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Preparing for Your Intake Appointment
The last step to registering with Accessible Learning is attending an intake appointment with your accommodation consultant.
Your intake appointment is an opportunity for you to share your academic experiences and how your disability impacts your learning. Together with your accommodation consultant, you will review your documentation and create an accommodation plan. The purpose of an accommodation plan is not to guarantee success but to provide access and remove barriers that allow equitable participation in a course. Accommodations cannot remove or modify essential course or program requirements.
We have created this resource so you know what to expect from your intake appointment and can prepare to participate.
Before your intake appointment
Review Your Documentation
Be prepared to give a brief summary of your disability as well as your strengths and challenges.
- Consider the accommodations you previously received and identify which ones did or did not work for you. The differences between high school and university mean that you may receive different accommodations than what you are used to. This is also true if you are coming from another postsecondary institution.
- If you are in a co-op program or are completing courses with community service learning or other placement options, be sure to discuss those with your accommodation consultant.
- If you are a grad student, consider needs related to independent research, thesis development and writing, fieldwork, placement, practicum, or any other requirements.
Understand your rights and responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of the University
Laurier recognizes the importance of your student experience and acknowledges the impact disabilities can have on learning. If you are a student with a disability, it's important for you to be able to participate fully in determining the appropriate accommodations plan for you.
If you require accommodations, ensure that you:
- Identify yourself to Accessible Learning by registering through Accessible Learning Online and uploading the required documentation.
- Participate in the accommodation process and attend your scheduled appointments with your accommodation consultant.
- Provide relevant and recent documentation and promptly communicate any updates, concerns, or changes related to your disability to Accessible Learning.
- Manage your time for classwork, engagement, and study time. Accessible Learning staff can provide you with academic accommodations and support, but you are responsible for your academic success.
- Read and sign applicable service agreements each term found in Accessible Learning Online. Service agreements outline additional, detalied roles and responsibilities applicable to you as a student registered with Accessible Learning.
Instructors play a vital role in shaping your postsecondary experience. Your instructors' responsibilities include:
- Consulting on a suitable accommodation plan that meets your needs and satisfy the essential requirements of the course/program.
- Working cooperatively with Accessible Learning by supporting requests for exam information tutors, educational assistants and note takers.
- Ensuring your confidentiality.
Accessible Learning will coordinate requests for, and assist in, the provision of accommodations by:
- Receiving and verifying your psychological or medical documentation from an approved and regulated health professional. Ensure that your documentation is recent and relevant in nature.
- Reviewing all documentation and consulting with you to determine if you qualify for Accessible Learning’s services.
- Providing academic accommodation to support you when requested.
- Assisting and providing information to instructors, chairs, associate deans or their delegates, and other administrative staff as needed.
- Ensuring that your information is treated confidentially (e.g. your medical and psychological documentation). Your information is subject to disclosure when necessary to affect the accommodation as required by law and is maintained in your student file within Accessible Learning
- Developing an accommodation plan, where appropriate, based on your needs and available course/program information and requirements.
- Communicating the proposed accommodation plan in writing by confidential email to your instructor(s)/department(s) in a timely fashion.
During Your Intake Appointment
The intake appointment typically lasts for 1-1.5 hours. During this appointment, your accommodation consultant will:
- Listen to your learning history and how your disability impacts your learning.
- Review your documentation.
- Discuss the types of accommodations that are appropriate for your specific needs.
- Discuss practicum, placement or similar program requirements and determine appropriate accommodations to support your learning needs.
- Create an accommodation plan.
- Make referrals to other departments, supports, or community services, as needed.
Your accommodation plan:
- Details the services and supports that you receive based on the documentation you provide
- Outlines your strengths/challenges
- Outlines your examination, classroom, and/or placement accommodations
After your Intake Appointment
You will receive a follow-up email and access to GOAL: A Golden Hawk's Orientation to Accessible Learning on My Learning Space. You will have access to this course for the academic year.
GOAL comprises both synchronous and asynchronous segments. The content is delivered in 4 modules consisting of (short 2-5 min) video and quick check-ins. GOAL was designed to increase your awareness and understanding about Accessible Learning, as well as how to access your accommodations, build skills, and discover resources and services on campus available to you!