For Immediate Release                                                            

May 29 , 2006

INCREASED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT
ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE AND QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY

McGuinty Government On the Side Of Students Who Want Access to Opportunity

KINGSTON – The McGuinty government has expanded support for students with disabilities to ensure they have the opportunity to study and succeed at St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University, MPP John Gerretsen announced today on behalf of Chris Bentley Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

“We are on the side of hard working families who want their children to find opportunity through access to postsecondary education,” Gerretsen said. “That’s why our government is committed to ensuring that all Ontarians, including students with disabilities in the Kingston community, have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Last year, Queen’s University received a funding increase of $20,924 to bring Ontario’s direct investment in their services for students with disabilities to almost $489,844. In addition St. Lawrence received a funding increase of $30,131 to bring their provincial investment total to $528,701.
 
The government provided $28.2 million in 2005-06 to help universities and colleges provide services for students with disabilities to help them succeed.  This funding is used to support a wide range of services for students with disabilities. Services include:

• Arranging note-taking support for visually impaired students and interpreter services for hearing impaired students
• Conducting learning assessments to determine the nature of a student's learning disability
• Providing access to adaptive computer and software learning technology to assist students with different learning needs
• Arranging extra time and support for students with learning disabilities to write exams
• Ensuring the institution is physically accessible for students with reduced mobility

The funding included an additional $2.6 million to support pilot projects and provide additional funding to the offices for students with disabilities at each institution.  The additional funding is part of the government’s plan to invest $10.2 million in 2005-06, rising to $55 million in 2009-10, to help postsecondary institutions deliver programs that improve access to postsecondary opportunity for francophones, aboriginals, persons with disabilities and those who would be the first in their families to attend college or university.
Providing more access for students with disabilities is the latest way the McGuinty government is working to provide opportunity for Ontario’s students.  Other initiatives include:

• Creating 75,000 more spaces in postsecondary education for qualified students
• Doubling our investment in student aid to help more families with the cost of higher education
• Bringing back grants for students who need help the most, benefiting 60,000 students this coming year

“We know that enhancing support and services for students with disabilities will go a long way toward helping them achieve their postsecondary goals,” said Bentley. “We’re working to ensure every Ontarian has the tools they need to prosper in the economy of the 21st century.”

Under the Reaching Higher Plan, the Ontario government is making an historic $6.2 billion multi-year investment to support postsecondary education — the largest in 40 years — to create more opportunities for Ontarians to succeed.

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For more information contact:
John Gerretsen, MPP
Kingston and The Islands
547-2385