When students at York University need practical advice on navigating campus life – especially those facing challenges that aren’t immediately visible – they often find their way to Ming Kan Leung.
He is not a faculty member or a counsellor, but a fourth-year information technology student who has quietly built a reputation as a mentor and advocate for accessibility.
Leung did not arrive at York along the usual path. He transferred from another institution, enrolled as a mature, part-time student and balanced work with his studies. Originally from Hong Kong, Leung manages schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition that is rarely discussed openly among students. “You get used to filling out forms, explaining your situation and hoping someone will listen,” he says. “Sometimes, you just want to get through the day without extra hassle.”
His experiences led him to mentorship and advocacy. Leung volunteers with New College, the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students. He also works with Project ADVANCE, which helps high school students transition to university. He’s been active in organizing mental health workshops and peer support groups, collaborating with Student Accessibility Services and student organizations such as ActiveMinds @ York and the York University Mature Students Organization (YUMSO) to create a more inclusive campus culture.
Leung’s advice is direct and pragmatic: use assistive technology, break assignments into smaller tasks and don’t wait too long to ask for help. “I show people the tools I use – Livescribe for notes, Dragon for dictation, Kurzweil for reading. It’s not glamorous, but it works.” He also shares stress management strategies and encourages students to build routines that include mindfulness and regular breaks.
And, he does not shy away from discussing setbacks. “I’ve had semesters where I barely made it through,” Leung says. “But I also know what it’s like to have someone in your corner, even if it’s just to say, ‘You’re not the only one.’” His approach to mentorship is grounded in sharing what he has learned through experience, not offering pep talks. Students come to him with questions about accommodations or how to communicate with professors. Sometimes, they just need to hear from someone who has managed to carve out a place at York while juggling more than coursework.
Leung is focused on the day-to-day realities students face. He is interested in the conversations that happen outside official channels, where students talk honestly about stigma and the fear of being seen as less capable. “There’s still a lot of silence around invisible disabilities,” he says. “People worry about being judged, or about being seen as less capable.”
National AccessAbility Week (May 25 to 31) brings these issues into focus, but Leung’s work continues year-round. He isn’t waiting for policy changes to make a difference. “I want students to know that support is there, and that it’s OK to use it,” he says. “Most of us are just trying to get through the semester. If I can make that a little easier for someone, that’s enough.”