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Confidentiality

CONFIDENTIALITY GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY

SSD faculty and staff are available for consultation on the needs of any student who is registered with the SSD office and who has signed a release of information consent form in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Kwantlen confidentiality policies and guidelines. All documentation submitted by a student is confidential and will not be distributed to any instructor or administrative department without the written permission of the student.

When academic accommodation is requested on the part of the student, SSD staff will provide instructors with an Instructor Letter for Student Accommodation confirming the student's disability and the specific recommended course accommodations. Confidentiality of personal information not related to academic accommodation is maintained by SSD in accordance with privacy legislation.  

GUIDELINES RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:

• Respect the student’s privacy: if you find yourself speculating about areas of the student private life or medical condition (unrelated to the educational setting), refrain from asking questions which would otherwise be inappropriate to ask of any other person.
• Don’t assume someone with a disability needs your help. Ask if you can be of assistance and take no for an answer.
• Be patient: exercise patience if the person requires more time to communicate, to walk, or to accomplish various tasks. When planning a meeting or event, consider individual needs ahead of time.
• Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself to know and do everything “right”; be patient in learning about the specific needs of the student. Don’t be embarrassed if you find yourself doing or saying the wrong thing. Remember that the student with a disability is usually aware of and sensitive to your discomfort and your good intentions.
• Communicate with the student, not with his or her interpreter, companion or assistant.
• Be aware of the language that you use in relation to students with disabilities. (see Words with Dignity).
• Assume nothing: This is one of the most important things to remember in any conversation with someone with a disability.

Note: The most important thing to focus on during a conversation with a person with a disability is the overall goal. It is simply communication between two individuals. Ultimately, it is what is communicated, not how it is communicated, that will be important.