Student Accessibility Services offers consultations to York students who suspect that their academic difficulties are due to an undiagnosed attention disorder, mental health disability or learning disability.

Our office does not provide assessments. This process is to provide students with information and the next steps to accessing campus or community resources.

Is a consultation appropriate for you?

Consultations are designed to help students:

• To determine whether they should pursue a mental health, learning disability or attention disorder assessment.
• Connect with campus services that can support their learning
• Who do not have an existing diagnosis (mental health, learning, attention, medical, sensory, physical disability) and do not have access to a registered health care professional (such as a family doctor) they can speak to about the difficulties they are experiencing

Have you been diagnosed with a disability (mental health, learning, attention, sensory, physical)?

If you have an existing diagnosis, even if your reason for looking into a consultation is to explore a different diagnosis, please visit the New Students page of our website for information about how to register with us.

Do you have a family doctor?

If you have a family doctor, we encourage you to speak with your doctor about your concerns. Your family doctor might be able to provide an assessment or an assessment referral.

Has your family doctor (or other health care professional) prescribed medication and/or indicated that you have a mental health disability or attention disorder?

If a registered health care professional (such as a family doctor) has provided you with medication and/or diagnosed a mental health or attention disorder, we encourage you to speak with them about the difficulties you are experiencing, registration with our office and the completion of our Student Accessibility Services Medical Form. Please visit the New Students page of our website for information about how to register with us.

Do you have a history of academic supports, such as an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?

If you have a history of academic supports in high school, or at another post secondary institution, we encourage you to explore registration with our office. Visit the New Students page of our website to learn more.

Are you feeling stressed or experiencing low mood and/or anxiety?

Stress, mood, and anxiety can have a broad range of effects on academic success. This impact can range from struggles with focus and concentration to trouble getting down to work.

• Student Counselling, Health & Well-Being provides short term counselling support to York students.
• Counselling support is also available from Good 2 Talk, Ontario's post-secondary student help line.

Balancing study and relaxation and paying attention to diet, sleep and exercise are important and can impact mood and overall well-being.

• Health Education and Promotion works to support student well-being here at York.
• Additional information about well-being supports and services is available from Mental Health and Wellness at York.

Are you struggling to meet academic or program requirements?

It is possible that your study, time management, writing, or organizational skills may need some fine tuning for university level studies. Also, consider whether you have the academic background or knowledge (e.g. math, writing, science) required to be successful in your program. You may want to look for academic upgrading opportunities in the community or investigate opportunities here at York.

Here are some of the supports and services available at York to help students improve their academic skills and achieve academic success:

• Learning Skills Services provides workshops and individual sessions on academic skills development such as time management and critical thinking.
• The Writing Centre offers instruction in all aspects of writing at the university level.
• Bethune College provides academic support to York students in the sciences and engineering. Visit their Get Help page to learn more.
• The ESL Open Learning Centre (OLC) offers support to students for whom English is a Second/Additional Language

A comprehensive list of academic supports and services available at York (as well as help finding tutors and study groups) is available from Study Hub.

Are you in a program that fits with your strengths?

Think about the program you are in in terms of your personal strengths and weaknesses.

Your program is not making the best use of your abilities, Career Education & Development can help you explore career options.

If you need guidance on making a change, and/or understanding new program requirements, Academic Advising is a key source of program advising and academic planning.

Consultation Request

If you would like to move forward with a consultation, please complete this Consultation Request Form. Please note that at peak times of the year (September – November) there may be up to an 8 week wait to meet with someone. If you have a family doctor, please connect with them to speak about filling out our medical form.