Faculty Resources for Supporting Students with Disabilities

Students registered with the Accessibility Services department will be granted accommodation based on documentation received from the appropriate medical practitioner(s).

Since accommodations may occasionally be required on a temporary basis, all accommodation forms are only valid for the current semester. As such, students must re-register with Accessibility Services at the beginning of each semester in order to receive the required support. Faculty are then notified by email with the Accommodation Form.

While many accommodations do not require action from faculty, it is important for faculty to know and understand the accommodations granted.

Please feel free to contact us anytime for clarification of any accommodation or service provided.

Responding to Student Requests for Accommodation

It is helpful to confirm receipt of the Accommodation Form with the student and Accessibility Services

Upon review, you may wish to discuss the students’ accommodation needs with them directly or with Accessibility Services, to identify how to best support them in class.

When speaking with students about their needs, it is helpful to approach the conversation from a strengths-based and supportive lens to identify how they can be best supported in your class.

When a student requests an accommodation, it is important that the email or verbal response to the request represents an openness to explore with the student what may be possible rather than indicating that an accommodation request cannot be granted.

If a concern arises around how accommodation may impact a course learning outcome or requirement, it is best to first speak with the student about the concern and confirm your commitment to find a way to meet their accommodation needs.

The student’s Accessibility Advisor can be consulted if help is needed to find a resolution to an accommodation issue.

More information on Accessibility Services, can be found here.

If faculty are not sure how to meet an accommodation request related to an accommodation listed on an Accommodation Form, Accessibility Advisors can provide guidance and support to both students and faculty to determine the best approach to address an accommodation request.

FACULTY GUIDE [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Additional Resources & Guides

Student Responsibilities

To register with Accessibility Services on their Campus and meet with an Accessibility Advisor to discuss accommodations and required medical documentation
To re-register and renew their accommodations each semester with Accessibility Services on their Campus
To schedule to write their tests/exams in the Testing Centre if they wish to use their testing accommodations at minimum 3 business days in advance. PLEASE NOTE: Students may choose not to use their testing accommodations. Some testing accommodations (e.g. extra time, allowance to wear noise-cancelling headphones) can be provided in class only if agreed upon between faculty and student.

Faculty Responsibilities

To review the student accommodation letter and Faculty Reference Guide
To submit the Faculty Test / Exam Information Form for each test/exam request form to the Test Centre on their Campus
“Surprise Quizzes” or “Pop Quizzes” cannot be given in the classroom as this will not allow students to access their testing accommodations
If a test is scheduled and students are to return to class after they have completed the test, please take into consideration the Extra Time accommodation. For example, if the class writes a one-hour test from 8:30 am-9:30 am and the class is to begin at 9:30 am, an Accommodated student writing in the Test Centre is permitted to write the test from 8:30 am – 10:00 am, and subsequently will miss some class instructional time. You may ask the student to start the test at 8:00 am to ensure they receive the Extra Time Accommodation. Please ensure that these arrangements are made with the student prior to 3 business days, as per the Test Centres regulations.

Contacts

Haileybury Campus
jibbw@northern.on.ca
705-672-3376 ext. 1-8818

Kirkland Lake Campus
connorsk@northern.on.ca
705-567-9291 ext. 3625

Moosonee Campus
smallw@northern.on.ca
705-336-2913 ext. 5603

Timmins Campus
foys@northern.on.ca
705-235-3211 ext. 2237

If you require any documentation in an alternative format, such as large print, plain text, or audio format, please feel free to request it from your respective campus’ Accessibility Services department. We will happily work to accommodate you.