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One of the ways that you can get support through Accessibility Services is with classroom accommodations. These accommodations will be decided upon based on your documentation and conversation with your Accessibility Advisor. These accommodations can support students with skills such as:
Notetaking supports:
Recordings
Recording lectures provides students with the opportunity to review course material at their own pace and repeatedly access information, accommodating diverse learning needs and enhancing comprehension. Additionally, it offers flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to engage with the content in a manner that suits their individual preferences and abilities.
Classmate notes
Using classmates' notes can offer students an additional resource for understanding course material, providing different perspectives and insights that may complement their own understanding. It fosters collaboration and inclusivity within the classroom environment, ensuring that all students have access to comprehensive and varied study materials.
Attendance flexibility
Attendance flexibility for students with disabilities allows them to manage their health and accommodations effectively, ensuring they can participate in their education without being penalized for absences related to their disabilities.
Assignment instructions
Written
Providing assignment instructions in written form benefits students by offering clarity and consistency in understanding tasks, accommodating diverse learning styles and cognitive needs. It also facilitates accessibility and allows for easier reference and review, allowing students to navigate assignments more effectively.
Verbal
Assignment instructions in verbal form benefit students by offering immediate clarification and the opportunity for interactive discussion, catering to auditory learners and those who may struggle with written communication.
Written and Verbal
This dual approach ensures clarity, flexibility, and inclusivity in understanding and completing assignments.
Assignment extensions
Assignment extensions for post-secondary students provide flexibility, equity, and the opportunity for higher-quality work by accommodating various student needs and circumstances. It fosters responsibility, time management skills, and reduces stress, contributing to overall student satisfaction, retention, and success. For students with learning barriers, they may need extra time to process information and complete tasks effectively. Extensions ensure equal access to educational opportunities and support their academic advancement. (Proactive)
Deferral of assignments
Deferral of assignments involves postponing the due date of an assignment to a later time. Assignment deferrals may be requested by students with ongoing challenges, such as disabilities or chronic health conditions, that impact their ability to meet deadlines when a medical flare-up occurs. There may also be temporary unforeseen crises that arise requiring deferrals until the student is in recovery. Deferrals provide students with flexibility in managing their workload and encourage responsibility in self-directed learning when unforeseen circumstances occur. (Reactive)
Advances copies of instructor notes, etc
Advanced copies of instructor notes offer several benefits, including providing students with additional time to review and process course material, accommodating various learning speeds and cognitive needs. Additionally, it allows students to better prepare for classes, facilitating active participation and engagement in discussions, ultimately enhancing their comprehension and academic success.
CART – Communication Access Realtime Translation
Using Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) in the classroom offers numerous benefits for students with disabilities, such as providing real-time captions of spoken content, ensuring access to lecture material for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. CART promotes inclusivity by facilitating active participation in discussions and enhancing comprehension, ultimately fostering an equitable learning environment where all students can fully engage with course content.
Academic aide
Using an academic aide in the classroom provides personalized support to students with disabilities, helping them navigate challenges such as note-taking, organization, or comprehension, thus promoting their academic success. This accommodation fosters inclusivity by addressing individual needs, enhancing students' understanding of course material, and facilitating active participation in class activities, ultimately ensuring equitable access to education.
Sensory support
Movement breaks
Movement breaks in the classroom offer several benefits, including helping students with disabilities regulate their energy levels and improve focus, attention, and cognitive function. These breaks also promote physical well-being, reduce stress, and create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, ultimately enhancing students' overall engagement.
Moving around the room
Moving around the classroom offers several benefits, including promoting better circulation, reducing physical discomfort, and preventing fatigue or stiffness associated with prolonged sitting. Additionally, moving around can stimulate cognitive function, increase alertness, and improve overall mood, thereby enhancing students' ability to focus, participate, and learn effectively.
Fidgets in Classrooms/Exams
Fidgets in the classroom or during an exam provide several benefits, such as helping to channel excess energy or anxiety in a non-disruptive manner, thereby improving focus and concentration. Fidgets can also serve as sensory tools, helping students regulate emotions and manage stress, ultimately promoting a more comfortable and inclusive learning environment where students can better engage with their studies and demonstrate their knowledge effectively.
Food/drinks in exam
A student might need food or a drink during an exam for various reasons, including maintaining blood sugar levels to sustain energy and cognitive function, staying hydrated to support concentration and alertness, and managing medical conditions or medication requirements that necessitate regular intake of food or fluids. Access to food and drinks during exams can also help alleviate stress and anxiety, ensuring that students can perform to the best of their abilities without being hindered by physical discomfort or distractions.
Noise cancelling headphones
A student might need noise-canceling headphones during an exam or class time to mitigate distractions and sensory overload, especially if they have a sensitivity to auditory stimuli or difficulty concentrating in noisy environments due to a disability such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. These headphones provide a way for students to create a quieter, more controlled learning environment, allowing them to focus better on the task at hand and perform to the best of their abilities without being negatively impacted by external noise.
Noise reducing headphones/earplugs
A student might need noise-reducing headphones during an exam or class time to minimize distractions and improve their ability to focus on the task at hand. This accommodation can be particularly beneficial for students who are easily overwhelmed by auditory stimuli or have difficulty concentrating in noisy environments, allowing them to better engage with course material and perform to the best of their abilities without being hindered by external noise.
White noise
A student might need white noise during an exam or class time to help mask distracting sounds in the environment and promote focus and concentration. White noise can create a consistent background sound that can drown out unpredictable noises, reducing sensory overload and helping students with conditions such as ADHD or sensory processing disorder maintain their attention on the task at hand. Additionally, white noise can also be calming for students who are prone to anxiety, creating a more comfortable and conducive learning environment.