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Below, we walk you through how to use your academic accommodations including:
You should activate your accommodations
To activate your accommodations:
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.
After you activate your accommodations, Accessible Learning will email each of your instructors to:
If your accommodation plan includes exam, alternate format or notetaking, review the information below.
If you want to access your accommodations for any in-person exams, you must complete the following steps in Accessible Learning Online:
Email us at alexams@wlu.ca for any exam inquiries.
Note: "Exam" refers to all timed assessments including quizzes, tests, midterms, and final exams.
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.
Example: Your exam is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, at 9 a.m. You must submit your request or before Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, for the ALC 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:
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.
At any time after you have booked your exam, you can check and confirm the details you submitted:
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.
You may need to modify your exam booking if:
You may need to cancel your exam booking if:
To cancel your request:
You will need to book any online, in-person exams in Accessible Learning Online to access your exam accommodations.
If you are writing a remote, online exam using lockdown browser and require access to assistive technology (e.g., reading or dictation software), contact the Accessible Learning exam coordinators for assistance.
Your extra time accommodation for any online exams will show up in MyLS the day before you are scheduled to write.
If your extra time accommodation does not appear to be set up, email:
Remember: just like for on-campus exams, the timer does not stop for breaks.
Contact your instructors to confirm that your extra time accommodations have been set up for online exams that do not use MyLS.
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.
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.
We require 10 full business days' notice to reschedule a test/exam.
Determine if a rescheduled exam is permitted.
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.
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:
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:
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.
Volunteer note takers upload notes for you in Accessible Learning Online. Follow these steps to access your notes:
You can access assistive technology (AT) labs and services once you register with Accessible Learning.
Our AT services includes:
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.
Contact Us:
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Office Locations:
Waterloo: Peters, P220
Brantford: One Market, 207-20
Exam Inquiries:
P: 1-548-889-3516
Intake Inquiries:
E: intakeALC@wlu.ca
P: 1-548-889-3515
Deadlines
Register with Accessible Learning
Fall Term 2023 - November 3, 2023
Exam Bookings
Midterms, Tests, Quizzes:
10 full business days before exam date
Final Exams:
November 17, 2023
Note-taking
Beginning of each term