University Centre 500
Telephone: 520-6608
TDD: 520-3937
Fax: 520-3995
Satellite Office: Residence Commons 223
Telephone: 520-2600 (ext. 5590)
Director
Larry McCloskey
Coordinator, Learning Disabilities Specialist
Diane Proulx
Coordinator, Physical Disability
Dean Mellway
Coordinator, Attendant Services
Matthew Cole
A series of brochures and flyers on resources and services available to students with disabilities at Carleton University may be obtained, free of charge, at the Centre.
The Paul Menton Centre provides individualized support services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, with learning disabilities, visual impairments, head injuries, physical disabilities including mobility impairments, or who have psychiatric or other medical disabilities. The Centre accommodates as many requests as resources permit.
Students are responsible for applying for special services by making an appointment with the appropriate coordinator. Examination accommodations must be arranged by specific deadline dates which are several weeks before the examination date. Students are advised to visit the Centre as early in the term as possible to discuss all service requests. All requests are considered on an individual needs basis.
Students referred by the Paul Menton Centre have access to the Joy Maclaren Adaptive Technology Centre, located on the main floor of the MacOdrum Library, Room 232. Heather Cross, Coordinator of Library Services for Students with Disabilities, is located in the department of Reader Services, Room 206 (520-2600, extension 8186). Students are advised to contact her for a complete list of services available in the Library including use of the Centre, research assistance, stacks retrieval, assistance with photocopying, and reserves assistance. Services at the University of Ottawa for students with disabilities are also available to Carleton students. Students must obtain a letter of referral from Heather Cross to have access to services at the University of Ottawa.
The library's contact for transcription services is Margaret McLeod of the department of Reader Services (520-2600, extension 8934). Students referred by the Paul Menton Centre are registered with the W. Ross MacDonald School, the provincial agency which provides texts and other course related material in alternative formats for students with a print disability. Requests can take up to four months to process, therefore, requests should be made as early as possible.
A limited number of portable computers, two and four-track taperecorders, and personal FM systems are available at Instructional Media Services, Room 617 Southam Hall. Written referral by the Paul Menton Centre is required.
In the Joy Maclaren Adaptive Technology Centre in the MacOdrum Library, students who are blind or visually impaired have access to Zoomtext Plus, a Telesensory colour SVGA close circuit TV, Dectalk voice synthesizer, Vocal-Eyes screen interface software, Scanjet scanner and Slimvoice speech synthesizer.
The Paul Menton Centre acts as liaison for the Educational Support Services (ESS) program. The ESS program provides interpreter service, notetakers, and personal FM systems for eligible part-time students. Full-time students may be eligible for services through Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) or other funding agencies. It is the student's responsibility to initiate early inquiries.
It is recommended that the student have a recent psychoeducational assessment available which has been administered within three years of initial registration at the Paul Menton Centre. This will allow PMC staff to organize services that address each individuals particular learning disability.
The campus of Carleton University is well equipped for accommodating persons with physical disabilities. The buildings are in close proximity to each other and most are connected by tunnels. All of the main buildings have elevators and are ramped for outside entrance and egress. Most sidewalks have been made accessible by curb-cut renovations. A building-by-building accessibility inventory is available from the Centre.
Students with non-visible disabilities may have legitimate needs which are not easily recognized or understood within the university community. Students with psychiatric, medical, or other non-visible disabilities are encouraged to contact the Paul Menton Centre to discuss personal and/or academic issues of concern to them. Appropriate documentation is required.
The Residence Attendant Services Program offers 24 hour assistance with activities of daily living such as personal care, room chores, cafeteria assistance, etc. The program is available to students with various levels of disability and attempts to respond to individuals according to their specific needs. In order to provide comprehensive services, only a limited number of program spaces are available each year. A guide describing the program in detail in available free of charge by contacting the Attendant Services Coordinator at 520-6615.
For students who need an accessible room in residence but do not require attendant services, a limited number of rooms are available based on the following criteria: the need for special accommodation; whether the applicant has housing alternatives inthe area; and the date of application. For further information contact the Accommodations Officer in the Housing Department at 520-5612.