FAQ for High School Teachers & Guidance Counsellors

Any student applying for admission to the University of Waterloo can submit a request for special consideration. Visit the Request for special consideration web page for more information.

Questions can be directed to specialconsideration@uwaterloo.ca.

All students who register with AccessAbility Services must provide recent documentation from a certified, licensed practitioner whose training is commonly accepted for establishing a specific diagnosis. 

Documentation should:

• Be current, dated within the last 3 years for students with learning disabilities, within the last year for students with medical disabilities, and updated periodically, particularly for students with chronic medical conditions.

• Describe the functional impact of the disability or condition on the student's ability to perform daily activities necessary to participate in post-secondary studies.
• Make available the results of individual testing batteries or a summary of results where possible, or disclose with permission.
• List any prescribed medications, possible side effects, and effects on academic performance.
• Detail recommended strategies for academic accommodation. The practitioner should clearly indicate how they are linked to the impact of the condition's manifestation.

An IEP describes the special education program and/or services required by a student and identifies learning expectations and accommodations.  As IEPs may be developed for a student who has not been formally identified, AccessAbility Services can help students make arrangements to obtain the necessary documentation when appropriate.  Students with suspected disabilities should make an appointment to meet with one of our advisors for screening of disability and referral to a qualified professional.

There are programs at the university for students with disabilities that will help them experience a smooth transition from high school to university and will help them adjust to the new environment and deal with their disability.

Click on the following links to learn more:

Student Success

Open Doors

Students with a disability often reduce their course load and either take additional semesters to complete their degree, take courses during the spring/summer semester or take an additional course while on a co-op work term.

Counselling Services offer a series of workshops to assist students in many areas including study skills, preparing for exams, anxiety, procrastination and mindfulness stress reduction.

The Writing Centre is staffed with professional tutors (staff members with undergraduate, educational, graduate, and/or ESL degrees) who provide individual attention to students who want to improve the quality, clarity, and depth of their writing.

There are pre-university courses offered through Waterloo’s Centre for Extended Learning:  Calculus (MATH 052) and Chemistry (CHEM 001).  They are non-credit pre-university courses designed as refresher courses.  These course cover the upper-level secondary school material considered essential for related first-year university courses.

Accommodations at the university level are based on formal documentation that demonstrates that the requested accommodations are required and they may differ from those given in high school.

Students complete the online application form and submit their documentation for review. 

The following link will take you to additional information about the University of Waterloo.