Assessment Recommended Accommodations

Students with a disability and/or medical condition that have provided documentation that states specific accommodation recommendations to assist the student in overcoming barriers to learning. These recommendations are related to the student's cognitive ability/memory skills, academic functioning, attention and behaviour, executive functioning, and adaptive functioning.

SAS relies on the expertise of the instructor in their course and/or program to determine if the proposed accommodation request  impedes the student meeting the essential components of the course and/or program. Approval is at the instructor’s discretion.

 Clarification/Rewording/Rephrasing of test/exam/quiz questions where deemed appropriate by instructor

Accommodation Wording: Clarification/Rewording/Rephrasing of test/exam/quiz questions where deemed appropriate by instructor

For online or in person tests/exams/quizzes the student may contact the instructor (by email for online/ by phone or walked over by invigilator for in person assessments) to ask for a question to be clarified/reworded/rephrased.

SAS cannot guarantee that the student will be able to connect with the instructor for access to this accommodation.

Alternate demonstration of course mastery where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

Accommodation Wording: Alternate demonstration of course mastery where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

This accommodation is student driven; Students are responsible for contacting their SAS Advisor at the beginning of the term, in a timely manner to discuss the application of this accommodation. The accommodation will be listed on the students accommodation letter. Instructors do not need to take further action until they are contacted by SAS. SAS will contact the instructor when they receive a request from the student for the use of this accommodation. The student may not utilize the accommodation at all during the course or the accommodation may not be relevant.

For example:

A student with “Alternate demonstration of course mastery where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance” has an in person, essay based final exam and wishes to propose a final exam assessment that is orally delivered to the instructor.

Process

Students preparing for their courses will read the syllabus to determine what type of assessments are required.

If the student would like to request an alternate demonstration of course mastery accommodation, the student is responsible to contact their SAS Advisor in a timely manner prior to the due date of the specific assessment to discuss possible alternatives to the course requirement.

The SAS Advisor will only contact the instructor by email if there is a proposal from the student requesting consideration of an alternate demonstration of course mastery. 

  • The instructor will review the request.

If the instructor determines that the request does not impede the essential knowledge or skill that is to be acquired or demonstrated they will either:

  • Email their approval of the accommodation to the SAS Advisor. OR

  • Propose an alternative option(s) and SAS will communicate with the student regarding the option(s).

If the instructor determines that the student’s request impedes the essential components of the course and or program (the learning cannot be demonstrated in any alternative manner) or if there is any risk to academic integrity:

The SAS Advisor will communicate the instructor's decision regarding the request for consideration of alternate demonstration of course mastery to the student.
May require alternate format of test/exam questions where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

Accommodation Wording: May require alternate format of test/exam questions where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

This accommodation is student driven; Students are responsible for contacting their SAS Advisor at the beginning of the term, in a timely manner to discuss the application of this accommodation. The accommodation will be listed on the students accommodation letter. Instructors do not need to take further action until they are contact by SAS. SAS will contact the instructor when they receive a request from the student for the use of this accommodation. The student may not utilize the accommodation at all during the course or the accommodation may not be relevant.

For example:

A student with “May require alternate format of test/exam questions where deemed appropriate by instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance” has a multiple choice test in their class and requests that a proposal to the instructor be made to complete the test in a short answer format.

Process

The SAS advisor will only contact the instructor by email if there is a proposal from the student requesting consideration of an alternate format of test/exam questions. 

    • The instructor will review the request.

If the instructor determines that the request does not impede the essential knowledge or skill that is to be acquired or demonstrated they will either:

  • Email their approval of the accommodation to the SAS advisor. OR

    • Propose an alternative option(s) and SAS will communicate with the student regarding the option(s).

If the instructor determines that the students request impedes the essential components of the course and or program (the learning cannot be demonstrated in any alternative manner) or if there is any risk to academic integrity:

    • The SAS advisor will communicate the instructors decision regarding the request for consideration of alternate demonstration of course mastery to the student.

 Use of classroom notes or open book tests/exams when deemed appropriate by the instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

Accommodation Wording: Use of classroom notes or open book tests/exams when deemed appropriate by the instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance

This accommodation is student driven; Students are responsible for contacting their SAS Advisor at the beginning of the term, in a timely manner to discuss the application of this accommodation. The accommodation will be listed on the students accommodation letter. Instructors do not need to take further action until they are contact by SAS. SAS will contact the instructor when they receive a request from the student for the use of this accommodation. The student may not utilize the accommodation at all during the course or the accommodation may not be relevant.

For example:

A student with “Use of classroom notes or open book tests/exams when deemed appropriate by the instructor: Student to contact SAS to negotiate in advance” has a test in their class and requests for a proposal to the instructor be made to use classroom notes during the test.

Process

The SAS advisor will only contact the instructor by email if there is a proposal from the student requesting consideration of the use of classroom notes or an open book test/exam. 

    • The instructor will review the request.

If the instructor determines that the request does not impede the essential knowledge or skill that is to be acquired or demonstrated they will either:

  • Email their approval of the accommodation to the SAS advisor. OR

    • Propose an alternative option(s) and SAS will communicate with the student regarding the option(s).

If the instructor determines that the students request impedes the essential components of the course and or program (the learning cannot be demonstrated in any alternative manner) or if there is any risk to academic integrity:

    • The SAS advisor will communicate the instructors decision regarding the request for consideration of alternate demonstration of course mastery to the student.

All of the accommodations listed stipulate “where deemed appropriate by instructor”:

  • Instructors are the expert in their course and program (Accommodation consideration may require consultation with their Dean, Chair or Director) 

  • Instructors must assess if the accommodation impedes the essential course requirements including the “knowledge and skills that must be acquired or demonstrated in order for a student to successfully meet the learning objectives of the course” (Oakley, Parsons & Wideman, 2012).