Conestoga Student Success

myLEARNING

Accessible Learning

Conestoga College provides support for students with permanent and temporary disabilities. We work with you to understand the impact of your disability in the college environment and develop a success plan that considers your goals and the academic and testing accommodations available to support your full participation in Conestoga life.

For other inquries, please email accessibility@conestogac.on.ca or phone 519-748-5220, ext. 3232. Office hours are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information on Conestoga's response to COVID-19, please refer to COVID-19.

Accommodations

Accessible Learning has implemented a new system for managing academic accommodations, called Accommodate. This system enables students to access accommodation letters, request an appointment, complete a semester request, and more. If you have questions about Accommodate, view the how-to videos below, or contact us

Accommodate Overview and Logging In

 

Requesting an Appointment

If you have been invited to book an intake appointment, or if you are already registered with Accessible Learning and wish to speak with your advisor, login to Accommodate to request an appointment date and time that is convenient for you.

Please note that there are specific documentation requirements to register for academic accommodations.

 

Accessing and Signing your Accommodation Letter

The academic accommodation letter provides general information about the roles of both the College and of Faculty in supporting academic success for students. This letter is generated by a student’s Accessibility Advisor following discussion of strengths and skills, barriers to learning and review of supporting documentation.

 

Semester Requests

Each semester, students with registered with Accessible Learning MUST complete a Semester Request (this step does not apply to BScN program courses, but is required for all other courses). You must complete this step each semester. It is recommended that you complete the week prior to the start of classes to ensure your accommodations & supports are in place.

 

Submit your documentation

If you have a documented permanent or temporary disability, or are experiencing difficulties that affect your learning, you can register for academic accommodations.
Documentation can be uploaded via our Intake Form, if you are new to Accessible Learning. Alternatively, it can be uploaded to Accommodateemailed, faxed or submitted in-person to Accessible Learning. 

Email: accessibility@conestogac.on.ca
Please be advised that documents received by email are not secure.
Fax: 519-748-3507
Office locations

Documentation

Accommodations are determined with your Advisor based on:
  • Your needs
  • Your program requirements
  • Your documentation

Documentation is helpful to support your need for accommodations. Depending on the accommodation need, our office may ask for additional, updated, or more specific documentation. Receiving this documentation in advance of your first appointment will assist us in providing an accommodation plan more quickly.

OSAP Disability Verification

OSAP requires that a Disability Verification Form (DVF) be completed and uploaded into the OSAP student profile in order for Student Financial Services to confirm permanent or temporary disability. Disability verification with OSAP may allow students to access awards, scholarships, grants, and bursaries. Students are also required to provide Accessibility @ Conestoga a copy of the completed DVF or other relevant medical documentation so that academic accommodations can be put into place as needed.

Please note: If you have checked the disability box on the OSAP website, but have not completed and uploaded the Disability Verification Form, it may delay your OSAP funding until disability verification is confirmed by Student Financial Services. You may send a request to Student Financial Services to uncheck the box until you have the documents in place. Using the same email address you used in your OSAP application, send an email to financialaid@conestogac.on.ca with your name and student ID number, requesting to remove your disability status. Your status will be adjusted once the completed DVF form is uploaded onto your OSAP student profile and disability is confirmed by Student Financial Services.               

Who can verify a permanent disability?               

Documentation to confirm a permanent disability may be provided by a qualified healthcare practitioner who has training and experience in the area of diagnosis. Examples of qualified practitioners include:             

  • Audiologists
  • Chiropractors
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Optometrists
  • Ophthalmologists
  • Nurse Practioners
  • Physicians
  • Physiotherapists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
Documentation for physical or mental health condition

Options of supporting documentation include:              

  • OSAP Disability Verification Form
  • Conestoga's Health Certificate Form (pdf)
  • Medical Letter (including name, title, professional credentials, licensure/certification information of assessing professional that indicates the student’s limitations or needs in the academic setting)
  • Psycho-educational Assessment Report (Please note: this may allow for academic accommodations, however, an assessment completed when the student was at least 18 years of age or within the past four years may be required to access funding for equipment and/or services).
  • Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that references a physical or mental health condition. (Please note: your IEP may provide valuable information to help us understand what support was available in high school, however, additional documentation may be required depending on the accommodation request).

Examples of disability types covered in this area: ASD, ADHD, physical needs, mental health, visual or hearing impairment, injuries, concussions and medical conditions.              

Documentation for learning disabilities

Options of supporting documentation include:              

  • OSAP Disability Verification Form
  • Psycho-educational Assessment Report (Please note: this may allow for academic accommodations, however, an assessment completed when the student was at least 18 years of age or within the past four years may be required to access funding for equipment and/or services).
  • Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
    (Please note: your IEP may provide valuable information to help us understand what support was available in high school, however, additional documentation may be required depending on the accommodation request).
Getting additional documentation

If your accommodation request exceeds what your documentation can support, your Accessibility Advisor can direct you to the appropriate source in order to obtain additional documentation and support.              

In the case that an updated psycho-educational assessment is needed, the Accessibility Advisor will check to see if you are eligible for funding for reassessment. If eligible, you will be referred to a psychologist or psychological associate to obtain this documentation.

No documentation
  • If mental health concerns are impacting your academic performance, please call Student Health & Wellness at 519-748-5220, ext. 3679 to make an appointment.
  • If you are unsure if you qualify for academic accommodations, please call 519-748-5220, ext. 3232 to book a pre-admission appointment with an Accessibility Advisor.

Confidentiality and retention of documentation

All information shared with Accessible Learning will remain confidential to the staff associated with the department. For more information, please refer to the Personal Health Information and Privacy Consent Form.

Please be aware that email is not a secure method of providing medical information. To send in your documentation ahead of time, please use our secure fax at 519-748-3507.


Conestoga College