Communication Protocol for Parents and Supporters

To respect student privacy and promote independence, Accessible Learning adheres to the following principles and practices when communicating with students and their parents and supporters.

Direct Communication with Students

In accordance with Ontario law and University policy, Accessible Learning communicates directly and exclusively with students.

Email Correspondence

Accessible Learning cannot copy parents, supporters, or other third parties on email communications with students. Students also cannot give blanket permission for University faculty or staff to share personal information with a parent, supporters or other third party with the exception of invoicing and account summary information (visit our Privacy and Proxy Accounts webpage for more information).

Students are reminded that section 6.01.06 of Laurier's Non-Academic Code of Conduct prohibits providing false, incomplete, or misleading information about oneself or another individual. This includes allowing parents and other supporters to access a student's Laurier email account or communicate with the university while posing as the student. 

Student Choice and Information Sharing

Students are the owners of their personal information and may choose to share Accessible Learning communications with anyone they wish - or with no one at all.

Responding to Parents & Supporters

Accessible Learning is happy to respond to general inquiries about our services from parents and supporters, such as:

• Documentation requirements.
• Registration steps.
• Information available on the Accessible Learning website.

Accessible Learning cannot respond to inquires related to:

• A specific student or their access needs.
• Instructions or requests related to a student's academic accommodation plan.
• Communication on behalf of a student regarding accommodations, appeals, academic performance, or other confidential matters.

In these cases, Accessible Learning will respond only and directly to the student, even if the initial communication was sent by a parent, supporter, or other third party.

Information Received from Parents or Supporters

Any information or documentation received from parents or supporters concerning the student will be shared directly with the student and added to the student's file.

Concerns Raised by Parents or Supporters

When concerns are shared, Accessible Learning will communicate them directly to the student and offer follow up support. While we cannot disclose information about a student's well-being or academic progress, we will reach out to the student and, where appropriate, connect them with additonal on-campus supports such as the Dean of Students or Student Wellness.

Where Third-Party Communication or Disclosure is Permitted

Ontario law permits communication with third parties when there are serious concerns about a student's health or safety. In such cases, student permission is not required. Any disclosures to parents or other third parties will be managed through Laurier's Dean of Students or Special Constable Services.