Using Your Accommodations

You should activate your accommodations

• immediately after your first meeting with your Accessible Learning consultant, and
• at the beginning of each term.

To activate your accommodations:

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Review and agree to the ALC Service Agreement.
3. Review and agree to agreements specific to your accommodations.
4. Complete the items in Your to do List.
5. Scroll to the Select Accommodations for Your Class section and follow the on-screen instructions.  

Accessible Learning encourages students to carefully consider the course content and format when selecting accommodations for each course. For example, some courses don’t have exams meaning exam accommodations are not necessary.

How to Activate Your Accommodations - Video

After you activate your accommodations, Accessible Learning will email each of your instructors to:

• confirm your registration with our office,
• summarize your accommodations, and
• have them to log onto Accessible Learning Online for more information.

Students should book their exams with Accessible Learning at the start of each term. Booking early ensures that you, Accessible Learning and your instructors have time for arranging and confirming the many details involved with accommodated exams.

All in-class midterms, tests, quizzes, and exams must be booked at least 10 full business days* before the date of the exam.

*Business days include Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The following do not count towards full business days: (a) the day the request is submitted, (b) the day on which the exam is scheduled, and (c) evenings and week ends.

To ensure that you are properly accommodated, you must book every in-person exam for which you would like to access your accommodations. 

To book your accommodated exam: 

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Select Exam Accommodations from "My Accommodations" in the left-hand navigation.
3. Scroll to "Alternative Testing Agreement."
4. Select your course from the dropdown menu.
5. Select the Schedule an Exam button.
6. Complete the information in the Exam Detail section.
7. Select the Add Exam Request button.

Once you submit an exam request, it will be listed as "processing" up to three business days before the exam date. At that time, the status will switch to "approved" and you will be able to see your exam writing location. If you do not see the date of your exam listed in the date drop-down menu, email Accessible Learning exams at alexams@wlu.ca.

How to Book Your Exam Accommodations - Video

At any time after you have booked your exam, you can check and confirm the details you submitted:

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Select Exam Accommodations from "My Accommodations" in the left-hand navigation.
3. Review the Upcoming Exam Request(s) for the Current Term section.

Exam Location

You can view this information approximately 72 hours before the time of your scheduled exam. 

Note:  You must check these details within 24 hours before your exam.  Your exam end time will not be adjusted if you arrive late for your exam.  See our Exam Protocols for more information.

Visit Accessible Learning Exam Spaces for building locations and basic descriptions to our exam rooms.

Modify Exam Requests

You may need to modify your exam booking if:

• Your instructor changed the date and/or time of the exam.
• You need to change or update the accommodations you requested.
• You need to make other changes.

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Select Exam Accommodations from "My Accommodations" in the left-hand navigation.
3. Select the Modify Request button directly under View Other Exams in the Upcoming Exam Request(s) for the Current Term section.
4. Complete the Exam Detail form.
5. Select the Update Exam Request button.

Cancel Exam Requests

You may need to cancel your exam booking if:

• Your instructor cancelled the exam
• You no longer want or need to write your exam with Accessible Learning

To cancel your request:

1. in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Select Exam Accommodations from "My Accommodations" in the left-hand navigation.
3. Select the Cancel Request button directly under View Other Exams in the "Upcoming Exam Request(s) for the Current Term" section.
4. Select the Confirm Cancellation button.

Will your exam be written fully online?  If so, you do not need to book this exam with Accessible Learning.

You need to book online exams with Accessible Learning only if:

• you are required to write the online exam in person, on campus.
• your instructor is using a lockdown browser and your exam accommodations include assistive technology (i.e., reading or dictation software).

Extra Time & MyLearningSpace

Either your instructor or Online Learning will enter your extra time in MyLearningSpace (MyLS) and it should appear the day before your exam.

To check your extra time:

1. Select Quizzes in the Course Navigation Bar.
2. Select the desired exam from the list.
3. The time allowed indicates how much time you have to write once the exam starts.

If your extra time accommodation does not appear in MyLS, email:

• your instructor
• examquestions@wlu.ca
• alexams@wlu.ca

Remember:  The timer for online exams does not stop and restart for breaks.

Extra Time & Another Platform

If your instructor is not using MyLS, contact them directly for information about how your extra time will be handled in another platform. 

You can submit final exam requests to Accessible Learning once the university publishes the final exam dates. 

You are required to adhere to Accessible Learning's final exam deadlines. Accessible Learning does not guarantee accommodations will be arranged for any exam booking requests after the deadlines.

Deferred examinations may be granted in limited circumstances. Students seeking a deferred exam must submit a petition. Refer to the deferred exams page for conditions, detailed information about the process, and to access faculty-specific forms and information.

Deferred Exam Form

If your deferred exam request is granted, and you want to use your exam accommodations, you must submit the Accessible Learning Deferred Exam Form at least 10 days prior to the deferred exam date.  Accessible Learning considers late requests for accommodated deferred exams on a case-by-case basis.

Tips for Completing the Form

• Booking accommodations: Remember to check the approved accommodations that you wish you use for this deferred exam.
• Booking approval: Once we receive and review the information, we will enter your request in AL Online. You will receive an approval email for your deferred final exam.
• Cancellations: If you no longer need to write a deferred exam, cancel it in AL Online per usual.

Determine if a rescheduled exam is permitted.

1. Check your course syllabus as it may provide additional information related to test absences and if your instructor permits the rescheduling of quizzes/tests/midterms.

1. Email your request to your course instructor.
2. Forward the email approval to alexams@wlu.ca.
3. Change the subject line to "Midterm Reschedule Request." 
4. Indicate which of your approved exam accommodations you require for your test/midterm.

If your instructor has not provided you with a specific date/time for the reschedule, attach your class schedule to the email so that a new date/time can be determined based on room and proctor availability.

Once your reschedule is processed, you will receive an email notification from Accessible Learning Online. 

Cumulative Exams

It is your responsibility to follow up with your instructor to ensure that they are aware that they need to provide Accessible Learning with the exam prior to your exam date.

Exam Spacing

Submit your exam request in Accessible Learning Online with the original time/date of the exam.

Complete the Exam Spacing Request Form if the time and/or date of your exam conflicts with any of your exam spacing accommodations (e.g. no morning exams).

Note: You must submit your Exam Spacing Request on or before the posted deadlines (see above). Accessible Learning cannot guarantee accommodations for Exam Spacing Requests received after the deadline.

Accessible Learning Exams will review your request with your accommodations and adjust your exam request in Accessible Learning Online accordingly. They will communicate this information directly to your instructor.

Note: You are responsible for checking the status of your request and confirming the time, date, and location of your exam in Accessible Learning Online.

Extra Time Overlapping with Class

Accessible Learning schedules exams at the same time they are scheduled for all other students in the course. The exception is when Accessible Learning must move an exam to align with a student's exam spacing accommodation.  Accessible Learning cannot customize exam schedules around classes, labs, or other academic activities. Students whose exams overlap with classes or other academic commitments should speak with their instructors about options for making up missed information or activities.

Non-Disability Related Exam Schedule Conflict

Accessible Learning cannot reschedule exams for reasons other than those related to your disability (e.g. athletic event, wedding, or funeral). If you need to reschedule an exam for other reasons, speak to your instructor.

If your instructor approves moving your exam for reasons other than your disability, you are responsible for submitting your exam booking request on or before the posted deadlines. You are also responsible for asking your instructor to communicate their approval directly to Accessible Learning Exams.

Note: Accessible Learning cannot guarantee accommodations for exam booking requests received after the deadline even if your instructor supports the request.

Religious Observance

Students seeking to reschedule accommodated exams for religious observances must submit requests to their faculty petitions committee, as per University Policy. if their request is approved, the student must submit their exam booking request on or before the posted deadline and forward documented approval to Accessible Learning Exams. The ALC cannot guarantee accommodations for exam booking requests related to religious observance submitted after the posted deadlines.

If you are approved for alternate formats, you are required to purchase either a physical or electronic copy of the textbook before Accessible Learning can release any alternate format materials.

Before releasing the alternate format material to you, Accessible Learning will email you instructions for uploading copies of receipts in Accessible Learning Online.

You are encouraged, but not required, to purchase your textbooks from the Laurier Bookstore. Purchasing from the bookstore makes it easier for Accessible Learning to obtain physical copies if we need to manually scan specific books to produce the required alternate format. If the book is not purchased from the bookstore, you must physically bring the textbook to Accessible Learning for scanning.

To request alternate format for textbooks and course packs in your courses:

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Choose Use of Alternate Format Material for Reading when selecting your accommodations for your course.
3. Select Alternative Formats from "My Accommodations" in the left-hand navigation.
4. For the textbooks/course packs you require for your courses, click Select.

Once submitted, an Accessible Learning alternate format transcriptionist will start coordinating your alternate format request(s). Log in to Accessible Learning Online to check the status of your requests.

Accessible Learning will email you at your @mylaurier.ca account once your alternate format is ready. The email will include instructions for uploading receipts verifying your textbook purchase to Accessible Learning Online.

To request note taking support:

1. Activate your accommodations. 
2. Select Note taking in the "Select Accommodations for Your Class" step.

Activating your note taking accommodation will signal Accessible Learning to connect with your instructor about recruiting volunteer note taker(s) for this course. Volunteer note taker support is available for only synchronous course delivery where lecture content is not otherwise provided to students. Support is subject to the successful recruitment of a volunteer.

Cancel Note taker Request

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Scroll down until you see the correct course.
3. Select the Modify Request button.
4. Uncheck note taking.
5. Select the Update Request button.

Volunteer note takers upload notes for you in Accessible Learning Online. Follow these steps to access your notes:

1. Log in to Accessible Learning Online using your Laurier username and password.
2. Select Note taking Services from the "My Accommodations" left-hand navigation.
3. Select the Available Note(s) for Download button.

Our AT Lab is in the Arts Building, Room 2C7 on the Waterloo campus. 

It is equipped with computers, software, and other technology.  Students registered with the ALC can use the equipment or visit the AT lab for quiet study.    

Contact the Assistive Technologist for access information. 

The Library at Laurier also offers services for students with disabilities, including bookable rooms, accessible workstations and equipment, research assistance and accessible materials. Visit the Library Accessibility Hub for more information.