Accessibility Transition Program

• Moving into residence early!
• Meeting upper year students who have been in the same position as you before! They will be a great support and have lots of wisdom to share!
• Getting ahead before the year begins! Learn about accommodations, adaptive technologies, and learning strategies!
• A welcome package with lots of resources and supplies!
• Developing your self-advocacy skills!
• Establishing a support system that you can maintain throughout the year!
• Lots of fun activities and workshops!

Academic workshops are designed to promote overall academic success at Nipissing University. Academic workshops that have been offered in the past include:

• How We Learn Workshop
• How I Learn Workshop
• Strategies for Learning Workshop
• Time Management Workshop

Independent Living Components

Independent Living workshops are designed to target daily living obstacles that students are presented with when living on their own for the first time. Independent Living workshops that have been offered in the past include:

• Self Advocacy Workshop
• Stress Management

Social Components

The social components of this event are designed to build a sense of community amongst the participants. It provides students with an opportunity to make new friends, meet mentors who are upper year students registered with Student Accessibility Services, and get a sense of not only the Nipissing community, but also the North Bay community. Social activities that have been offered in the past include:

• Ice Breakers
• Scavenger Hunt
• Evening dinners at local restaurants
• Game nights

Participating in ATP provides students with an opportunity to become familiar with the campus, and its operations, prior to the commencement of classes. Campus tours are provided in small groups so that the students can ask questions about the resources available and really become familiar with the campus. We provide tours of the following facilities:

• Nipissing University Main Campus
• Harris Learning Library

Upon arrival to the ATP, students are presented with their student card, and bus pass for the Fall/Winter term. Throughout the event, students practice taking public transit and becoming familiar with the most commonly used routes.

Reference below for a brief description of some of the workshops that we have offered in the past (please note not all workshops may be listed):

Adaptive Technology Presentation:

There are many technologies that students may access to assist with barrier free learning. In this workshop, our Adaptive Technology Technician will review the technology services available to students with disabilities.

How We Learn:

With one of our Accessibility Consultants, students will explore the brain and the processes involved with learning. By specifically looking at attention, processing and memory, students gain the necessary background information to begin to understand the ways that they learn best.

How You Learn:

After learning background information in “How We Learn”, this workshop will build on that information and will introduce students to how they, as an individual, learn specifically. Students will complete learning styles, study strategies, and personality inventories, and will leave with a better understanding of how they learn best, and what they can do to encourage effective learning.

Strategies for Learning Workshop:

This workshop will provide students with practical tips for academic success. Facilitated by both our Student Learning Coordinators and an Accessibility Consultant, we provide students with the learning strategies they can use throughout their entire university career.

Stress Management Workshop/Techniques:

During the course of a school year, students may face a number of challenges that leave them feeling overwhelmed or stressed. This workshop will explore various techniques and strategies to best manage stress throughout the year.

Time Management:

One of the key components to success at University is effective time management skills. In this workshop, an Academic Skills Program Coordinator will provide students with many tips on managing their schedule, avoiding procrastination and staying on track. This workshop will also allow students to create a general timetable that they can modify for their own schedule.

What I Wish I Knew –Mentor Edition:

Students will be provided with ‘insider’ information as mentors (successful upper year students) will be sharing tips and advice that they wish they knew when they first attended Nipissing.