WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg responded today to media reports about an internal memo issued on potential changes to disability student services.
The University said the memo was sent prematurely and that the decisions outlined in the memo had not been approved by the University’s Senior Executive. As a result of the concerns raised by the items in the memo, the University is taking the following immediate steps to address the needs of its students with disabilities:
- The University will give the Disability Services Centre the resources to hire a person to coordinate the voluntary note-taking program.
- The University will eliminate the intake interview waitlist as soon as possible by hiring an advisor. The Human Resources Department will send out a notice of hiring this week.
- The University recently hired two full-time employees for the computerized note-taking service and it will continue to look for more qualified people to fill existing needs.
- The University is initiating a peer training program for personal adaptive technology and will work with students as much as possible to ensure adequate training is available.
- Letters of introduction will continue to be made available to those students that require them.
“The University of Winnipeg remains strongly committed to providing services to all of its students, including those students with disabilities,” said UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. “We stand behind our strong commitment to inclusivity, human rights and diversity. Our mandate to reach out and support traditionally under-represented students, including those with disabilities, remains important to us.”
The University has seen an increase in disabled students this year of 20 percent and a cumulative increase in the three previous years of 300 percent. The rising service demands that go with such dramatic increases have been a challenge to the University, which has not seen any increase in Provincial Government grant funding for these services. The University will continue to seek funding to address the increased service needs of this growing student population. It will also consult with its Board of Regents on how to meet these demands.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Shawn Coates, Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7126, C: 204.230.0202, E: s.coates@uwinnipeg.ca
