I need accommodations for a disability or illness
Arrange support for a disability, chronic illness or mental health condition, including the parts of graduate work that aren't classes.
In short
Start here, today. Find your university's accessibility or disability services page and read how to register. Then make a short list of the specific tasks in your program that your condition affects. This takes about 20 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
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Register early, even before you need it
You can usually register at any point in your program, but arranging accommodations takes time, so earlier is better. Some offices let you submit the intake form before you have all your documentation. Registering doesn't commit you to using every accommodation you're offered.
Get the right documentation
Offices generally want a signed report from a qualified practitioner describing your condition, how long it's expected to last and how it affects your academic work. Requirements differ by condition, so ask exactly what's needed before you book an appointment. If the cost of an assessment is a barrier, ask whether funding is available.
Describe the work you actually do
Bring your list of tasks to the intake meeting and explain what a normal week looks like: lab hours, fieldwork, teaching, writing, meetings and exams. The more concrete you are, the better your advisor can suggest accommodations that fit graduate work and not only exams.
Decide what to tell your supervisor
You might share only the accommodation itself, such as flexible meeting times or longer deadlines for drafts. Some students find it helps to say more, others prefer not to. Either way, you can ask the accessibility office to help you plan the conversation.
Plan ahead for milestones
Comprehensive exams, proposal defences and the final defence may each need their own arrangements. Raise them with accessibility services and your graduate coordinator well before the date, so there's time to agree on what's possible.
Know your options if things get harder
If your health changes, your accommodations can be reviewed. Most programs also allow medical leave, and at many universities time on an approved leave doesn't count toward your time limit. Before applying, check how leave would affect your funding, health insurance and, if you're an international student, your study permit.
Words you can use
Telling your supervisor about an accommodation
Hi [Name], I wanted to let you know that I'm registered with [accessibility services], and I have an accommodation that affects how we work together. In practice, it means [for example, I may need longer deadlines for drafts, or meetings scheduled in the afternoon]. I'm sharing this so we can plan around it. I'm still fully committed to [the next milestone], and I'd like to talk about whether the timeline needs adjusting. Could we discuss this at our next meeting? Thank you, [Your name]
Is this you? Signs to look for
- A health condition is making deadlines, lab work or long writing days harder than they need to be.
- You had accommodations as an undergraduate but haven't set them up here.
- You're not sure whether accommodations apply to research, comprehensive exams or your defence.
- You worry that telling anyone will change how your supervisor sees you.
Why this happens
Accommodations are adjustments that remove barriers so you can show what you're capable of. They don't lower the standard of your degree. In Canada, human rights law requires universities to accommodate students with disabilities, and that usually covers chronic illnesses and mental health conditions as well as physical, sensory and learning disabilities.
Graduate work makes accommodations more complicated, because so much of it happens outside a classroom. Fieldwork, lab hours, teaching duties, comprehensive exams, supervision meetings and time limits for the degree can all be affected. Accessibility offices are often most familiar with course exams, so you may need to explain what your program actually involves.
You decide how much to share. Accessibility services usually need documentation of how your condition affects your studies, but your supervisor generally only needs to know what the accommodation is, not your diagnosis.
Worth a look (6)
- Student Accessibility Services, University of CalgaryAn example of a university accessibility office that serves graduate as well as undergraduate students.
- Registering with Student Accessibility Services, University of CalgaryA detailed example of the registration steps and the documentation offices typically ask for.
- Leave of absence, University of Calgary graduate regulationsAn example of how medical and other leave affects time limits and fees. Check your own university's regulations.
- Find A HelplineSearch by country and topic to find free, confidential helplines you can call, text or chat with. It works wherever you're studying, including just after a move abroad.
- Befrienders WorldwideA directory of emotional support centres around the world, where trained volunteers listen without judging. Search by country to find one you can contact.
- Doing What Matters in Times of StressAn illustrated WHO guide to coping with stress, built on short self-help exercises you can practise for a few minutes a day. It's free, with audio, in many languages.
When to bring someone in
Start with your university's accessibility services office. Your graduate coordinator or graduate studies office can explain how leave, extensions and time limits work in your program. If you feel your accommodations aren't being followed, raise it with accessibility services first. You can also contact the ombudsperson or your university's human rights or equity office. If your condition is affecting your mental health, student wellness or counselling services can help.
Find the right person, or talk to Ify