The policy, Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities (“Policy”) is comprised of two documents: the Policy Document and this Procedures Document. This Procedures Document is intended to support the Policy Document and provides specific information on the decision making process and appeals process related to Academic Accommodations. Definitions for capitalized terms are found in the Policy Document. In the event of a discrepancy between the Policy Document and the Procedures Document, the Policy Document will apply.

Decisions concerning specific forms of Academic Accommodation are made with consideration to the Essential Requirements of a specific course or program in order to ensure its integrity. Registration in a course or program does not guarantee the granting of any specific form of Academic Accommodation. Students are expected to contact SAS as early as possible to discuss their accommodation needs if their choices concerning a course or program may be affected by the specific forms of Academic Accommodation granted by the University.

4.1 Students requesting Academic Accommodation must provide appropriate documentation to SAS in accordance with this section. The documentation must be from an appropriate Regulated Health Professional who has the authority to diagnose the particular Disability. In the absence of current documentation identified in section 4.2 below, students can request Interim Academic Accommodations

4.2 Documentation must be current according to the following standards:

1. Learning Disabilities and ADHD must have been assessed at age 18 or older, or within the last three years;

2. all other Disabilities must be assessed within the timeframe that the student experiences a functional limitation for which an Academic Accommodation is needed; and

3. documentation may need to be renewed as appropriate to reflect the student’s on-going need for Academic Accommodation.

4.3 Documentation must be comprehensive and provide information regarding the student’s functional limitations in a university setting. A Functional Assessment form is used for all forms of Disabilities except for Learning Disabilities (see section 4.4 below). Functional Assessment forms are available on the SAS website. All documentation must include the following minimal information:

1. a statement of the nature of the Disability (a specific diagnosis is optional but not required);

2. information on the severity, duration and intensity of the Disability;

3. a description of functional limitations; and

4. whether the Disability is permanent or whether it falls under the definition of a Temporary Disability.

4.4 Students with Learning Disabilities must provide documentation in the form of a psychoeducational assessment report (“Assessment”) that conforms to established standards. The Assessment must contain but is not limited to the following information:

1. The credentials and signature of the assessor, who must be a registered psychologist or psychological associate;

2. A description of the procedures used for the Assessment, including relevant contextual information;

3. Evidence that appropriate psychometric testing has been employed, including instruments that have been validated against adult norms;

4. Information about the severity of the Functional Limitations experienced by the student;

5. Ruling out of other possible explanations for the observed assessment results (differential diagnosis);

6. An indication that the results are believed to be a reasonable representation of the student’s normal abilities; and

7. Confirmation that a specific learning disability exists.

4.5 Documentation may also include recommendations as to the types of Academic Accommodations that might address a student’s specific functional limitations. However, the University retains ultimate decision-making authority as to which forms of Academic Accommodations may be granted.

5.1 Subject to appropriate documentation, requests for certain common forms of In-Course Academic Accommodation can be granted directly by SAS. These include but are not limited to requests for:

1. note taking;

2. arrangements for appropriate seating in a classroom; or

3. supports for Examinations that are administered by the SAS Exam Centre such as extra time, use of a private or semi-private room, use of a computer, adaptive software or word processor, or access to a reader or scribe.

5.2 Students requesting In-Course Academic Accommodation are responsible for submitting their requests in accordance with deadlines as provided on the SAS website.

5.3 Requests for In-Course Academic Accommodations not in subsection 5.1 are considered “Supplementary Academic Accommodations” and are made directly to Course Instructors or the appropriate University units with the support of SAS. Examples may include but are not limited to:

1. audio recording of lectures;

2. use of memory aids or calculators for Examinations;

3. additional time for assignments, or alternate scheduling of Examinations;

4. advanced access to information about readings and assignments; or

5. alternative methods of assessing Essential Requirements.

5.4 SAS provides support to students in learning to negotiate on their own behalf. To that end, SAS encourages students to negotiate directly for Supplementary Academic Accommodations, when appropriate. At the student’s request, SAS may provide assistance in requesting Supplementary Academic Accommodations.

5.5 Course Instructors are encouraged to contact SAS to discuss any requested Supplementary Academic Accommodation that is not consistent with the Notification, or if there are questions related to the impact of the Supplementary Academic Accommodation on the Essential Requirements of a course or program.

5.6 If SAS supports the need to have textbooks produced in alternate format (e.g. audio books, Braille or e-text), students must make the necessary arrangements directly with Library Accessibility Services. Students are encouraged to make these arrangements early since it can take 4 to 6 weeks to acquire alternate format text.

6.1 If consensus on Supplementary Academic Accommodation cannot be reached between the student, the Course Instructor and SAS, then the Course Instructor shall consult as follows:

1. for undergraduate students, with the Chair or designate; or

2. for graduate students, with the Graduate Program Coordinator.

6.2 If, after the consultation described above, consensus still cannot be reached on the Supplementary Academic Accommodation to be provided, a report will be issued within 5 working days (“Report”) as follows:

1. for undergraduate students, the Chair shall provide a Report to the Dean (or designate).

2. for graduate students, the Graduate Program Coordinator shall provide a Report to both the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies) and the College Dean (or designate) who has oversight responsibility for the graduate program.

6.3 The Report will include the Notification from SAS, the type(s) of Supplementary Academic Accommodation being requested, and the rationale for not granting the request including any concerns regarding its impact on the Essential Requirements of the course or program, if applicable. The Report will also include information about any alternative forms of Supplementary Academic Accommodations that have been considered.

6.4 Within 5 working days of the receipt of the Report, the Dean (or designate) and when applicable, the A.V.P. Graduate Students shall make a decision on the type(s) of Supplementary Academic Accommodation to be granted and advise the parties in writing.

7.1 Decisions by SAS Advisors regarding the In-Course Academic Accommodations under section 5.1 may be appealed to the Manager, SAS.

7.2 Decisions by SAS regarding Supplementary Academic Accommodations it will support under Section 5.3 may be appealed to the Director, Student Wellness.

7.3 Decisions by the Dean (or designate) and when applicable, the A.V.P. Graduate Students under 6.4 may be appealed by the student to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (“Petitions”) in accordance with Petitions’ Bylaws.