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Accessibility Guide

Student Guide - Accessibility at NorQuest

Accommodation Codes

On your class roster, you can view the approved accommodations for your students. To access your class roster, visit the How to View Class Roster Faculty Resource; step 4 displays an example screenshot of a class roster including the accommodations required. Use the section below to look up the required accommodations for an explanation of how the accommodation is provided and the corresponding accommodation code.

Please note that any sort of exam, test, or quiz is to be accommodated. 

If you have questions about providing accommodations, contact AccessibilityAdvisors@norquest.ca

Accommodation Code Glossary

Adaptive K = AS_15 / Adaptive Keyboard  

The student uses a specialized keyboard optimized for the student’s needs.  

Alternate = AS_ 4/ Alternate Format 

The student uses an alternate format for their class materials and exams. For example, large text, braille, or a coloured copy. A digital copy of class and exam materials must be made available for formatting.  

Calculator = AS_29 / Calculator for Exams  

The student is permitted to use a handheld or electronic calculator including a talking or text-to-speech calculator. If the student has questions regarding the type of calculator allowed, they can discuss this with their instructor.  

CCTV = AS_7/ CCTV 

The student uses a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system in class and during tests, quizzes, and exams. A CCTV system consists of a camera and a monitor. The student directs the CCTV’s camera towards the board or a page to see a magnified image on the monitor. Students writing an exam with the CCTV accommodation require an individual room.  

Coaching A = AS_35 / Academic Coaching Appointments 

The student has the opportunity to access weekly appointments with an Academic Coach to build strategies for learning (e.g. time management, test-taking, reading comprehension, and so on). 

Coloured O = AS_5 / Coloured Overlay 

The student has a coloured overlay that they place over print material to assist them in reading. The student may also use software, such as Read&Write to tint their computer screen to assist them with reading on their computer. The student is responsible for bringing the overlay to their classes and exams and/or ensuring they are trained on Read&Write.  

Digital Co = AS_27 / Digital Copy of Exam  

The student requires a digital copy of the exam to be provided to them. The student will use the exam provided to both read and record their answers.

Distractio = AS_22 / Distraction Reduction  

The student has the option to write their quizzes, tests, and exams in an environment with fewer distractions, such as in the Testing Center. This accommodation is given to students who have no other testing accommodations that require them to write with the Testing Centre. This accommodation is not for an individual room.

Dragon for = AS_11 / Dragon for Keyboarding 

The student is permitted to use Dragon Naturally Speaking software to complete the keyboarding requirement for their program area. Dragon training is required through the Assistive Technology Team before this accommodation is granted. If a student requires accommodation for their keyboarding assessment, they must contact Accessibility Services a minimum of 3 weeks prior to their course end date. Failure to contact Accessibility Services a minimum of 3 weeks in advance may result in not enough time to develop accommodated typing skills. Students writing their Dragon for Keyboarding assessment require an individual room. 

Eating Dur = AS_30 / Eating During Exams  

The student may eat a snack at their seat as they write their exam. Students writing an exam with this accommodation require an individual room. 

Electronic = AS_14 / Electronic Dictionary  

The student uses an accessible dictionary such as a handheld electronic dictionary or the Read&Write dictionary. Students may also choose to use a hard-copy dictionary in the Testing Centre. 

EquatIO fo = AS_3 / EquatIO for Exams  

The student has EquatIO as an exam accommodation. Students are able to use this accommodation after they have been trained and report they are confident to independently use EquatIO for their exams.

Ergonomic = AS_16 / Ergonomic Support  

The student has been assigned a specialized chair or foam support to use during class, labs, and exams. The chair or other ergonomic support is labeled with this sign and we ask that they not be moved from the class. 

Extra Time = AS_20 / Extra Time: Double Time 

The student receives double time for their quizzes, tests, and exams as an accommodation. Please note that students receive double the base time of their quiz, test, or exam and not double the time provided to students due to the college policy that provides extra time to all students. For example, if an exam has a base time of one hour, most students would receive an hour and a half while students with a double-time accommodation would receive 2 hours.  

 

Base Time  

Time in Moodle (Time and a Half)  

Time if you have Double Time  

40 minutes 

1 hour  

1 hour and 20 minutes   

1 Hour 

1.5 hours  

2 hours  

1 Hour and 20 minutes  

2 hours  

2 hours and 40 minutes  

2 hours 

3 hours  

4 hours 

FM System = AS_9 / FM System 

The student has a short-range FM system to use in class that transmits the instructor’s voice to the student’s ear. The instructor wears a microphone and the student wears the receiver. 

Frequent B = AS_25 / Frequent Breaks for Exams  

The student is allotted time for breaks during their exams as per the chart below. The extra time is added to the amount of time you have to complete your exam. The student may have a snack during their break. 

Amount of time the student has to write the exam after extra time accommodations are applied 

Extra time provided for frequent breaks 

60 minutes or less 

10 minutes 

61 to 120 minutes 

20 minutes 

121 minutes to 179 minutes 

30 minutes 

Furniture: = AS_17 / Furniture: Table 

The student has been assigned a height-adjustable table to use during class, labs, and exams. 

Hard Copy = AS_26 / Hard Copy of Exam  

The student requires a paper copy of the exam to be provided to them. The student will use the exam provided to both read and record their answers.

Individual = AS_ 21 / Individual Room 

The student has the option to write their quizzes, tests, and exams in an individual room in the Testing Centre.  

Instructio = AS_32 / Instructional Assistant  

The student may work with an Instructional Assistant in class. Instructional Assistants work one-on-one with students whose functional impacts cannot be accommodated in other ways. Students writing an exam with an Instructional Assistant require an individual room.

Lecture Re = AS_12 / Lecture Recording  

The student may record their lectures. The student may use a Digital Voice Recorder (DVR), Smart Pen, or software on their computer or phone to record their lectures. Students sign a lecture recording agreement prior to accessing this accommodation.

Magnifying = AS_8 / Magnifying 

Student may use a handheld or digital magnifier with class materials and exams.

Music in E = AS_24 / Music in Exams  

The student has the option to listen to music during their quizzes, tests, and exams. Students are provided with copyright-free music to listen to on campus and, if writing off-campus, may use licensed music streaming services such as Spotify. 

Noise Canc = AS_23 / Noise Cancelling Headphones  

The student has the option to wear noise-canceling headphones during their tests, quizzes, and exams. 

Other = AS_36 / Other 

The student has an accommodation that does not fall into an existing accommodation category. Examples include lighting, PowerPoints before class, and a reader/scribe. Students will inform instructors of their accommodation needs. Please contact Accessibility Services at AccessibilityAdvisor@norquest.ca for more information. 

Other = AS_18 / Furniture: Other  

The student has been assigned specialized furniture (such as a footstool) to use in class, labs, and exams.

Peer Notet = AS_13 / Peer Notetaker 

The student has access to an electronic copy of a peer volunteer's notes of the class. The student and the instructor arrange the peer notetaker.
Publisher = AS_1 / Publisher Files 

Student requires an audio or digital copy of textbooks.  

Read&Write = AS_2 / Read&Write for Exams 

The student has Read&Write as an exam accommodation. Students are able to use this accommodation after they have been trained and report they are confident to independently use Read&Write for their exams. 

Reduced Co = AS_34 / Reduced Course Load  

The student is permitted to take between 59% - 40% of a full course load. 

Screen Rea = AS_6 / Screen Reader for Exams  

The student uses software other than Read&Write to read text on their computer out loud. Students with this accommodation tend to be low vision or blind and need a text-to-speech option with a non-visual user interface that allows them to control the computer. Common examples include Job Access With Speech (JAWS) and NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA). Students writing an exam with the screen reader accommodation require an individual room.  

Service An = AS_ 33 / Service Animal  

The student is accompanied by an Alberta registered service animal. Students writing an exam with a service animal require an individual room.

Sign Langu = AS_31 / Sign Language Interpreter  

The student will work with a Sign Language Interpreter who facilitates communication between the Deaf student and hearing instructors or peers. Interpreters can also accompany students to appointments with members of the NorQuest community. If you have a student with this accommodation in your class and would like to connect with a Sign Language Interpreter before classes start, you can email: Interpreter.Signlanguage@norquest.ca.   

Speech-to- = AS_10 / Speech-to-Text 

The student uses speech-to-text software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking or Mac Dictation to create text and navigate the computer with their voice. Students writing an exam with speech-to-text require an individual room.  

Time and a = AS_19 / Extra Time: Time and a Half 

The student receives time and a half for their quizzes, tests, and exams as an accommodation. Students with this accommodation may receive the same amount of time to write their quizzes, tests, or exams as other students in their class due to the college policy that provides extra time to all students.  

Writing Ex = AS_28 / Writing Exams from Home 

The student is permitted to write their exams from home. Online proctoring options can be made available through the Testing Centre.

Accommodation Status

When reviewing student accommodations on PeopleSoft, the Accommodation Status tells you whether or not to provide the accommodation to the student.

Provide the accommodation if the status is:

Permanent: the student will receive this accommodation in all classroom and exam contexts. 

Temporary: the student will receive this accommodation in all classroom and exam contexts. The temporary status will eventually convert to permanent or expired depending on student action.

Do not provide the accommodation if the status is:

Consider: the student will not receive this accommodation in any context.  Further action is required of the student before we provide this accommodation (e.g., training or documentation).