Ottawa’s Algonquin College and Carleton University offer attendant and personal care services, 24-hours per day, 12 months of the year at no cost to students with physical disabilities living in residence.
The Program receives funding from The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care through the Champlain Region Local Health Integrated Network.
Students with varying levels of disability are able to live and study on campus with the assistance of attendants who will assist them with activities of daily living such as rising and retiring, toileting, personal hygiene, and dressing.
Attendants also assist with tasks such as laundry, light housekeeping, setting up books and computers, and eating in the cafeteria. Students live in specially designed suites which complement the very accessible nature of the campuses.
Attendants are available by calling the program cellular phone and will provide assistance, in most instances, within ten minutes of receiving the call. Morning routines are scheduled and coordinated with class schedules to ensure that students with disabilities can get to class on time. All other services do not need to be scheduled so that students have as much flexibility as possible.
Attendants are fellow students who receive extensive training and follow a Code of Conduct that outlines expectations and acceptable behaviour in accordance with the goals and philosophy of the program. The attendants are hired by a panel that includes students with disabilities who are clients of the program.