1. An Information Session ACCESSIBLE LEARNING SERVICES (ALS)

2. Agenda WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO
WHO CAN UTILIZE ACCESSIBLE LEARNING SERVICES
REGISTRATION AND DOCUMENTATION
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
THE CONFIDENTIAL ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION PLAN (CAAP) & ACCOMMODATION PLANNING
FINANICAL INFORMATION
NEXT STEPS
A STUDENT’S EXPERIENCE - VIDEO

3. Who We Are and What We Do
Accessible Learning Services (ALS) works collaboratively with students, faculty, financial assistance, property services, and the wider college personnel and staff. Together, we identify and implement strategies to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Services are available to students at all campuses.

4. Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades (SC)
481 Barton Street, Stoney Creek, Ontario L8E 2L7

5. Institute for Applied Health Sciences at McMaster (IH)
1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 1C7

6. Fennell Campus (FF)
135 Fennell Avenue West, Hamilton, Ontario L9C 0E5

7. Strength Based Approach
Our team encourages students to take pride in their accomplishments by celebrating their academic successes and reflecting on what has worked for them in the past.
What are the three campuses that our services are available at?
Name three college departments that Accessible Learning Services works with.

8. Who Can Utilize Accessible Learning Services (ALS)
Any registered Mohawk College student that has been identified by a registered health care professional as having a disability or students who suspect they have a disability which is a barrier to completing their post-secondary education.
We support many students with a wide range of temporary or permanent disabilities; including but not limited to:
Physical, Medical, Mobility, Neurological Condition
Mental Health Condition
Learning Disability
Acquired Brain Injury
Deaf, Deafened or Hard of Hearing
Blind or Low Vision
Can a student with a temporary disability utilize Accessible Learning Services?

9. Registration with ALS is Required
The need for accommodations and supporting documentation are not transferred by high schools or former post-secondary schools to Mohawk College – Accessible Learning Services. It is important for students to identify with Accessible Learning Services to receive accommodations. We recommend registration with Accessible Learning Services well before the start date of classes. Phone: In-Person: Visit The Accessible Learning Services Office at your campus: Fennell- The Square (C102) Stoney Creek- Room A118 IAHS- The Square

10. Documentation
ALS requires documentation of disability to provide accommodations and services. The type of documentation to be submitted will be determined by the nature of the disability.
Examples include:
Disability Verification Form (if applying for OSAP)
Psychoeducational Assessment
Medical Documentation Form (located on the Mohawk College website)
This is to be completed by a Registered Health Care Professional
learning-services-registration
Individual Educational Plan (IEP) from High School
This can be used to provide an interim or initial accommodation plan
- Distribute Confidential Intake Forms
- Can there be a link to the online GIRS?

11. Other Documentation May Include
Medical letter
Written by a Registered Health Care Professional
Describes impact of disability
Diagnosis is not required
Specialist reports i.e. Audiogram
Please Note: If you suspect that you have a learning disability, please contact Accessible Learning Services to obtain a Delta Screener, a General Practitioner can not diagnose a learning disability.
For more information on documentation pleases view our Documentation Guide found on our webpage: learning-services/accessible-learning-services-registration

12. Excerpt - Medical Documentation Form
Functional Impact Please only indicate (☒) the symptoms or functional limitations related to the disability or condition.
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Comments
Ability to Concentrate ☐
Comprehension
Information Processing
Memory
Non-Verbal Communication
Organization
Time Management
Verbal Expression
Written Expression
Balance
Bending/Twisting
Carrying/Lifting
Climbing Stairs
Crouching
Fatigue
Fine Dexterity
Gripping
Hearing
Kneeling
Pain
Pulling
Pushing
Reaching
Sitting
Speech
Standing
Sustained Postures
Twisting
Vision
Walking
Other (please specify):
Additional RHCP Comments

13. What We Offer

14. Confidential Service
All student documentation, information shared, and other records are kept in strict confidence based upon legislation in Ontario.
There is student autonomy when sharing your Accommodation Plan with faculty and others.
There will be no record of registering with Accessible Learning Services on your diploma or transcript.
When should a student register with Accessible Learning Services?
Do high school’s or other post-secondary school’s transfer information to Mohawk College?
What document might you receive from Accessible Learning Services if you suspect that you have a Learning Disability?
What does it mean when we say it is a confidential service?

15. Confidential Academic Accommodation Plan (CAAP)

16. The CAAP
Utilizing the accommodations after a CAAP is developed is a student-driven process.
Creating your CAAP is a collaborative and empowering process.
The CAAP is updated every two (2) semesters or as needed during a semester. It can be reviewed and modified at any time based upon student need.
Disclosure of a disability is at the discretion of the student.
Disability diagnosis does not appear on your CAAP.
Students are encouraged to stay connected with Accessible Learning Services by making appointments on a regular or as needed basis during each semester.

17. Accommodation Planning
There are 2 categories of academic accommodations on the CAAP which are intended to equalize the opportunities for students to meet essential program and/or course requirements at Mohawk College.
Accommodations for the Classroom
Examples include:
reduced course load
audio recording of lectures
class handouts/presentations in advance
may require stand/stretch breaks
close captioning of videos
ergonomic equipment
Accommodations for Testing
Examples include:
extra time for test
adaptive technology i.e. Dragon or Kurzweil
large print
stand and stretch breaks
clarification of questions
ergonomic equipment

19. Accommodation Planning
Every Confidential Academic Accommodation Plan (CAAP) includes the following statements:
This Confidential Academic Accommodation Plan (CAAP) is prepared in accordance with the Human Rights Commission’s Guidelines for Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities, the Ontario Human Rights Code, Mohawk College’s Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities Policy (Policy SS ), and appropriate disability-related documentation.

20. Accommodation Planning
Mohawk College is committed to the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to support all learners, promote inclusion, and comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Mohawk College faculty may employ UDL principles that reduce the need for individual accommodations. For more information regarding UDL and implementation, visit the Universal Design for Learning webpage:
learning
Who sends the student’s CAAP to the professors/academic area?
How often do you need to renew your CAAP?
Is my disability type written on the CAAP?
Provide an example of a classroom accommodation.
What legislation guides accommodation planning?
What principle reduces the need for individual accommodations?

21. Supports

22. Accessible Learning Services Provides:
Accommodation planning every academic year of study
Learning strategies
Adaptive technology assessment and training (Kurzweil, Dragon, Firefly)
Alternative formats (text books, larger fonts)
Equipment loans (audio recorder, laptop to use adaptive technology, Livescribe pen)
Ergonomic equipment (sit-stand desk, ergonomic chair)

23. Mohawk College Supports
Accessibility Counsellors work closely with professors and the College as a whole to support students’ accommodation needs by connecting students with services that promote academic & personal success including:
The Learning Support Centre (C122): peer tutoring, math, and writing centre
MCACES Resource Centre (F114): E-portfolio, job search strategies, interview preparations
Counselling Services (C102): personal, academic and career counselling
The Health Centre (C109)
Student Life (R203): leadership development including volunteer opportunities and social events; follow them on
Cummings Library & Collaboratory (H101)
Mohawk Student Association (G109): HSR bus pass, health and dental plan, emergency loans, legal counsel, used textbook website

24. Financial Information
There are grants and bursaries for both Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and non- OSAP students. Accessible Learning Services encourages students to apply for OSAP in order to increase the amount of funds that they could potentially be eligible for.

25. Accessible Learning Services Team
Accessibility Counsellors
Learning Skills Advisor/Adaptive Technologist
Manager, Accessible Learning Services and AODA
Support Officers
Technician
Triage Support Officers

26. Next Steps

27. Next Steps Complete the Confidential Intake Form
Gather disability related documentation (medical documentation, IEP, assessments, etc.)
Contact Triage Support Staff to make an appointment with Accessible Learning Services
Phone: (905)
In-Person: Visit the Accessible Learning Services office at your campus
Accessible Learning Services provides assessment and training for adaptive technology. Can you name a type of adaptive technology that we use?
Name two college resources available to students at Mohawk that Accessible Learning Services partners with.
Why would it be a good idea to apply to OSAP?
What documents do you need to have ready to register with Accessible Learning Services?

28. A Student’s Experience - Video