Accessibility & Accommodation Policy

AC-SSN-POL-006 Accessibility & Accommodation Policy
Department	Academic
Creation Date	June 15, 2017
Approval Date	June 15, 2017
Effective Date	September 5, 2017

Organizational Scope

The Policy applies to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in programs* offered in The Michener Institute of Education at UHN (“Michener”).

*Students in joint programs must refer to their program handbook.

Purpose

The Michener Institute is committed to providing accessibility & accommodations for people with a documented disability and providing a learning and working environment in which all students are treated with respect and dignity. Each person has the right to learn in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal opportunities and one that prohibits discriminatory practices.

This policy conforms to the legal requirements as set out in the Human Rights Code, Workplace and Insurance Act, Employment Standards Act, Integrated Accessibility Standards and any other applicable legislation.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, “Accessibility & Accommodation” is defined as:

An adaptation or adjustment made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential duties or requirements of their program and strategies that level the playing field for students by altering environmental factors that may present barriers to success.

Types of accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• technical aids and devices
• private test or exam room
• extra test or exam time

Policy

Michener will fulfill its obligations for persons with disabilities in respect to learning and accessibility & accommodation as required, up to the point of causing Michener undue hardship. Undue hardship may include financial costs, health and safety concerns, and adverse impact on operations.

Responsibility

Managers:

• Ensuring that the policy is consistently applied within their area of responsibility
• Notify Student Success Network and Health Services immediately if any issues arise
• Work with Student Success Network and Health Services to identify, implement, and monitor accommodation requests
• Work with the student to ease the transition back to school
• Have on-going open communication with the student
• Ensure the student is not isolated and is integrated back into the learning environment
• On-going communication with Student Success Network on progress of reintegration
• Promote a supportive learning environment

Person requiring accommodation:

• Visit to an appropriate physician for assessment to determine what accommodations are required
• Notify Health Services concerning injuries, illness or accommodation needs as soon as possible
• Work with Student Success Network and/or Health Services to identify and implement accommodations
• Follow accommodation plan and treatment (if required)
• Advise Health Services immediately of any changes that may affect the current accommodation

Health Services:

• Ensure assessment is received and confirmed by a Michener appointed physician (if required)
• Work with Student Success Network to identify and implement accommodation requests
• Work with student and Student Success Network to ensure accommodation requirements are in place
• Ensure on-going and regular follow-up with student during reintegration
• Inform Student Success Network immediately of any issues or concerns

Student Success Network

• Ensure Student Success Network staff are trained on the accessibility & accommodation processes and implications
• Ensure appropriate staff are aware of the situation
• Ensure student has or is getting documentation of disability
• Work with Health Services to follow up with required documentation
• Work with students, faculty and health services to identify, implement and monitor accommodation requests
• Inform health services immediately of any issues or concerns

The Accommodation Process (Return to learning environment):

When a student with a disability requests an accommodation, the following process is followed:

Step 1: Recognizing the Need for Accommodation

• Requested by the student or identified by Health Services or Student Success Network
• Student Success Network or Health Services informs student of the steps taken to ensure the privacy of the personal information.

Step 2: Gathering Relevant Information and Assessing Needs

• student is an active participant in this step
• The Michener Institute does not require details on the nature of the student’s disability to provide an accommodation; it needs to know only about the student’s  functional abilities
• Health Services may ask for a functional abilities assessment (in the form of a completed Functional Abilities Form) at Michener’s expense
• student, Health Services, and/or Student Success Network explore a range of specific and universal accommodations to find the most appropriate measure (an external expert may be involved at Michener’s expense)

Step 3: Writing a Formal Individual Accommodation Plan

Accommodation details are written down in a formal individual plan, including:

• Accessible formats and communication supports, if requested
• Workplace emergency response information, if required
• Any other accommodation that is to be provided

The accommodation plan is provided to the student in a format that takes into account their accessibility needs due to their disability:

• The student’s personal information is protected at all times
• If the individual accommodation plan requires adjustments, the Student Success Network provides the student with the reason for the change in a format that takes into account any accessibility needs of the student.

Step 4: Implementing, Monitoring, and Reviewing the Accommodation Plan

• The student and the Student Success Network monitor the accommodation to ensure that it has effectively met the needs of the student
• The accommodation is reviewed if the nature of the student’s disability changes

If the accommodation is no longer appropriate, the student and Student Success Network will work together to gather relevant information and reassess the student’s needs in order for the student to find the best accommodation measure. The process would then start over at Step 1

Associated Documentation

Accessibility & Accommodations Services

Accessibility Registration & Re-Registration Form

Revision History