Reasonable accommodation is an adjustment to a course or program, or modification of a facility. The accommodation or adjustment allows a student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to attain the same level of performance or access as a student without a disability.
Students are requested to contact a Disability Advisor in the Counselling and Advising Centre to determine appropriate accommodation. The following are some examples of accommodations:
- Note-taker
- Takes handwritten notes for students who are unable to take notes independently. Note-takers are usually enrolled in the same class as the student with disability.
- Scribes
- Are used during accommodated exams to write down or type verbatim what is being dictated by the student. The scribe does not comment or react in any way to exam questions or answers.
- Reader
- Is someone who reads the exam questions to a student word for word and is used when a student has a print disability.
- Photocopying Assistance
- A student assistant assists with photocopying procedures if a disability prevents the student from doing so themselves.
- Registration Assistance
- Some students may require assistance with learning how to use the registration system, and they are provided with help as needed.
- Pre-Registration
- Students that meet the criteria are pre-registered in the courses they request for an academic term. Generally, students who meet the criteria are mobility impaired, deaf or require alternate format texts.
- Adaptive Equipment & Technology
- Is equipment or software which assists persons with disabilities. Kwantlen offers technology such as Braille, laptops with JAWS and Zoom Text, Dragon, and in some cases ergonomic chairs, etc.
- Library Assistance
- Students who cannot access the library shelves, catalogues, periodical indexes, or other research material will be provided with a library assistant.
- Program Expansion and Reduction
- In some circumstances, a student’s disability may require reduced course load or program expansion.
- Distraction Reduced Environment
- Environment for Medications
- Tape Recording
- If documented as a required accommodation, a student may tape his/her classroom lecture.
- Alternative Text Format
- For students who are print impaired i.e.; blind or visually impaired, have a learning disability, or a head injury, where they may require course texts in an alternate format, i.e. taped, Braille, e-text, or large print.
- Preferential Seating
- Students with disabilities may need a seat in a specified area of the classroom, and if they qualify, the student will be granted preferential seating as an accommodation.
- Interpreting/Intervening
- An interpreter is an individual who translates what is being said into alternate communication such as ASL, oral or signed English for a student who is deaf.
- Student Assistant
- Is a student who assists students with disabilities in a variety of ways. For example, they may proctor student exams, photocopy material, or read or scribe for exams. Please refer to student employment if this job description interests you.
- Student Accommodation Letter
- An Instructor Letter outlines student accommodations for a student to discuss with the instructor.
Individual Accommodations will be decided upon a scheduled appointment with the Learning Specialist.