It's a sunny Tuesday in September and the South Porcupine campus of Northern College in Timmins buzzes with youthful energy.

Students bustle around campus, on their way to and from their classes. What's interesting is that many of these students don't take the stairs, they take the ramp!

The South Porcupine campus of Northern College is special because of its commitment to providing a barrier-free environment. Where students, regardless of their physical or intellectual abilities, can learn and live independently. Here, no one is just a number. Northern College provides a supportive learning environment, both on campus and through distance learning, to over 1400 students across 66 communities in northeastern Ontario.

"Supporting students through the Disability Support Program, Northern College is really leveling the playing field for people with disabilities. The program ensures a seamless introduction to student living, provides accommodations and makes certain each student learns how to best maximize their special abilities," says Jim Chalmers, the Disability Services Advisor for Northern College. "It provides a safe and supportive environment to learn important life skills, like how to manage money and use coupons when grocery shopping."

The college believes that every student deserves an equal opportunity to work, learn, play and otherwise participate in society to their full potential. Due to the size and nature of the northeast region, over 20 per cent of their students need some sort of accommodation.

To meet this challenge, the college uses new technology to reach such a large, spread out student population. "More and more people have the opportunity to enter college and be successful in programs because of the accommodations we provide and the technology we are using," says Jim. "For example, when it's time for a long distance learning student to write an exam, we ensure they have appropriate accommodations at a local facility to write it. We can also provide training over the phone or provide a facilitator who can assist a student with reading or writing."

Whether students have a physical or an intellectual disability, attending classes and moving around campus is done with ease. This school wants to make sure that every student has the opportunity to be successful, no matter what their abilities are or where they live.

"Northern College is very proud of the College Vocational Program. This year we have 10 students registered. We're really excited about the potential for the program and the potential for people to develop through the program," says Jim. "We're real proud of the support we've been getting from the community and from the Ministry of Community and Social Services as well."