S.03-74
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
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MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
W. Krane, Acting Vice-President, Academic
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Subject: ?
Revision of GP 26- Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
Policy
Date: ?
August 26, 2003
On behalf of Dr. John Waterhouse, I am forwarding to Senate the attached
revision of GP 26. The draft policy has been widely circulated for comment
within the University.
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Motion: That Senate approve, and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors, the revised policy GP 26 Accessibility for Students with
Disabilities as set forth in S.03-74.
Attachment
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GP 26 Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Policy
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Draft Revision 8/10/02
1.
Policy
Simon Fraser University recognizes and affirms the rights of students with disabilities who are
academically qualified, to have full, fair and equal access to all University services, programs and
facilities and to be welcomed as participating members of the University community.
The University must provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities up to the point of
undue hardship. This will not entail any modification of the academic standards of the University or
the elimination of the academic evaluation of students.
Students seeking academic accommodation for a disability must bring the request to the attention of
the Centre for Students with Disabilities in a timely manner, normally with one semester's notice, and
must provide appropriate documentation of their disability.
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2. Definitions
"Student" -
In this policy "student" includes an applicant for admission as well as a person
who has been admitted and is eligible to register in courses at the University.
"Disability" -
A student with a disability is a person who:
• Has been diagnosed by an appropriate professional as having: a mental
health impairment; physical impairment; neurological impairment; learning
disorder; or sensory impairment, any/all of which may be permanent or
temporary and is likely to continue and may significantly interfere with
educational pursuits; AND
• Experiences functional restrictions or limitations in their ability to perform the
range of life's activities; AND
• May experience attitudinal and/or environmental barriers that hamper their
full and self-directed participation in life.
"Reasonable Academic Accommodation" -
An academic accommodation is a modification
or extension of University resources, or of teaching or evaluation procedures that mitigates the
effect of a student's disability on learning. Simon Fraser University has a duty to provide
reasonable accommodations to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified student who
has a documented disability. Accommodations may be made by providing alternative ways for
the student to meet requirements or by adapting the instructional delivery system and/or
assessment procedures (for example, through visual language interpreters, note takers,
alternate examination formats, adaptive equipment). These accommodations should enable
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the student to demonstrate his or her knowledge and skill without diluting curriculum or
credentials, or detracting from the responsibility of the student to achieve individual results
consistent with course/program requirements and objectives. All reasonable accommodations
provided by Simon Fraser University must:
- be based on documented individual disability needs;
- allow the most integrated experience possible;
- not compromise the essential requirements of a course/program for all
students; and
- not pose a threat to personal or public safety.
3. Accommodations For Students
3.1 General
Accommodations available for students with disabilities must be made on an individual basis
and may include priority registration, assisted registration, alternate formats for texts and
examinations, for example. Other services may include transition/education planning, campus
orientation, accessible on-campus housing, referrals to community resources, and health,
counselling, or career services. Students requiring accommodation of a disability must register
with the Centre for Students with Disabilities.
3.2
Course/Program Modification
Modifications to program course-load, that is, course-load reduction, and other academic
requirements will be available for students with disabilities for whom this is required. In cases
where course substitutions are requested, the student and representatives from the
department/faculty and the Centre for Students with Disabilities will meet in order to discuss an
appropriate substitution. Where the department/faculty curriculum committee determines that
there is no appropriate substitution, the student will receive written notification of this decision.
This notification will include the rationale as to why the course is considered an essential
component of the program of study. Decisions of the curriculum committee may be appealed
to the Senate Appeals Board, which may seek the advice of the Dean of the Faculty.
3.3 Course Withdrawals
Students registered at the Centre for Students with Disabilities should follow the current
withdrawal procedures as set out in the current University Calendar. However, students who
must withdraw from classes after the fifth day of classes due to a change in disability should
include with the appropriate forms a letter from the Centre indicating documentation has been
received confirming the extenuating circumstances. Where applicable, the letter from the
Centre should also contain an explanation of why an application is being made for a selective
retroactive withdrawal.
3.4 Registration Assistance
Students needing specialized supports or technological aids may receive priority registration
and advance notification of acceptance into a course or program to facilitate the
implementation of these services or accommodations.
3.5 Financial Assistance
University scholarships and bursaries, which set minimum credit hour per semester
requirements for applicants, may be modified for applicants with disabilities. Financial support
from sources external to the University may be available to students with disabilities. There is
a listing of internal and external sources of financial assistance in the University Calendar.
3.6 Access to Information
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The University will provide individuals with disabilities the information necessary to access
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programs and services and will have this information available in alternative formats (e.g.,
taped text, large print, on computer disk).
4. Procedures
4.1 Upon admission to Simon Fraser University, a student with a disability who requires an
accommodation (s) must supply supporting documentation/assessment to the Centre for
Students with Disabilities. The student is responsible for the costs associated with the
documentation/assessment. Students are also required to provide reasonable notice, normally
one semester, of their intention to attend Simon Fraser University.
4.2 Services for students with disabilities will be provided upon receipt and evaluation of
current documentation from an appropriate professional. Guidelines for what constitutes
acceptable documentation will be available from the Centre for Students with Disabilities. For
new students, the documentation must speak to the student's current condition and in no case
should it be more than three years old. Returning students whose condition has remained
stable since the time of submission of the original supporting documents will not be required to
provide any further documentation. Returning students whose condition has changed,
requiring a concomitant change in accommodation, must provide new documentation
4.3 The responsibility for requesting and reviewing documentation relating to a student's
disability lies with the Centre for Students with Disabilities in conjunction with the Health,
Counselling, and Career Centre.
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Information about a student's disability will be handled only as permitted by the
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of
B.C.
All personal information collected
by the Centre will be treated as supplied in confidence. Personal information held by the
Centre will be retained and disposed of in accordance with an approved records retention
schedule and disposal authority.
4.4 In consultation with the student, the Centre for Students with Disabilities will assess the
individual student's need for assistance and accommodation, make appropriate
recommendations based on the documentation submitted and coordinate the support services
to be provided.
4.5 Where a student is dissatisfied or disagrees with the accommodations recommended by
the Centre for Students with Disabilities, s/he should first meet with the Director to review
his/her concerns. If the matter is not resolved at this level the student can appeal to the
Associate Dean of Student Services whose decision is final.
5.
Advisory Committee
An advisory committee made up of students, faculty, staff and external representatives
appointed by the Dean of Student Services will meet regularly to provide advice to the
University and the Centre for Students with Disabilities in matters related to guidelines, policies
and programs for students with disabilities.
6.
Interpretation
Questions of interpretation or application of this policy shall be referred to the President,
whose decision shall be final.
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Accessibility Policy for Students with Disabilities (OP 26) ?
9/2/03 4:13 PM
Date ?
Number
F9
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
November 2, 1995 ?
GP 26
Policies and Procedures
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Revision Date
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Revision No.
Accessibility Policy for Students with Disabilities
Simon Fraser University acknowledges and affirms the rights of persons with disabilities to have equal access to the University.
The University will provide equal opportunity for full participation in all activities of the University community for all academically
qualified individuals.
Simon Fraser University is committed to accommodating the particular needs of self-identified persons with documented
disabilities by making all reasonable efforts to create a barrier-free campus within the limits of available resources.
The University supports the right of such students to identify the pace and scope of the assistance they require in all aspects of
their participation in the University community. The University will endeavor to meet the needs of each student by adapting
services, courses, and programs where appropriate, while maintaining the high quality of educational experience that is
characteristic of Simon Fraser University.
Application of the Accessibility Policy for Students with Disabilities
The University is committed to the following in order to achieve its objectives of attracting and retaining disabled students, and
providing equal opportunities for academic success and participation in the University community for such students:
1.
ensuring that students with disabilities are considered for admission to programs for which they are academically qualified;
2.
modifying program course load (i.e. number of courses which might be required in a given semester), examination
procedures, and other academic requirements to permit such students to complete their programs of study, while
maintaining the University's commitment to high quality instruction;
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3. making facilities accessible and safe for such students; and
4. fostering a supportive University community by working to remove attitudinal barriers and to inform and educate community
members.
Centre for Students with Disabilities
The Centre for Students with Disabilities, in conjunction with appropriate University departments, will work to provide or
facilitate the following forms of assistance:
1.
assistance with application and registration;
2.
orientation to the University;
3.
referral to appropriate University, community, or government services or agencies;
4.
liaison with Faculties, Departments, or faculty members and others to increase the accessibility of learning environments
(e.g. arranging for the use of necessary technology and learning aids);
S. assistance with note taking, examination procedures, physical mobility on campus, library research, special project
assistance, interpretation, and learning and study skills development;
6.
acquisition and loan of assistive technology, including, but not limited to, alternate forms of required reading material and
amplification devices (e.g. taped texts, Kurzwiel reader, FM or Infrared systems, TDD);
7.
special parking arrangements;
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8, physically accessible on-campus housing;
9.
program planning advisement;
10.
personal counselling services;
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Accessibility Policy for Students with Disabilities (OP 26)
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9/2/03 4:13 PM
11.
information and education programs for faculty, teaching assistants, tutors, staff and students to promote awareness and
understanding of the special needs of students with disabilities;
12.
advocacy, both generally and in individual cases.
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