Accessible Housing Supports

What is Accessible Housing Support? 

Accessible Housing Support provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability or medical condition that may impact their ability to live in standard residence accommodations. These supports address the functional limitations of the student’s condition while considering the demands of the residence environment. 

A disability/medical condition is defined as a documented physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Conditions can be visible or invisible and range from medical, sensory, physical, environmental, psychological, allergy/dietary restrictions, or mental health conditions. 

Who Should Apply for Accessible Housing? 

Students who have, or suspect they may have, a disability or condition affecting their daily living activities are encouraged to apply for accessible housing accommodations. The process is designed to support students who require specific accommodations in residence due to a medical/health concern. 

If you meet the criteria listed above, we encourage you to seek accommodations and submit a request for housing support while living in residence.  

How to Apply for Accessible Housing 

If you require accessible housing support due to a documented disability or medical condition, please visit the Accessible Housing website for full details on how to complete the request for accommodation process. 

For any questions, please email housing@uwaterloo.ca with your full name and 8-digit Waterloo ID number. 

Important information to know:

Health Care Professional Documentation 

• The process requires a health care professional (qualified to diagnose) to complete a medical form as part of the submission. Please note that it may take time to schedule a doctor’s appointment and receive the required documentation. Be sure to plan ahead when applying for residence. 

Separate from Academic Accommodations 

• This process is separate from the accessible accommodations for academic activities. For academic accommodations, please contact AccessAbility Services directly. 

Deadline for Incoming First-Year Students 

• First-year students with the 2025 First-Year Residence Guarantee must complete the Accessible Housing process by June 10, 2025. Submissions after this date will be considered but cannot be guaranteed. Meeting this deadline ensures that your Accessible Housing request is considered before room assignments are made. 

Submit Early! 

• It’s recommended that all students submit their Accessible Housing application around the same time they submit their residence application. Room assignments begin as early as two weeks after the residence application opens, and accessible room options may decrease as assignments are made. 

Campus Housing offers a variety of accommodations to meet the diverse needs of students. However, availability may be limited by the types of rooms and facilities we can provide. Some Campus Housing rooms have more privacy, have a lower student to washroom ratio, provide barrier free access, or allow a student to cook for themselves.  

Housing recommendations are individualized, based on the student’s unique functional limitations. Please note that students cannot request specific room types or residence buildings.