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Accessibility Hub

Getting Around

This section of the website contains maps and transit information to help make your campus experience as accessible as possible. Please refer to the links below for more parking and transit information.

Check out the addition of Text 9-1-1 to McMaster Security Service's website for emergency services for Deaf, deafened, hard-of-hearing and speech disabled community members.

Text with 9-1-1

Maps & Wayfinding

McMaster Accessibility Maps

Accessible Building Maps

This map provides you with floor maps for a number of campus buildings. Each floor can be highlighted by facility; for example, accessible washrooms, elevator or lift access, hallway paths and more.

Accessible Parking at McMaster 

Parking Services provides accessible parking permits for individuals with a Ministry of Transportation Parking Permit or for those who require accessible parking on a temporary basis.

Discover McMaster Campus Map

Toggle to “Accessibility” button and then select “Accessible Parking” to view McMaster parking lots with accessible parking spaces available.

All-Genders Washrooms On-Campus

The Equity and Inclusion Office is working to make McMaster University more inclusive for staff, students and faculty who identify as transgender, gender non-binary and two-spirit. Please access the following All-Genders Washroom spreadsheet to find the most recently updated inventory of all-genders, all-genders accessible, and all-genders barrier free washrooms at McMaster. This resource will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Public Transportation

There are many accessible transportation options available for getting to the McMaster campus:

For directions to campus and general transit information, please see the How to get to McMaster website. Once on campus, accessible parking options are available – please visit McMaster’s Discover Map and toggle to “Accessibility” > “Accessible Parking” to view accessible parking locations.

You can find information about accessible public transit options from:

Closures & Service Disruptions

Service Disruption Notices

Current service disruption notices can be found at the following sites:

McMaster Libraries service disruptions

McMaster Health Sciences Library service disruptions

McMaster Facility Services alerts and shutdowns

McMaster University Technology Services (UTS) disruptions

What is a Service Disruption?

A service disruption is an interruption to a regular service or facility. Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) – Customer Service Regulation, McMaster University is required to notify students, employees, and the public when public services or facilities are temporarily unavailable. Examples of a service disruption may include the following:

  • Utility shutdown in a particular building for a specified period of time
  • Construction or maintenance work that restricts access to an entrance of a building or a particular floor or department
  • Breakdown of public elevators or lifts
  • Unexpected closure of an office that serves the public

A service disruption notice should include the following information:

  • Name of the disrupted service or facility
  • Expected duration of the disruption
  • Alternative means of accessing the service or facility (if available)
  • Who to contact for assistance
  • Any other relevant information

Reporting a service disruption

The timely reporting of a service disruption is an important part of an accessible campus.  Please report a service disruption as soon as possible.

Where do I report a service disruption?

Notice of a service disruption should be posted in a conspicuous location for persons with disabilities who may be using the facility.

What information should I include in a notification of service disruption?

When notifying the public about a service disruption, include:

  • The reason for the disruption
  • Its anticipated duration
  • A description of alternative facilities or services, if any are available.

Accessibility Lifts

Accessibility Lifts at McMaster

Several buildings on campus require the use of an accessibility lift for users with mobility disabilities to move between floors.

Check out the campus map to learn where these buildings are located, or choose the accessible campus maps where you can toggle the elevator/lift button on/off to see where the lifts themselves are located.

Locations of Accessibility Lifts:

  • University Hall (Building #1)
  • Hamilton Hall (Building #2)
  • Refectory/GSA (Building #4)
  • Refectory/Phoenix & Bridges (Building #4)
  • BSB / Planetarium (Building #11)
  • BSB / North Stairway (Building #11)
  • Commons (Building #28)
  • MUSC (Building #51)

How to Access Accessibility Lifts at McMaster: Requesting an Access Card

  • Complete this linked request form to get a card to access any of the accessibility lifts on campus.
  • You will be notified by email when the card is ready to be picked up, usually within 24 hours.
  • The card can be picked up from the Service Desk (Room L101) on the main floor of Mills Library at any time the Library is open. Feel free to use the accessible building floorplan to navigate to the Service Desk.
  • Please note that you will be asked to show photo ID when picking it up.

General Information about the Accessibility Lifts on Campus:

  • the Access Card will provide access to all accessibility lifts on campus, during regular building hours.
  • each lift may have its own operating procedures. Please consult signage which can be found both inside and outside the lift.
  • access to these lifts is via a card tap on the card reader found at the entrance to each lift, on each floor.
  • access to these lifts is restricted to those who require it, plus any one person who is needed to assist them.
  • as there are costs associated with providing these cards, please return this card to the 1st floor Mills Library Service Desk when you have finished using it so that it can be re-assigned to another individual.
  • please direct questions to access@mcmaster.ca
  • for help during an Emergency, please contact Security Services at x 24281 or 905-522-4135
Accessible Lifts sign with access forward logo on the right of the image and arrows indicating up and down on the left of the image. There is braille present below the label "accessible lift" at the bottom of the sign.
Accessible Lifts on campus will be recognizable via standardized accessible signage featured on this page, which include high contrast writing and icons, braille available at the bottom of the sign below the “accessible lift” label, as well as the Access Forward symbol for easy user recognition.

Individual Emergency Response Plan

Individual Emergency Response Plan

To support an inclusive and accessible response in an emergency, McMaster University has established the “Individual Emergency Response Plan”.  This plan can be requested by employees, faculty, and students in residence on campus. Individuals requiring any type of accessibility support are encouraged to request an individual plan, so the University is aware of your requirements, and can best support you in an emergency situation. This plan can be established during an individual’s accommodation process, although they can be requested at anytime.  The Individual Emergency Response Plan can be completed by the individual in collaboration with their manager.

Individual Emergency Response Plan Request Form – Click here to access (Note: the form should download automatically)

Other Emergency Resources at McMaster University

  1. McMaster’s Safety App – Click here to access.
  2. McMaster’s Emergency Guidebook – Click here to access.

AODA Note: An individual emergency response plan is required for individuals identified under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Section 27.