Disability Services in Post-Secondary Institutions

NSCC- Lunenburg / St.FX / Mount Allison / Saint Mary’s University / Dalhousie University / University of NB / NSCC- Akerley / Cape Breton University / Acadia / NSCAD
What supports are available for students seeking academic support? / - There is a disability resource facilitator at the campus
- Students need to check off the box
- Plan for less courses over a longer time period
- NSCC can speak to parents up until school starts, then a permission form needs to be signed / - Help with course selection & registration
- Early transition planning
-Locating tutors, note-takers, academic strategies
- Electronic textbooks
- Weekly meetings if students want
-Assistance locating funding / -Mentor program: 1st year students
- Early orientation
-tutoring/note-taking
- Assistance with funding applications
- Electronic textbooks
- Sometimes residence accommodations / -Fred Smithers Centre of Support for Disabilities (need to make application to the Centre)
-Time management programs
-Reduced course load for first year
-Study skills classes / Advising and Access Centre (must personally request)
- ABLE provides orientation program for students
-- Academic Success Services: Quenta Adams-
-Writing Center
-Tutoring
-Note-taking is not guaranteed
-Aspergers/ASD Group / Book apt in late spring or august to review documentation.
See listings online. / -Meet with students to figure out what barriers they face- match supports to remove barriers
-AT reading/writing
-Note-takers / Register in the center at the beginning of the year
Students must self advocate, parents can only speak to school with a permission form signed, but marks will never be provided to parents. / Arrange meeting before you come or soon after.
Students must self advocate, parents can only talk to them if a release is signed, but prefer students to be the contact. / -Disability Resource Facilitator
- LD pre-screening interviews
Are all students allowed technology in the classroom? / Yes / Professor- dependent / Only if required for their disability / Yes / Varies / Professor dependant / Varies by set-up of classroom / Professor dependant / Professor dependant, most will not allow recording of lectures / Unclear
Are student scribes available to students? / Yes / Yes, but it needs to be in the PsychoEducational Assessment / Yes / Yes / Unclear / Not usually, must be good with technology / Yes / Yes / Yes / Unclear
Are there on-campus tutors? / Yes / Yes, masters level students / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes, go through the Reading and Writing Center / Yes / Yes / Yes / YEs
What documentation is required for students to access supports? / PsychEducational Assessment / PsychEducational Assessment for NS students / PsychEducational Assessment for funding / PsychEducational Assessment / PsychEducational Assessment (for funding) / PsychEd, if not within the last 5 years, they can help set up a new assessment. / PsychoEducational Assessment (bit of wiggle room with this now) / PsychEd and/or medical letter associated with student loan / PsychEd / PsychEd, if not within the last 5 years.
Psych. Ed. If a psyched is required, how recent does it need to be? / Yes, for grants / - Within the last 5 years / -Within the last 5 years / -Within the last 5 years / Within the last 5 years / Within the last 5 years / Last 5 years / Last 5 years / Within last 5 years, preferably in grade 11 or 12. / Within last 5 years.
Is an Assistive Technology Assessment required? / Not required, but is beneficial to have / Not required, but is beneficial to have / Not required / No / Not required / No / Not required, but is beneficial to have / No / No / Unclear
Are there different levels of adaptations, that is, are some supports available to everyone and if so what are they? / As need basis / You need to have a documented diagnosis / You need to have a diagnosis to access the Meighen Centre / Supports are individualized from initial meeting / Some are available to all / Individualized supports
Should be independent with technology for readers and scribes because will not get human support reading or scribing / -Anyone can access tutoring & Premiere Tools / Tutoring / Tutoring, note-takers / Supports are individualized
Are some supports restricted to those with a diagnosis? / - Need a diagnosis for electronic textbooks / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes - with documentation supports include extra time (up to 2x), technology, note-takers, tutor / - Need a diagnosis for electronic textbooks / Yes - supports can include note-taking, scribe, tutor, proctored exams, extra time, specific software /computer / Yes - must be negotiated with the prof (recording lectures, technology in the class, prompt sheets, extra time, alternate location for writing exams) / Yes
Is there a prescribed list for what is permitted for testing/examinations? / No, they aren’t fussy over this, except nursing exams. / - No, this is very individualized
- Students must give at least 3 days notice before a test/exam to access supports
- Alternate setting (sometimes)
- Extra time (1 ½-2) / - Less people in the environment
- Extra time (1½-2)
-Computer use for testing (screen reader software & voice input) / No, there is not a prescribed list / Unclear / No, varies by professor and documentation. Most often give extra time (2x) and allow technology use. / No, this varies by instructor.
Students must request accommodations for tests.
Some allow:
- Quiet space
-Scribe
- Readers
-Extra time / Depends on diagnosis, special instructions individualized for the student
Typically:
-1.5 extra time
- calculator
- open book / Negotiated with the prof. Clean laptops are provided for exams/tests through the center, unless special software is required on personal laptop. / Unclear
Is it self-advocacy or is there someone at the school who acts as the student's advocate? / - Self-advocate
-They need to come to the Centre / -Self-advocacy- students must self-identify
- Student is responsible to take letters of accommodation to faculty / Self-advocacy is necessary, need to choose to go to the Centre
- The Centre staff will also advocate for students / Yes, students need to self- advocate / Students must self advocate / Students must self advocate, register and are assigned an advisor.
Also can participate in the Peer Mentor Program up to 2 hours/week support / -Self-advocacy, students must register with Student Services
- There is one Disability Resource Facilitator on campus / Must register and self advocate. The centre will support as needed and act as an academic advisor. / Self advocate and register with the center. / Must self-advocate and contact the Disability Resource Facilitator
Do the supports vary by teacher? / Yes / Definitely / Unclear / Yes / Yes / Yes, must be negotiated with the prof / Yes, varies by prof, can be negotiated individually. / Unclear
Do the students have an assigned advisor? / No / There are 3 in the office that meet with all students / They aren’t assigned / Yes / Yes / Yes - assigned when you register / No / Yes
- Peer Success Coaches assigned to keep in contact / Yes - Kathy O’Rourke meets with them and there is another person who supports with time management, organization and study skills, but students must request this. / Unclear
Who provides services and coordinates support? / No advisors / There are 3 advisors, but students must take ownership for their learning / Fred Smithers Centre- directed to counsellor / There are 3 advisors that may be assigned to you. / Students must self-advocate and the Disability Resource Facilitator is there to help / Disability Support Services / Accessible Learning Services
- complete a sheet together and the student must provide to profs to sign so everyone understands the learning needs. / Disability Resource Facilitator
Is there any entrance test that must be completed? / Grade 12 completion
If a student was on an IPP in grade 12 or at all in Math- must go through Special Admissions and write tests / No / -Yes, for Math / Yes, Math for PreCalculus / Grade 12 / Grade 12 completion
If a student was on an IPP in grade 12 or at all in Math- must go through Special Admissions and write tests / Grade 12
completion / Grade 12 completion
What is the date for changing classes? / Within the first few weeks of classes / 1 week after the start date / 1st Semester: October 30
2nd Semester: March 4 / Listed on the website (they change) / Varies - check the website / Upon acceptance- huge waiting lists / Within first 3 weeks for no penalty, check website as dates vary / Check website as dates vary.
Is there a parent portal or documentation available for parents? / Disabilityservice.nscc.ca / My St.FX- under Accessible Learning / mounta.ca/meighan / Fred Smithers Centre for Support link on SMU website / Desire To Learn website - but varies if the profs use it. / Not really, best to call. Some info on Disability Services website / No - but looking at changing so mid-term marks can be accessed. / Acadia Central but not all profs post marks. Essential to build rapport with prof and can meet during office hours to discuss work progress.
Contact name of person. / Tracy Rhodenizer
902-543-4608 / Elizabeth Kell
902-867-5349 / Matthew Maston
506-364-2175 / Fred Smithers Centre
902-420-5449 / Jody Gorham
506-453-3515 / Carly Martin
902-491-4953 / Ken Bickerton 902-563-1121 / Kathy O’Rourke
902-585-1823 / Bill Travis
902-494-8313