20 General Resources and Support
Learning Objectives
By completing this section, you can:
- Identify the resources and support available.
- Explore general tips and guidelines for post-secondary success.
- Explicitly find resources and support for marginalize groups you may identify with.
This section is intended to provide direct links for students with marginalized identities in attempts to provide support and resources in an inclusive and accessible manner. This section is for general use and does not provide school specific resources or support.
Accessibility & Support for Students with Exceptionalities
Accessibility Challenges on Campus:
University and college campuses can be difficult for all students to navigate when they are first becoming familiar with the school. In addition, all aspects of campus may not be fully accessible, so it is important to plan ahead when visiting campus for the first time.
The majority of colleges and universities have online versions of their campus maps, which contain information on accessibility. This includes the locations of accessible entrances, accessible washrooms, Handi Transit stops, and emergency telephones. Some schools may even have virtual tours of their campus available online.
To find your school’s accessible map or virtual campus tour, use the following key words and phrases in Google:
- Accessibility map [name of your college/university]
- Campus map [name of your college/university]
- Virtual tour [name of your college/university]
How to Access Support and Accommodation:
In order to receive support services at college or university, you will need to notify the school you are attending beforehand. The school will likely ask for medical documentation in order to provide you with these services. For more details, contact your school’s accessibility office directly in-person, through email or over phone.
To find out the services available at your college or university use the following key words and phrases in Google:
- Accessible Learning at [name of your college/university]
- Accessibility and Accommodation at [name of your college/university]
- Students Accessibility Services at [name of your college/university]
- Services for Students with Disabilities at [name of your college/university]
The following resources for students with exceptionalities are available at most post-secondary institutions.
Always check what services are available at your post-secondary institution to see what is available.
- Access to alternative format textbooks (e.g., electronic, Braille)
- Access to accessible versions of PowerPoint slides and other documents on course websites
- Use of sign-language interpreters in class
- Permission to tape record lectures
- Writing exams in a quiet location
- Use of assistive technology when writing exams (e.g., a computer equipped with specialized software)
- Use of an assistant in labs
- Memory aid
- Scribe
- Extra time for assignments and examinations
- Volunteer note-taking
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Resources for BIPOC Students
BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. BIPOC students face unique challenges when entering post-secondary school.
- Live Another Day: The Live Another Day website has a variety of mental health resources for BIPOC students.
- Liberate: Liberate is a daily meditation app created by BIPOC community members for BIPOC community members.
- Project Lotus: Project Lotus is a website that provides mental health resources and supports for members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
- The BIPOC Project: The BIPOC Project aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), in order to undo Native invisibility, anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice.
- Resources for Marginalized Communities and Allies: This resource is designed to be a helpful starting point by The Canada Suicide Prevention Service, whether you are a member of a marginalized community looking for resources to support your well-being and mental health, or are interested in becoming or being a better Ally.
- BIPOC Job Search in Canada: A job search engine for BIPOC.
As part of this program, we are committed to ensuring that the teachings of this program are holistic and recognize the important contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC). We would like to acknowledge that science has historically been built by a select number of privileged voices. While that does not change the quality of the science or the science norms of the past, we are committed to ensuring that a broader range of perspectives and voices are shared and woven throughout this program.
Resources for Black Students:
- Black Lives Matter (BLM): The Black Lives Matter movement’s mission is “to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes”. The BLM website provides resources and information on how to get involved with the movement.
Career Conversation Panel for BIPOC Learners
Resources for Indigenous Students
- Indigenous Works: Indigenous Works is a non-profit national organization that was founded in 1998. Its aim is to “improve the inclusion and engagement of Indigenous people in the Canadian economy”. The Indigenous Works website also has an online job board where people can post and apply to relevant positions.
- Indigenous Services Canada (ISC): Indigenous Services Canada is provided through the Government of Canada and “support and empower Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities”.
- Indspire: Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.
- Indigenous Specific Online Mental Health Lines:
- For Residential School Survivors, and those who may be in need of support:
- National IRS Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- IRSS Telephone Support Line: 1-800-721-0066
- FN & Inuit Hope or Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
- Native Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-877-209-1266
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868
The University of Windsor sits on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which includes the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomie. We respect the longstanding relationships with First Nations people in this place in the 100-mile Windsor-Essex peninsula and the straits – les détroits – of Detroit.
Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation
Retrieved from Agnes Kucharska at Mohawk College
Resources for International Students
Practical Tips for International Students
- Take Advantage of your School’s Online and In-Person Resources
- Use your time to learn as much as possible about the school you are attending. Learn about the local transportation types that are available, the area you will be living in, the Canadian culture, and more! Your school’s website will have additional information and resources to help support international students.
- Make Friends
- Making friends and meeting new people is a great way to experience Canadian culture. In addition, speaking to people from other countries can also help you improve your vocabulary. If you are in the process of learning English, talking to new people will be beneficial.
- Get A Student Account at a Local Financial Institution
- Do your research on a student account that offers low service fees. You can get a debit card that you can use to make deposits and withdrawals or pay bills. You will usually be asked for your foreign passport and photo to open a bank account.
- The following financial Institutions are commonly found in Canada:
- Access the Labour Market
- Strive to obtain a co-op placement through school to gain Canadian work experience.
- Look for local and on-campus volunteer opportunities to help gain Canadian work experience.
- Network with friends and members of various communities. You can network by joining clubs and attending events to widen your exposure to a variety of different people.
Additional Support
- Attend your college or university’s orientation
- Look into what academic supports are available at your college or university for international students
- If needed, see if your college or university offers English language training
- Search for clubs or groups for international students
- Maintain a consistent relationship with an academic advisor to stay on track
- Attend workshops, seminars, or training sessions that colleges and universities offer for International Students
Information for international students about working and living in Ontario:
Obtaining an Ontario Photo ID
For international students, you may not have a valid Ontario driver’s license or health-card to present as identification. This informative video shows and explains how to get an Ontario photo ID card, which is a great supplementary piece of government accepted identification outside of your passport.
Resources for 2SLGBTQI Students
2SLGBTQI stands for Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex individuals. Members of the 2SLGBTQI community face additional barriers compared to other students.
Supports for 2SLGBTQI students:
- Egale: Egale is a Canadian organization that aims to “improve the lives of 2SLGBTQI people in Canada and to enhance the global response to 2SLGBTQI issues” by “informing public policy, inspiring cultural change, and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education, awareness and legal advocacy”. Egale provides training, workshops, and webinars, as well as opportunities for students to get involved.
- QueerOntario.org: Queer Ontario is a provincial network of gender and sexually diverse individuals and their allies who are committed to questioning, challenging, and reforming the laws, institutional practices, and social norms that regulate queer people. Their programs include a provincial LGBTQ+ directory and an ideas space called the Queer Ontario Think Tank, among others.
- Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line: A peer support service offered through telephone, texting, and live chat for 2SLGBTQ youth up to age 29. All volunteers are trained peer supporters ages 16-29 with a diversity of 2SLGBTQ+ identities and lived experiences.
- The Get REAL Movement: The Get Real Movement is focused on combatting 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination and promoting acceptance in schools, summer camps, and workplaces by offering inclusivity workshops and leadership development programs. Their programming aims to break down prejudice, promote unity, and foster compassion in the world.
- Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the resources they need, including a peer support hotline and microgrants.
Support for 2SLGBTQI Students On Campus:
If LGBTQ students face any difficulties on campus, there are methods of support.
- Counselling Services offered on university campuses for students’ mental health
- Problems of discrimination, human rights, violations, or harassment can be addressed at a university’s human rights office or the student alliance group of the university
- Universities have pride/gender & sexuality centres as a safe space for LGBTQ students
- Problems with residence are addressed at the universities Residence Services
- Contacting Campus Police
- Accessing a university’s legal assistance
- Universities offer Walk Safe programs to escort students around campus, parking lots, and subways, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Sex and Gender Terminology
Retrieved from Caitlin Cull at Conestoga College
Resources for Mature Students
Mature students are students who do not meet the traditional academic requirements expected of a college or university undergraduate program. Mature students likely have not received an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or an equivalent diploma), or are missing other program requirements. School’s will recognize other life accomplishments and work experiences in place of the academic requirements. Mature students may face additional challenges compared to their peers.
Part-Time Associations for Mature Students:
General Tips and Guidance for Post-Secondary Success
Do:
- Regularly attend class whether it is held in-person or online
- Review course syllabi before and throughout the semester
- Stay on top of assigned readings and multimedia
- Set goals and deadlines to accomplish tasks or projects
- Have regular review and study sessions built into your weekly schedule so you aren’t cramming before a test/final
- Visit or email your professor during their office hours
- Prepare questions prior to the session to ensure you don’t forget anything
- Meet new friends and acquaintances
- Make 1-2 new friends in each of your classes. This will help in case you are ever sick and unable to attend a class, to form study groups, or for potential group work.
- Maintain a well-balanced lifestyle (academics, work, health and wellness, social life)
- Establish a schedule or routine that consists of daily, weekly, or monthly to-do lists
Don’t:
- Leave class mid-lecture (unless it’s an emergency or you have already emailed the professor)
- Procrastinate
- Submit assignments late
- Struggle in silence
Adapted from The Student Success and Leadership Centre at the University of Windsor
Chapter Progress
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