Academic Accommodation Process

Academic Accommodation Process

Access Service establishes academic accommodations for students with disabilities while adhering to the University of Ottawa’s policies, procedures, and administrative regulations, as well as human rights legislation.

While upholding this commitment, Access Service takes into consideration standards of achievement which are essential to academic integrity and collaborates with our University of Ottawa community including students to assess and implement reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations.

Student’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Self-disclose the need for academic accommodation to Access Service
• Provide Access Service medical documentation in accordance with the required documentation grid
• Attend the initial appointment with Access Service and all necessary follow-up appointments
• Adhere to all University of Ottawa’s and Access Service’s deadlines and regulations

 

Access Service’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assess and establish appropriate academic accommodation of students
• Safeguard medical documentation and personal information of all students
• Facilitate the provision of appropriate academic accommodations, including examinations if warranted
• Engage with all stakeholders to ensure academic accommodations do not jeopardize academic integrity or program standards

 

Professor’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Access and review each CAM letter located in their Professor Portal
• Submit Notices of Examination for each in-class examination*
• Collaborate in the provision of academic accommodations when necessary
• Communicate with Access Service as needed
• Submit a copy of exam materials to their academic unit within the required time limits
• Respect the confidentiality of all students registered with Access Service

*NOTE: Professors must only submit one NOE per evaluation and not per student.

 

Academic Unit’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Upload a copy of each examination to Ventus
• Safeguard all student information
• Ensure completed examinations are returned to professors upon delivery from Access Service staff
• Investigate and communicate examination discrepancies with professors and Access Service staff

Should you have any questions regarding the roles of responsibilities of those involved in the academic accommodation process or should you wish to make any comments or suggestions please contact adapt@uOttawa.ca or call 613-562-5976.

 

Confidentiality:

All medical documentation provided remains confidential. These documents are stored in our student management suite (Ventus) which is located on a secure server. Once academic accommodations are established, Access Service continues its best practice and provides professors access to the Confirmation of Academic accommodation letter (CAM letter). The CAM letter outlines exclusively the academic accommodations established for a student. No diagnosis is ever revealed.

Registering with Access Service and receiving academic accommodations will not be identified on any student’s official university records, test results, academic transcripts or graduation documentation.

Access Service can discuss the content of the CAM letter within the context of functional limitations that require accommodation; no diagnosis is ever disclosed. Medical information is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as under the University of Ottawa’s Student Record Policy 14a.

We are all obligated to protect students' confidential information including the fact that the student is registered with Access Service. We appreciate professor’s cooperation in refraining from identifying the student in front of others.