Contact us
In-person: Needles Hall North, Room 1401
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 35082
Fax: 519-746-2401
Email: access@uwaterloo.ca
FAQ for Parents and Guardians
How do I know if my child qualifies for accommodations?
Please refer to documentation requirements. Once our office has received your child's application to register, and our office has been provided with documentation, the file will be reviewed by an Intake Coordinator. If further documentation is required, our office will contact you.
As a parent, what are my responsibilities as my son or daughter makes the transition to college or university?
Parents and other guardians have a role to play in supporting their son or daughter with the transition into post-secondary education. The transition works well when parents are proactive, instead of reactive.
To be involved, you can familiarize yourself with the campus, the resources that are available, and the program your child will be enrolling in.
Encourage your child to ask questions, and feel free to ask questions as well.
If your child is having difficulty transitioning to campus, you can encourage them to speak their on or off campus don, and you can encourage your child to stay on campus on weekends, in order to build relationships. The transition to university is different for everyone, but help them realize that they are not alone. There are resources, supports, and others who are there to help them make the transition a smooth one.
Why will UWaterloo staff not disclose information to me about my child?
Talk with your son or daughter to find out how involved he or she wants you to be – and respect his or her choices. Because most students are over 18, UWaterloo staff must have a student's permission to disclose information to others, including their parents. Talk with your child to establish an information-sharing arrangement you are all comfortable with. If possible, try to maintain open communication with your child so that you are kept up to date on what they are doing, from their perspective.
How can I help develop my child’s self-advocacy skills?
As an involved parent or guardian, you have likely been your child’s advocate for years and it is a role that has become familiar to you both. Now as an adult in the post-secondary environment, it is important to support your child as they develop and strengthens their self-advocacy skills.
As your child engages in their university career, there will be times when they will need to independently manage issues that arise in the classroom and beyond. Knowing how to self-advocate is crucial.
Help your son or daughter identify the resources he or she will need to succeed and how to access them. Discuss with your child how they would handle certain situations to see what they would say and do. You may want to role play some discussions that they may need to have with a professor, roommate, or classmate so they feel comfortable advocating for what they need. You can then provide feedback so that they are prepared with faced with similar situations.
Help your child to identify their strengths, and areas where they are confident and comfortable. They can draw upon those experiences, and strengths, and apply them to areas that are more challenging to them.
Please see the Transition Resource Guide for More information: http://www.transitionresourceguide.ca/resources