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 Accessible learning 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.

Start of Each Term

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 to arrange the many details of accommodated exams.

Midterms

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

Finals

Students must book their final exams before the posted Final Exam Booking Deadline. Booking requests received after the posted deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but approval is not guaranteed.

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*Business days include Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The following do not count towards full business days:

• The day you submitted the request.
• The day of the exam.
• Evenings and weekends.

Example: Your exam is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 9 a.m. You must submit your request on or before Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, for Accessible Learning to approve your request and arrange your accommodations.

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 Exams

A deferred exam refers to any exam (final, midterm, test, or quiz) for which a student has received approval from an instructor or a petition committee to write on a date different from the originally scheduled exam.

Deferred Final Exams

Refer to Deferred Exams for information about conditions, application process, and faculty-specific forms and links.

Students approved to write a deferred final exam for which they want to use their exam accommodations must submit the Accessible Learning Deferred Final Exam Form.

We require up to 10 days' notice before the deferred exam date to make accommodation arrangements. Requests submitted with less than 10 days' notice will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

New Final Exam Date

For final exam deferral requests submitted with sufficient notice, Accessible Learning will reschedule the deferred final exam for the date specified by the instructor or petition committee where possible. Accessible Learning reserves the right to reschedule a deferred final exam to the next available exam time slot to meet provisions in the student's accommodation plan and/or available resources.

Students who cannot write a scheduled in-class (online or in-person) midterm, test, or quiz because of illness or a disability-related absence must check their course syllabus and speak with their instructor about deferral options.

Rescheduling Accommodated Midterms, Tests, or Quizzes

Accessible Learning will reschedule accommodated midterms, tests, or quizzes with (a) written confirmation of the instructor's approval and (b) sufficient notice.

If your instructor permits you to defer your midterm, test, or quiz to a later date:

1. Email alexams@wlu.ca with the subject line: "Midterm/Test/Quiz Reschedule Request".
2. Forward or attach a copy of the instructor's email approving your deferral request.
3. List which of your approved exam accommodations you wish to use for the deferred midterm, test, or quiz.

Accessible Learning will email you directly confirming the accommodations arrangements for your deferred midterm, test, or quiz.

Accessible Learning will reschedule the deferred midterm, test, or quiz to the date specified by the instructor where possible. Accessible Learning reserves the right to reschedule deferred midterms, tests, or quizzes to the next available time slot based on the student's accommodation plan and available resources.

Students may request a change in time between their exams (midterms, quizzes, tests, and finals) for the following reasons:

1. Their current exam schedule does not reflect their approved academic accommodations related to timing (e.g., 24 hours between the start of exams).
2. The start and end times of two exams including extra time either (a) overlap or (b) leave less than 30 minutes between the end of one exam and the start of another.

To request a change in time between exams, students must:

1. Book all exams with the original times and dates in Accessible Learning Online on or before posted deadlines.
2. Submit the Request - Change in Time Between Exams Request Form.
3. Check their Exam Status in Accessible Learning Online.

Deadline: Students must book their original exams and submit a request for a change in time between exams at least 10 business days before the date of the first exam.

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.