Accommodating Students with Disabilities

To: Course Instructors

From: Assistant Manager Student Learning Services: Accessibility Services

Re: Accommodating students with disabilities

Course instructors play a vital role in the academic accommodation process for students with disabilities attending Mount Royal.  Not only does your role in these matters assist Mount Royal in meeting its lawful requirements, you help to create an accessible, equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students.

All students eligible for academic accommodation are required to meet with each of their instructors to discuss the academic accommodations being recommended vis a vie the design of the course and to obtain the instructors’ signatures’ on the “Instructor Agreement Form”.  This is a procedure which is required every semester. 

Accommodated Exams

Over the past several years, Accessibility Services has experienced a significant increase in the number of students with disabilities eligible for examination accommodations.  As such, it is critical that instructors are aware of the procedures students need to follow (as outlined on the Online Exam Booking Form) and what their responsibilities are.  Briefly:

Test, quiz, or mid-term examinations:

·         Before your student books a test, quiz or mid-term exam in your course, the student must discuss the accommodations noted on their Academic Accommodation Memo with yourself and obtain your signature on the new “Instructor Agreement Form”.

·         At least seven (7) days before each test, quiz, or mid-term exam, the student should meet with you to discuss the most appropriate time for them to write your test, quiz or mid-term examination.

·         The accommodated examination should be booked for the seating time that is closest to when the class is writing.  If this is not possible, any exception must be confirmed by e-mail by you, the course instructor, to our office.

·         Once you and the student have agreed to the time of the accommodated examination, the student must book their accommodated examination on-line.  A copy of the on-line request is e-mailed to you and to the student.  Please review this Confirmation Notice for the accuracy of the information contained therein.

·         Once you have received the Confirmation Notice and you have confirmed the accuracy of the information therein, it is of vital importance that you provide Accessibility Services with a copy of your test, quiz or mid-term examination as promptly as possible – preferably the day after receiving the Notice.

·         Alternative format examinations will not be available to the student if bookings are made less than seven (7) days prior to the date of the test, quiz or mid-term exam or if the instructors have not provided Accessibility Services with a copy of the test, quiz or mid-term exam.

·         You may contact Accessibility Services if you have any questions about the accommodations requested by the student.

·         Late Booking (less than seven – 7- days prior to a test, quiz or mid-term exam) may result in the student’s accommodations not being available.

·         An accommodated test, quiz or mid-term exam can only be written at 9am, 11am, 1pm or 3pm, only from Monday to Friday (inclusive) in the Accessibility Services offices at Y201.

·         Instructors need to pick up completed examinations at the Accessibility Services office; hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8.30am to 6pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Final examinations

All of the procedures above apply to final examinations except:

·         Deadline for students booking Winter 2010 accommodated final exams is March 26, 2010 NOT seven (7) days before the final.  Late Booking may result in the student’s accommodations not being available.

·         Final examinations can only be written at 9am, 1pm or 4pm and only from Monday to Saturday (inclusive).

·         Please ensure that your student is writing at a time that has been approved by you, at the time closest to when the rest of the class is writing.

·         It is critical, due to the increased volume of accommodated final examinations, that course instructors provide Accessibility Services with a copy of the final examination no later than seven (7) days prior to the date of the scheduled exam.

·         Instructors need to pick up completed examinations at the Accessibility Services office; hours of operation throughout finals are Monday through Saturday 8am to 8pm. 

Should you have any additional questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours truly

Patricia Pardo, PhD, CCC