Carleton offers support for students with invisible disabilities

Carleton University has developed innovative services to improve accessibility for students with “invisible” disabilities such as chronic pain, arthritis, cognitive dysfunction, hearing or vision impairments, and mental health disorders. At Carleton, 8% of students are registered with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC), and 92% of disabilities among students are classified as non-visible. The PMC offers support including counselling, extended time for examinations, and assistive technologies. The school has also implemented the From Intention to Action (FIT:Action) program to help students better manage stress and improve academic performance and support students who may not have documentation for a disability. Students must make a 12-week commitment to the program, regularly meeting with a counsellor. “There are different gradients of service that support different groups of people,” said John Meissner, FIT:Action project leader. “There is a whole lot more to going to university than getting good grades.” Carleton News Release