Services and support are required for students to have an equal opportunity to access educational programming.

Some examples of possible accommodations include:

• Extra time on tests and exams
• Note-taking support
• Access to Assistive Technology
• Access to a Learning Strategist
• Alternate format for learning or assessment materials
• Reduced course load
• Private or quiet room for testing

You are required to register with Accessibility Services in order to receive accommodations.

During your initial meeting with Accessibility Services on your campus, we will work with you to determine what accommodations will best suit your individual needs based on your documented limitations.

Accessibility Services is committed to ensuring our students have equal access at Northern College. These supports may include:

• Accessible classrooms
• Accessible washrooms
• Elevator and/or ramps

Students may require accommodations on a short-term or temporary basis for temporary disabilities.

Documentation will need to be provided to support temporary accommodations. For example, a student breaks their arm.

Students awaiting documentation may be eligible for temporary accommodations.

Accommodations will be provided until the expiry date listed. After the expiry date, students will need to contact Accessibility Services.

Accommodations in College are unique to each individual’s needs and are directly related to the functional impairments identified in documentation from a qualified professional.

College is significantly different from High School as you are expected to be responsible for your academic success as an adult learner.  If you wish to discuss the differences in detail, reach out to your Accessibility Services department.

• High School vs College Accommodation Chart [PDF, 124 KB]

The accommodation process is an individualized process.  You may not have the same needs as your friend.  As a result, you may not be eligible for the same accommodation.

If you have a “persistent and prolonged disability” or a “permanent disability,” you do not have to provide any further documentation to renew your current accommodations. If your needs change, you may be required to provide additional or updated documentation.

Exceptions to this rule exist for temporary accommodations.

No.

You must re-register with Accessibility Services on your campus at the beginning of each semester to ensure that faculty can be made aware of your accommodations.

No.

You are encouraged to speak with Accessibility Services anytime if you have questions or concerns about disclosing your disability to anyone outside of Accessibility Services.

Communicate your concerns to your faculty and/or contact your Accessibility Advisor immediately if you are having difficulties accessing your accommodations.

No.

Courses cannot be modified. Regardless of your disability status, you must complete all course requirements. Accommodations cannot undermine the integrity of the course.

Your Accessibility Advisor will work with you and faculty to address the questions or concerns.

If you require accommodations on field or clinical placement, please reach out to your Accessibility Advisor. Accessibility Services will work collaboratively with you and your program area to develop an accommodation plan specific to your field or clinical placement.

Available at all campuses, the test center coordinates and accommodates tests and exams for students registered with Accessibility Services.

For each test, you must complete the “Test/Exam Accommodation Request Form” through your Student Portal Account to advise the Test Center that you will be writing in the test center.

You must complete and submit the form 3-5 (three to five) weekdays before the test date.

If the Test/Exam Accommodation Request Form is not submitted or is submitted late, you may not be accommodated to write in the test center due to unavailable resources.

Contact your faculty and Advising Services as soon as possible. You may be eligible to write a make-up test/ exam. However, it is up to the discretion of the faculty.

If you have already submitted a Test/Exam accommodation form through your student portal, please notify the Test Centre and your faculty by email at least 3-5 business days before the scheduled date.

Contact your faculty as soon as possible or, if needed, your Accessibility Advisor to discuss your situation as soon as possible. Where appropriate, medical documentation may be required (and should only be submitted to Accessibility Services) regarding time missed for medical reasons.

A memory aid should be a single sided sheet of paper, 12 pt font or larger, and contain cues (triggers) that the student has developed to assist in recall of previously learned information, e.g. acronyms, pictures, mnemonics.

It provides help for students with deficits in rote memory, sequencing memory, working memory and/or long-term memory to recall information.

There are Three Types of Memory Aids:

• 1) General Memory Aid – may include the use of some of the following items acronyms, acrostics, short phrases, pictures, diagrams, mind maps, method of loci, names, definitions, tables, and/or charts.
• 2) Memory Aid / Word List – used when spelling of important vocabulary words is vital to passing. The words must be organized in alphabetical order and not grouped in any specific manner.
• 3) Formula Sheet – list of formulae that the student will have to know how to use during the test.

A memory aid is not:

• A substitute for studying
• Course notes or course slides
• Lists of facts, concepts, or definitions
• A study / answer sheet

Instructors are within their right to disallow a formula sheet should it represent a clear academic advantage for the student.

You must provide your proposed memory aid/formula sheet to faculty at least 5 business days before the test / exam for faculty to review and comment. If approved, the memory aid / formula sheet is to be provided to the Accessibility Testing Centre.

Students are NOT to bring their memory aid/formula sheet with them to the test/exam.

The testing centre will provide the approved sheet to the student with their test. This is to ensure that the correct, approved document is used without modifications.