Cuts to services for students with disabilities at the University of Winnipeg are raising concerns from both faculty and students at the school.
"If they are going to cut (services) when we are hoping to get more, I wonder what is going to be left. I'm shocked and disappointed at the same time," said Justine Kiwanuka, a student at the U of W.
The university said there was a 20 per cent increase in students with disabilities attending the school this year. Officials said there is not enough staff to accommodate the services.
The university said a program where someone sits in class and takes notes for students has been cut this year. There is also no longer a note-taking service for labs and there will be less training on adaptive systems in the disability centre, said officials.
A sociology professor said the school should not be allowed to make the cuts.
"What I think might be happening here is a violation of fundamental human rights," said Helmut-Harry Loewen, a U of W sociology professor.
He said one of his colleagues has also voiced worries about the impact of the cuts.
"Two of her students are affected so profoundly that it's questionable even if they can continue their studies in some of their classes," said Loewen.
About 450 students with disabilities attend the U of W. There are six full-time employees and about 30 casual staff members who help with disability services.
Justine Kiwanuka said people with disabilities have the same to education as anyone else. She said the U of W's cuts to services now put that education in jeopardy.
Officials the U of W said they hope the cuts will be temporary and are trying to find funds to hire additional staff to help.
- with a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout
