Accessibility Accommodations

In this article, we are sharing the what, why, when, and who of Academic Accommodations.
What is an academic accommodation?
- Alterations in how a student learns material and/or demonstrates knowledge without compromising the essential requirements or learning outcomes of a course or program.
- Examples:
- extended time for exams
- assistive technology to complete exams (e.g. text-to-speech software)
- alternate format for course materials (e.g. e-text, large print)
- notetaking assistance (e.g. volunteer notetaker, digital voice recorder)
- provision of a Sign Language Interpreter
Why do we accommodate students with disabilities?
- To mitigate the functional impact of a student’s disability in the educational setting, allowing the student to participate fully in their studies.
- To meet our legislated duty to accommodate individuals with disabilities by addressing the barriers experienced by individuals because of the environment.
When do we accommodate students with disabilities?
- In response to a request from an individual student.
- Students book an intake appointment with Accessibility Services to start the process.
Who is responsible for facilitating academic accommodations?
- Accessibility Services office, Instructors, Students
Tips on how to facilitate common accommodations:
- See the Instructor FAQs for (Semester) Accommodations in the Supporting Students with Disabilities section in SharePoint (myLangara)
Questions? We are here to help by email, phone, Teams, or Zoom!
- accessibilityservices@langara.ca
- 604-323-5509