KITCHENER — Robert Melanson and Roch Longueépée claim Waterloo's universities rejected them because they are disabled, violating their human rights.

Melanson, 47, alleges Wilfrid Laurier University discriminated against him by refusing to admit him for a graduate degree in social work.

Longueépée, 49, alleges the University of Waterloo discriminated against him by refusing to admit him for an undergraduate arts degree.

Though their cases are separate, UW professor Jay Dolmage sees a connection, arguing that universities use their admission policies to unfairly exclude disabled students.

"I think Waterloo and Laurier know (their policies) are discriminatory," said Dolmage, who studies disability rights.

"The money that we spend on students in higher education, all of it is seen as an investment until we start talking about students with disabilities, and then it's seen as a drain and a cost."

He figures the disabled men are applicants who should be prized.

"The university talks about itself as a place of innovation and risk-taking," Dolmage said. "These students are really, truly taking a risk, in taking on a big organization like a university. I really admire them."

Melanson has severe asthma, and struggles with post-traumatic stress and depression. He's a university graduate who was formerly employed as a child protection worker.

Today he survives on an insurance-funded plan for disabled employees. It's a meagre income that keeps him below the poverty line and has left him feeling beat down.

"I don't want to live on disability," he said. "I'm capable, some of the time. Unfortunately for most employers, that's not good enough."

His goal is to earn a graduate degree in social work with the aim of working part-time, starting support groups for men's mental health. He will require accommodation due to his disability, for time away from work for medical appointments, treatments and episodic illness.

"I'm a capable person when I'm well," Melanson said. "And I want to be able to use my skill set when I'm able to. I don't want to be just thrown away."

Last January when he sought admission to Laurier, he says he was told his disabilities might interfere with his ability to complete a graduate degree in social work, including practical field work.

He says Laurier put him on a waiting list for admission but did not respond when he later asked if a spot had opened up. "I believe they never intended to give me a spot," he said.

He has filed a discrimination claim against the university with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, arguing that Laurier rejected him because he is an older disabled man and not a "young able-bodied upwardly mobile white woman."

His allegation has not been proved. Laurier plans to challenge his claim.

"Laurier provides numerous supports and processes to help students achieve their educational goals, and the university does not discriminate in admissions based on age, gender or disability," the school said in a statement.

Melanson said he's fighting for new admission policies that are more favourable to disabled applicants.

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"There are thousands of us who are perfectly capable of contributing to society who are just sitting in our homes wasting away. That's not OK," Melanson said.

Roch Longueépée has a brain injury. Mostly housebound, his health is poor. In 2013 he applied to UW's faculty of arts as a transfer student, arguing he could succeed academically if accommodated.

The university rejected him over the D grade he achieved 14 years earlier at a different university, where he dropped out before his brain injury was diagnosed.

Longueépée filed a discrimination claim with the provincial tribunal. UW denied discrimination and defended itself successfully before the rights tribunal.

On appeal, the Superior Court of Justice overruled the tribunal in favour of Longueépée. The court ordered UW to reconsider admitting him.

UW appealed in turn. The Ontario Court of Appeal will now hear the long-running case. UW would not comment while the case is before the courts.

Longueépée intends to keep battling, backed by Legal Aid Ontario, which has funded his case. He calls UW a "very callous and arrogant institution."

"For many people with disabilities, gaining admission to a post-secondary school so they can get the training that they need to get gainful employment, that's vitally important," said Longueépée, who has gained a profile advocating for children who are victims of institutional care.

It dismays Dolmage that UW continues to battle Longueépée in court.

"It's a terrible look for a university right now that doesn't have a great reputation around how it treats students," he said. "This pushes us away from the goals we have around equity."

jouthit@therecord.com

Twitter: @OuthitRecord