Office
Procedures For Specific Special Needs Services
Intake Interview:
Students with special needs are those determined by the Coordinator
of the S.O.A.R. Office and are encouraged to meet with Catherine O’Rourke
early in the term to have services put into place for the academic year.
This meeting allows the student and coordinator to discuss any changes
in accommodations required, as well as to allow the office to have up-to-date
information to facilitate the coordination of those accommodations.
Any request for accommodation,
whether initiated by a student or faculty member must be approved by
the Coordinator. During this interview, the Coordinator will complete
an Intake Form and will distribute copies to other office staff.
Students will be asked to
take an Individualized Service Plan Form (ISP) indicating the accommodations
they are receiving to their course instructors to sign. This is to ensure
that your instructors are aware that you are working with the S.O.A.R.
office. A copy of this form will be sent to your school dean.
Documentation:
The Student Office for Alternative Resources provides accommodations
for students with documented disabilities. The documentation required
is dependent on the student's disability type. Students should contact
the Student Office for Alternative Resources regarding the type of documentation
required for their specific disability.
Services:
The staff in the S.O.A.R. Office assist students with disabilities to
adjust to the college environment in a variety of ways. Given that each
student's needs are unique, services and accommodations in the academic
setting are arranged on an individual basis, and based on the documentation
of the student's disability. Some of the services provided by the S.O.A.R.
are listed below:
- assistance with registration
- advocacy and counselling
regarding disability issues
- letters explaining the
student's special needs can be sent to professors
- notetakers and readers
can be arranged
- text and journal articles
can be produced on tape for the visually impaired, campus guides can
be arranged until class routes become familiar
- maps are available which
indicate accessible routes, entrances, and parking
- personal FM systems are
available to amplify hearing in lectures and tutorials
- referrals for disability
assessments
- bursary funds for purchase
of disability related services and equipment for eligible students
- lending of adaptive equipment
- library assistance such
as research assistance, retrieval of books, peer support in library
training
- special arrangements for
exams and assignments can be made to accommodate disabilities. Some
of the types of exam accommodations are:
• extended test time
• taped exams and answers
• exams in braille
• use of a computer with a spell check
• distraction-reduced exam environment
• readers
Assessments:
If a student requires an up-to-date assessment, appointments will be
scheduled with the staff Psychologist upon approval of the Coordinator.
The assessment process requires students to attend several different
testing and interview appointments. Students will be asked to sign an
Assessment Contract agreeing to attend the schedule appointments. If
you are unable to attend any of the scheduled appointments, you are
required to pay a $100.00 fee for any missed appointments with the Psychologist.
The fee also applies if you cancel your appointment and we cannot re-book
your appointment time with another student or the Psychologist cannot
see another patient. It is the responsibility of the student to inform
the course instructor of any classes that will be missed. Appointments
can be made with our Academic Skills Tutor to discuss any missed course
work. |
