Information about Disability Services
DISABILITY SERVICES’ STAFF
Evaristus 218
902-457-6567
Kim Musgrave
Coordinator of Disability Services
· Registers students with Disability Services and arranges accommodations
· Liaises with professors and students
· Meets with students having concerns regarding their disability and/or accommodations
Kelly Riemersma
Disability Resource Facilitator
· Assists students with government grant funding for students with permanent disabilities
· Trains students on assistive technology including Kurzweil 3000, Dragon Naturally Speaking, and TextHELP Read & Write
· Assists students with finding tutors
Michelle Greencorn
Learning Strategist
· Meets with students to identify strengths and weaknesses
· Provides study skill strategies tailored to individual needs
· Works with students to determine appropriate learning strategies to improve academic skills
· Coordinates peer mentoring program
· Supervises the Inclusion Advancement Liaison position in partnership with the Students’ Union
Julie Fillmore
Administrative Assistant
· Schedules appointments for students with disabilities to see Kim, Kelly or Michelle
· Schedules midterm exams
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICES
Accommodations are determined on an individual basis taking into consideration the needs of the student and the academic integrity of the course or program.
The following list contains some of the accommodations provided to students and is included here for illustrative purposes only. However, other requests may be considered on an individual basis:
Classroom Accommodations
· Note takers
· Tape recorders
· Accessible seating and mobility assistance
Test/Exam Accommodations
· Extended time
· Reduced distraction location
· Reader and/or scribe
· Use of laptop
Assistive Technology
· Kurzweil 3000
· Dragon NaturallySpeaking
· TextHELP Read and Write
· Inspiration
· Zoomtext
· Height adjustable computer workstation
· Digital voice recorders
· LiveScribe Pen
· Scanners
· RedCat (amplification device)
· CCTV
· Others
Additional Support
· Study Skills
· Writing Resource Centre
· Personal & Career Counselling
· Peer Mentoring Program
For more information, please go to
www.msvu.ca/disabilityservices
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
Kurzweil 3000 (Windows/Mac) http://www.kurzweiledu.com
· Assists you with reading, writing and study skills
· Check out: System Requirements; Resources for training info; download Free Trial
textHELP Read and Write Gold (Windows/Mac) www.texthelp.com
· Assists you with reading, writing/research feature, and study skills
· Check out: Support for training info; System Requirements; Download Trial (free)
Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Windows) Dragon Dictate (Mac) www.nuance.com
· Allows you to create documents, send e-mail, browse the Web and control your computer by voice
· Check out: Speech Recognition for People & Dragon Support for training info; Tech Specs; No Free Trial
Word Q & Speak Q (Windows/Mac) http://www.goqsoftware.com/
· Assists you with reading and writing
· Check out: Resources for training info; System Requirements; Downloads for free trial
Literacy Productivity Pack (Windos/Mac) www.readingmadeeasy.ca
· Assists you with reading, writing, and study skills
· Checkout: Products; Support for training; Products for system requirements; Free Trials
Inspiration (Windows/Mac) www.inspiration.com/global
· Assists you with the writing process
· Check out: Resources for training info; Help Center for System Requirements; download Free Trials
Ginger Grammar & Spellchecker (Windows) http://www.gingersoftware.com/
· Grammar and spellchecker program
· Check out: Help for FAQ/compatibility requirements and tutorials; download free version
Zoomtext Magnifier/Reader (Windows) www.aisquared.com
· A screen-reading and screen-magnification program for students with visual impairments
· Support and Learning for training info; System Requirements; Download Trial (free)
LiveScribe Echo Smartpen (Windows/Mac) http://www.livescribe.com/
· Provides audio recording while you write, allowing your written notes to sync with the audio
· Support for information; Tech Specs; No Free Trial
For more information contact or 902-457-6719
GRANT FUNDING
1. NOVA SCOTIA students with disabilities:
· For information on the following NS government grants including the Federal Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities, Provincial Access Grant, Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Disabilities, and PSDS Goods & Services Program, please go to:
http://psds.ednet.ns.ca (look under Funding Available and Services)
· To be eligible for the above mentioned grants, you must apply for a Student Loan and have a final decision made on your student loan. You do NOT need to be approved for a Student Loan in order to be eligible for some of the disability-related grant funding:
http://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/
· In addition, to be eligible for the above mentioned government grants, you must be classified as a student with a permanent disability by NS Department of Labour and Advanced Education. You will need to submit a Medical Assessment Form:
http://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/ (look under Forms)
2. OUT-OF-PROVINCE students with disabilities:
To be eligible for grants for students with permanenant disabilities, you must:
· Apply for a Student Loan through your province’s Student Assistance Office: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/student/index.shtml
NOTE: In some provinces you must be eligible for a student loan in order to be eligible for grants
· You will be required to submit medical documentation per the guidelines outlined by your province’s Student Assistance Office (most provinces have a standard form that must be completed).
3. Scholarships and awards, for students with disabilities, offered by the Mount, outside companies, associations, etc.:
http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/studentservices/registrarsoffice/scholarshipbursaries/default.aspx
http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/studentservices/disabilityservices/students/default.aspx
http://www.disabilityawards.ca/
For more information contact:
Kelly Riemersma
902-457-6719
POLICY FOR ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Approved at Senate 28 March 2011
1. Institutional Commitment
Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) is committed to creating a rich and rewarding experience for all members of our community. Proud of the rich diversity of our community, the Mount provides services which both celebrate and support this. The University supports academically qualified students with appropriately documented disabilities in their efforts to participate as fully as reasonably possible in the University’s programs. The academic accommodations provided shall be consistent with the principles of both the Canadian and Nova Scotia Human Rights Acts and the Mount’s Fair Treatment Policy as they apply to the provision of academic accommodations and services to students with disabilities.
2. Purpose
This Policy will:
· Outline the roles and responsibilities of students, faculty, and administration in the provision of academic accommodations to students with disabilities.
· Provide guidance and standards for the implementation of this Policy understanding that accommodations have to be determined on an individual basis.
3. Scope
This Policy applies to the treatment of all MSVU students with documented disabilities enrolled in fulltime, part-time, undergraduate or graduate programs of study whether they are studying on or away from campus. The University has adopted the meaning of disability as established in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act, as amended from time to time, which includes physical, sensory, mobility, communication, learning, emotional, psychiatric and other non-visible impairments and disabilities. For further details, see Appendix A for the definition of “disabilities” according to section 3 (1) of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act.
4. Academic Standards and Accommodations
Academic accommodations are reasonable modifications or adjustments to instructional methods, curriculum, and/or evaluation designed to minimize the impact of the disability on
a student’s performance. MSVU takes the duty to accommodate (See Appendix C) seriously by providing the most appropriate accommodations, short of undue hardship (See Appendix C). These accommodations are designed to provide equitable opportunities without lowering academic standards or compromising the integrity of the course or program. In some circumstances, the nature and degree of a disability may mean that no reasonable accommodation would enable an individual to perform the essential requirements of a course or program without compromising its academic integrity. In these cases accommodations will be considered, but may be refused. Accommodations are determined on a collaborative basis and guided by the Canadian Human Rights Act as well as on an individual basis having regard to the individual student’s particular circumstances (see Appendix B for examples of academic accommodations).
5. Collaboration and Shared Responsibility
The accommodation process is an ongoing shared responsibility between the student and the University. This will involve collaboration among the student, Disability Services, and faculty, and may include staff, administration, service providers and health professionals, as necessary. Students are expected to self- identify in a timely manner and (with the assistance of Disability Services) to collaborate with the University in developing accommodations as well as to advocate for their own needs.
6. Documentation
A student with a disability must register with Disability Services prior to requesting or receiving accommodations. The University requires written documentation containing a diagnosis, an outline of the impact the disability has on the student’s learning and behaviour, and the types of accommodations recommended. The recommended accommodations must be relevant to the diagnosed disability. This documentation must be current and completed by a qualified professional with a specialization in the area of the disability. Such a professional may include a registered psychologist, psychiatrist, medical doctor, or other medical specialist. For a learning disability, documentation must include a psycho-educational assessment and report from a registered psychologist. In developing appropriate accommodations the recommendations of professionals will be considered.
7. Confidentiality
The University is committed to maintaining confidentiality when providing academic accommodations and related support services to students. However, the University needs sufficient information to evaluate and respond appropriately to a request for accommodation. Consequently, it may be necessary for the student or Disability Services to disclose information about the nature of the disability to staff and/or faculty in order for the accommodation request to be considered and implemented. Disability Services will discuss the need for the disclosure with the student and obtain written consent from her/him prior to sharing any information. The use of assistive technology in the classroom will be restricted solely to pedagogical purposes, and course material developed with its use should not be shared, distributed or reproduced for any other reason without the written consent of the instructor and other students.
8. Admissions
MSVU actively encourages applications from students with disabilities and admits academically qualified candidates in accordance with the University’s admissions policy. Upon acceptance, students who wish to seek accommodation must contact the Coordinator of Disability Services as soon as possible in order to ensure they receive accommodations in a timely manner.
9. Enrollment Status
Students with documented disabilities are considered full time when registered in 2.0 units in the academic year.
10. Accommodation Appeals
In the event that an agreement concerning accommodations cannot be reached between a student with a disability, a faculty member, and Disability Services, the Equity Officer will recommend a resolution to the dispute. In determining a resolution, the Equity Officer will consult with the affected parties while considering the Mount’s Fair Treatment Policy, the Canadian Human Rights Act and the academic standards of the course or program in question.
11. Physical Accessibility
MSVU affirms its commitment to the physical accessibility of the Mount campus by continually monitoring and upgrading accessibility to its buildings.
12. Advisory and Policy Review Procedures
The Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) functions primarily as an advisor to Disability Services, students, faculty, staff and administration regarding issues related to students with disabilities. It is a collaborative and stakeholder-based committee comprised of the following:
· the Coordinator of Disability Services (chair),
· a representative from the student body (typically a student with a disability),
· a faculty member,
· a representative from the Registrar’s Office,
· the Equity Officer,
· and an academic Dean.
The Advisory Committee will, on an annual basis, review the policy and make recommendations when required to the Associate Vice President of Student Experience.
Appendix A
NS Human Rights Code
In section 3. (l) of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act, R.S., c.214 amended 1991c.12
defines physical and mental disabilities as follows:
3.(l) “physical disability or mental disability” means an actual or perceived
(i) loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure
or function,
(ii) restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity,
(iii) physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement, including, but not limited to, epilepsy and any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical
coordination, deafness, hardness of hearing or hearing impediment, blindness
or visual impediment, speech impairment or impediment or reliance on a
hearing-ear dog, a guide dog, a wheelchair or a remedial appliance or device,
(iv) learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes
involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
(v) condition of being mentally handicapped or impaired,
(vi) mental disorder, or
(vii) dependency on drugs or alcohol;
Appendix B
Types of Academic Accommodations
Accommodations provided to students may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Classroom Accommodations
• Note takers
• Tape recorders
• Laptops
• Accessible seating and mobility assistance
• Alternate formatting of classroom materials (e.g. electronic files, large print, Braille)
• Sign language interpreter
Test/Exam Accommodations
• Extended time
• Separate, reduced distraction location
• Modified test format
• Oral, scribed and dictated tests
• Use of computer, spell check, calculator, dictionary
Appendix C
Definitions
Duty to Accommodate
The term “duty to accommodate” is taken from the Canadian Human Rights Act and describes the legal obligation to meaningfully incorporate diversity into an organization. The duty to accommodate involves eliminating or changing rules, policies, practices and behaviours that discriminate against persons based on a group characteristic, such as race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, marital status, family status and disability.
The duty to accommodate requires an organization to identify and eliminate rules that have a discriminatory impact. Accommodation means changing the rule or practice to incorporate alternative arrangements that eliminate the discriminatory barriers.
Undue Hardship
Undue hardship describes the limit, beyond which an organization is not expected to accommodate. Undue hardship usually occurs when an organization cannot meet the costs of or withstand the losses in efficiency resulting from the accommodation.
There is no formula for deciding what costs represent undue hardship and there is no precise judicial definition of “undue hardship.” However, “undue hardship” implies that some hardship may be involved in the duty to accommodate. Organizations are expected to exhaust all reasonable possibilities for accommodation before they can claim undue hardship.