The Regional Assessment and Resource Centre (RARC), based at Queen’s University, has created a comprehensive guide to help students with disabilities successfully transition from high school to university or college.

The Transition Resource Guide, developed with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, is a one-stop repository of information to help students navigate the transition to post-secondary studies and access the services and supports they need.

“Starting university or college can be a difficult transition for any student, and a disability can bring additional challenges,” says Marie McCarron, Clinical Manager at RARC. “Regardless of whether there is a learning, mental health or physical disability involved, the Transition Resource Guide offers valuable information to help students through the entire process, from making an application to getting the services they require once they arrive on campus.”

Starting university or college can be a difficult transition for any student, and a disability can bring additional challenges...the Transition Resource Guide offers valuable information to help students through the entire process.

- Marie McCarron, Clinical Manager at RARC

The guide includes general information on topics such as selecting a college or university, scholarships and bursaries, and disability support services. It also makes it easier to navigate the resources available at each of Ontario’s universities and colleges by providing specific information about each institution and their disability and accessibility services.

The guide was created with input from a variety of stakeholders, including students with disabilities, disability service professionals at Ontario’s universities and colleges, as well as secondary school counsellors.

“We’ve had tremendous feedback from many people.” says Allyson Harrison, Clinical Director at RARC. “There is a great demand from students, educators and counsellors in Ontario to have this type of information available in a central, easily accessible place.”

The print version of the Transition Resource Guide will be distributed to secondary school guidance departments across Ontario.

The Transition Resource Guide is available online at transitionresourceguide.ca in English and French and will soon be available in print and distributed to secondary school guidance departments across the province. An advisory board of stakeholders, including students and disability service professionals, will provide ongoing oversight to ensure the guide remains accurate and continues to meet the needs of transitioning students.

Established at Queen’s University in 2003, the Regional Assessment and Resource Centre provides psychoeducational assessment services to post-secondary students in southern Ontario and assists students in making the transition from elementary to secondary and post-secondary studies. It also provides training and supervision to graduate students and conducts research on learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.