Policy #31: Academic Accommodation and Access for Students with Disabilities

31.1 Purpose

CiiAT will promote and protect the rights and dignity of students with disabilities and will create a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment in which all members of the community are treated equitably. All members are also responsible for promoting equality, removing barriers, and creating a respectful and inclusive learning environment. CiiAT will strive to support and facilitate the reasonable Accommodation of individuals with disabilities so that all may share the same level of access to opportunities, participate in the full range of activities that CiiAT offers, and achieve their full potential.

The purpose of the Academic Accommodation policy is to create an accessible learning environment that enables all students to meet the essential requirements of CiiAT’s courses, programs, and activities. CiiAT is committed to providing Accommodation to promote human rights, equity and diversity to comply with its duty under the British Columbia Human Rights Code to make its services available in a manner that does not discriminate.

Students will be Accommodated in a way that respects their dignity, privacy, and autonomy, and to the point of undue hardship in a manner consistent with CiiAT’s educational mandate, academic principles, and legal obligations.

Developing and implementing a plan for reasonable Academic Accommodation is a shared responsibility. It requires participation, cooperation, and communication among and between the Institution, the Instructor, administration, the Student with a Disability and, where applicable, any other relevant staff members of the institution. A collaborative working relationship between the people involved in each accommodation process is essential to meet the Student’s need for Academic Accommodation.

31.2 Denying Accommodations

There are a number of possible reasons that CiiAT may deny an accommodation request. For instance, you may not qualify as having a disability, as defined under the definition of “Disability” in this policy document. Other reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• The accommodation is not supported by the provided documentation
• The accommodation constitutes a personal service or personal care, which are not covered by CiiAT
• The accommodation would change the fundamental requirements of the course, program, service or activity
• The accommodation constitutes undue hardship or financial burden

31.3 Definitions

“Disability” or Person(s) with a Disability or Disabilities means persons who: have a functional limitation caused by a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment; have a documented restriction or limitation which impacts the activities necessary for them to participate in studies at CiiAT; or may experience attitudinal and/or environmental barriers that hamper their full and self-directed participation in studies at CiiAT.

“Accommodation” or “Accommodate” refers to any modification that reduces or eliminates barriers to participation arising when Students with Disabilities interact with CiiAT’s facilities or its teaching, learning, and assessment methods and materials.

“Undue Hardship” is a legal test related to reasonable Academic Accommodation. CiiAT has a duty to provide reasonable Academic Accommodation to the point of undue hardship as that term has been interpreted under BC law. What constitutes undue hardship to the institution varies based on, and must be considered in the context of, the circumstances of each individual case. Undue hardship is likely to exist when an accommodation could reasonably be expected to result in: a) a substantial risk to the student or others, or b) financial or logistical challenges that would seriously compromise or undermine the viability of a course, program or activity.

31.4 Providing Documentation

Students seeking Accommodations submit a written description of the disability and information about its impact. The documentation must be from a relevant, qualified health or educational professional and accepted by CiiAT. Depending on the nature of the disability and the accommodation requested, further documentation may be required.

Appropriate documentation should include: 

• Date of report
• Diagnostic statement identifying the disability
• Description of disability-related restrictions and impact of limitations in an educational setting
• Signature and credentials of diagnosing professional 

Students may also independently provide suggested accommodations to CiiAT, which CiiAT will consider in conjunction with documentation received from medical professionals.

Please note that CiiAT does not cover costs related to medical documentation, and a diagnosis of Disability alone does not guarantee Academic Accommodations.

Documentation can be submitted to the Academic Department at [email protected] or by mail to the following address:

CiiAT
143 Joseph Street
Victoria, BC
Canada V8S 3H6

The Academic Department will acknowledge receipt of your application form and accompanying documents within 3 business days and respond with next steps.

31.5 Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation refers to changes in the allocation of institution resources or in teaching or evaluation procedures which are designed to meet the particular needs of a student with a disability.

Reasonable accommodations have to meet certain criteria:

1. Accommodations are based on documented individual needs. For example, if a student has a diagnosed learning disability and an assessment from a professional showing that their reading speed is below average, it could be a reasonable accommodation to have extra time in exams to read the questions and check their work.
2. Allows for the most integrated experience possible.
3. Reasonable accommodations do not compromise essential requirements of a course or program. When selecting accommodations for a student, it is important that CiiAT maintains the learning outcomes of the course/program. Doing so ensures the accommodations remove barriers to learning without changing the key aspects of the education.
4. Does not pose a threat to personal or public safety.
5. Accommodations do not impose an undue hardship or administrative burden. Hardship has to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. If they cannot provide a requested accommodation, the institution should offer an alternative.
6. Accommodations are not of a personal nature. Accommodations must be based on the documented functional impacts of a disability. As a result, accommodations cannot be made based solely on the personal preferences of an individual.

33.6 Determining Accommodations

1. CiiAT will review the documentation provided by the student.
2. In consultation with the student, CiiAT will determine the accommodations that would be appropriate in the course/program based on the functional impact of the disability in that setting. The essential learning outcomes for the course and program requirements will always be considered when determining the accommodation. 
3. The student and CiiAT will develop a confidential written decision based on the documentation. 
4. CiiAT will forward the written decision to relevant faculty.

33.7 Review of Accommodation Applications

Every effort is made to reach agreement regarding accommodations. If there is a lack of agreement with the accommodation plan and its implementation, a student may engage in the dispute resolution process.

31.8 References

• Simon Fraser University, Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL): FAQs
• Supporting Students with Diverse Learning Needs, Topic 1 – Duty to Accommodate & Reasonable Accommodation
• University of British Columbia, Disability Accommodation Policy (LR7)
• University of Toronto, Academic Accommodations
• University of Toronto, Demystifying Academic Accommodations
• University of Victoria, Policy AC1205: Academic Accommodation and Access for Students with Disabilities
• North Island College, Accommodations and Accessible Learning Services for Students with Disabilities Procedures https://www.nic.bc.ca/_resources/pdf/policy-3-17-1-accommodations-and-accessible-learning-procedures.pdf