Expandable List
Our services are available for any McMaster student who experiences (or identifies as) any of the following:
- having a disability/disabled.
- having a chronic illness or chronic pain.
- Mad, having mental health concerns or mental illness.
- Neurodivergent/neurodiverse.
- Having a learning disability or developmental disability.
- d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
- Blind, low-vision, or visually impaired.
- Having sensory impairment.
- Impacted by trauma.
- Experiencing addiction or having a substance use disorder.
- Having a diagnosis or self-diagnosed.
- Navigating inaccessibility or accessing accommodations on campus.
- And other experiences/identities that fall under the Disability Justice movement.
Maccess aims to build and maintain a campus that celebrates, advocates, and ensures inclusivity in the area of disability. We work to establish a sense of community for those that self-identify as having disabilities or as disabled. Throughout the year, students can chat or study with other disabled students in our space, attend fun social events, and access one-on-one support from trained volunteers with lived experience with disability. In addition, Maccess strives to advocate on behalf of students in a proactive and affirmative fashion, and we provide educational programming on critical disability studies.
To access up-to-date information about our social and educational events and activities, please visit our Instagram: @msu_maccess.
MSU Maccess is located in MUSC B111 (near the SAS Testing Centre and Chatime). Our space is a place for students to drop-in, chat with other disabled students, access peer support in our back room, build community, make friends, support each other, study, and more!
Come visit us during the school year, Monday – Friday, from 11am – 7pm!
A central aspect to Maccess is the provision of peer support. Peer support is provided by trained volunteers, with lived experiences with any of the following: disability, chronic illness, mental illness, madness, mental health concerns, neurodivergence, and additional identities that are part of the larger disability rights movement. A formal diagnosis of a disability is not required to access peer support or to provide helpful peer support informed by lived experience.
At Maccess, the form that peer support takes is entirely based on an individual’s needs. Our volunteers are available to talk and listen, provide information and referrals, help navigate University systems, and more.
Accessing Peer Support
Maccess offers several different avenues of support to our users, which includes:
- One-On-One Support: Speak privately and confidentially with a trained volunteer who has lived experience with disability. If our space or time open does not work for you, reach out to our Instagram @msu_maccess or email maccessad@msu.mcmaster.ca and we’ll find an alternative!
- Practical Support: Our volunteers can help community members navigate numerous challenging situations in many ways, such as accessing SAS accommodations from a non-medicalized student perspective, accompanying people on bus rides or to medical appointments, helping to research policies/rights or medication side effects, support with navigating specific instances of inaccessibility, and more.
- Community Groups: Regularly occurring, confidential, volunteer-run groups for those who share a common experience, identity, or interest. Updated information about community groups is on our Instagram @msu_maccess
Lending Library
In our space, we have a number of resources for students to use and/or borrow. This includes:
- Mobility Aids (contact us for specifics!)
- blue light glasses and sunglasses.
- Ear plugs and EarDefenders.
- More than 100 books! (both fiction and non-fiction, mostly related to disability, mental health, Disability & Mad Studies, intersectionality, etc.
Maccess Campus Accessibility Guide
Please download our accessibility guide:
Maccess – Hamilton Free* Resources List
Free* resources compiled by our team for healthcare, mental health, housing, food, financial support, sexual health and violence, academic, legal, substance use, transportation, smoking cessation, and more!
*Note: Some resources require OHIP or other insurance, disability diagnosis, verification of income or housing, or consistent surveillance. Relevant requirements that are visible online have been included.
Join Our Team
We hire throughout the year for a variety of positions (some paid, some unpaid/volunteer).
If it is during the MSU ‘Hiring’ period. You can apply on the MSU website by visiting the Employment section and search the available positions.
For all other inquiries, please contact the Maccess Director directly via email: maccess@msu.mcmaster.ca