitions between public school and post-secondary to employment)
BC Human Rights Tribunal
Canadian Health Network Resources for Persons with Disabilities (provides resources for and about people of all ages with physical or cognitive disabilities)
Enquiry BC (directory of government departments)
Government of Canada (Index)
BC Personal Supports website (provides information about and links to programs that provide equipment and assistive devices or other personal supports to persons with disabilities in British Columbia)
Education-Related Websites
BC College and Institute Library Services (provides information services in alternate formats for BC post-secondary students with reading disabilities, made available online by Langara College)
CAEDHH: Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Canadian Council on Social Development
J. P. Das Developmental Disabilities Centre (University of Alberta) (studies cognitive development)
Ministry of Advanced Education
Adult Special Education (Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development with Resource Directory for Post-secondary Students with Disabilities)
StudentAid BC
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (Canada) (advocates for full access to post-secondary education and employment)
Special Education Technology (SET-BC) (Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program to assist school districts in BC in meeting the technology needs of students with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and autism)
Community Organizations Websites
Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD)
ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities
Arthritis Society BC (latest in arthritis news and advances)
Association for the Neurologically Disabled of Canada (provides functional rehabilitation programs to individuals with neurological disabilities)
BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
BC Association for Community Living
BC Cancer Agency (cancer care programs/services for people of BC, including prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment services, support programs, community programs, research, and education)
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
BC Fibromyalgia Society (offers support to people with fibromyalgia and their families; promotes research and education)
BC Psychological Association (provides leadership for the advancement and promotion of the profession and science of psychology to serve members and the people of BC)
BC Self Advocacy Foundation
Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (represents and coordinates the network of Independent Living Resource Centres at the national level)
Canadian Association for People who Stutter (offers support and resources for people who stutter)
Canadian Disabled Individuals Association (provides a voice on behalf of all disability as well as education of that community and the public)
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian Paraplegic Association
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) (provides services to individuals whose loss of vision is a central problem in personal and social adjustments)
Canadian Treatment Action Council (national resource for and by people living with HIV/AIDS)
Council of Canadians with Disabilities (advocates at the federal level to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Canada by eliminating inequality and discrimination)
DAWN Canada Disabled Women's Network
Delta Community Living Society (provides support to adults with developmental disabilities and their families)
Disability Cool
Disabled Peoples' International (global organization, headquartered in Canada)
Down Syndrome Research Foundation (offers support to people with Down syndrome)
Easter Seal Society (offers support to children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities)
Family Net (BC)
Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf (organization of the deaf, hard-of-hearing, parents of deaf children, hearing people and friends)
Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation (offers support to people with spinal cord injury)
Heart and Stroke Foundation (programs to improve the health of Canadians by preventing and reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke through research, health promotion and advocacy)
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (offers support to people with learning disabilities, their parents, teachers and other professionals)
Learning Disabilities Association of Vancouver (serving Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond, committed to fostering the full potential of persons with learning disabilities)
Legal Services Society (BC) (information about legal aid in BC)
Multiple Sclerosis Society BC (information about multiple sclerosis and services for British Columbians and family members affected by MS)
Muscular Dystrophy Canada (provide services for people with neuromuscular disorders and motivate changes in social policy at a national level)
National Institute of Disability Management and Research (provides education, research, policy development and implementation resources to promote workplace-based reintegration programs)
North Shore Disability Resource Centre Association (offers support to people with disabilities, their families and friends)
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) (created by and for families who have a relative with a disability)
Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (provides leadership, information, training and consultation to support school districts' goals of equitable access and enhanced learning opportunities for students with visual impairments)
Reena (offers support to individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential within a framework of Jewish culture and values)
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of BC (offers support to people with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families through awareness, education and research)
G. F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre (provides inpatient, outpatient, outreach, and clinical support services to clients/patients in four programs: acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, arthritis neuromusculoskeletal)
Neil Squire Society (uses technology, knowledge and advocacy to help Canadians with physical disabilities)
TransLink Accessibility Programs and Services (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority) (HandyDART Custom Transit; HandyCard)
Vancouver Island Vocational and Rehabilitation Services (provides vocational and life skills services to people facing barriers to employment in Central and North Vancouver Island)
Vancouver Resource Society (provides accessible housing with support services to people with disablities)
Vela Microboard Association of BC (community and family support group)
War Amps ("amputees helping amputees"; counselling, self-help, and practical assistance)
Wheelweb (spinal cord injury resource)
Wilderness Access (BC Mobility Opportunities Society) (dedicated to enriching the lives of people with significant disabilities through challenging wilderness recreation activities)
Women's and Children's Health Centre of BC (provincial facility offering specialized services to children with disabilities [birth to age 19], their families and communities throughout BC)
Employment-Related Websites
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (Ministry of Human Resources program for persons with disabilities, providing support in employment-related activities)
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lower Mainland Employment Resources - Federal Employment Programs for People with Disabilities
Lower Mainland Employment Resources - Provincial Employment Programs for People with Disabilities
Ombudsman British Columbia
Kamloops Websites
LifeWorks (Community Assistance Program funded by the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, provide both clinic and community-based rehabilitation services)
People In Motion (a community-based, not for profit agency providing services to people with disabilities in Kamloops & District)
THEO BC (BC Society of Training for Health & Employment Opportunities – Kamloops office, 657 Victoria Street)
Additional BC Resources
Children's Advocate, Vancouver, Joyce Preston, phone: 604-775-3202 or TTY 775-3680 or 1-800-476-3933 (toll-free)
Office of the Public Trustee, phone: 604-660-4444
The Red Book Online , the most complete guide to community, social and government agencies and services across the Lower Mainland, made available online by the Vancouver Public Library.