Accessibility Guide

Accessibility: The degree to which a building or learning material provides access for people with differing physical or learning needs.

• Norquest examples of accessibility include ramps and automatic doors on campus, and the availability of speech-to-text software, or extended time, etc.    

---

Accommodation:  An alteration of the environment, curriculum format, or delivery. This may include equipment, software, or teaching strategies that allow an individual with a disability to gain access to content and/or complete assigned tasks to their fullest ability.

• Norquest examples include permission for lecture recording, audio, extended time, etc.

 

Assessment:  The act of making a judgment or decision about something

• Norquest examples include a referral for a PsychEd assessment (to identify your strengths and needs) or an Accessibility Assessment with a member of the Accessibility Services team (to create your accommodation plan)

Consent: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

• A Norquest example is a Release of Information form when we refer you for a PsychEd assessment

Documentation: The documents, records, etc., that are used to prove something or make something official 

• A Norquest example is documentation of your need for accommodations, a community professional like a doctor provides that documentation

Exam Accommodation: Exam accommodations refer to an accommodation that applies to any sort of exam, test, or quiz. 

Invalid: Having no effect, or not based in fact

• A Norquest example is when you write your exam outside of the designated time frame and your instructor considers your exam invalid and you do not receive credit

Referral (Make a): Sending someone to another person or place for treatment, help, advice, etc.

• NorQuest examples include a teacher referring you to Accessibility Services or a navigator referring you for a Psych Ed assessment

Universal: Affecting, or done by all people; applicable to all cases 

• NorQuest examples include all students having access to counselling at the Centre for Growth and Harmony and tutoring or coaching from the Tutorial and Academic Coaching team. 

Universal Design for Learning: Remove any barriers to learning and give all students equal opportunities to succeed

• Norquest examples include time-and-a-half for exams and Read & Write software

Psychological Education Assessment (Psych Ed): A psychological test that looks at a person’s mental processes underlying their educational performance, cognitive abilities, memory, achievement tests, and measures of behavior.

• At NorQuest, we use the Psych Ed report to understand your learning needs and develop your accommodation plan

Definitions adapted from the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary (2021)

Notice of Collection and Informed Consent for Accessibility Services

Collection and Use of Personal Information

NorQuest College (the “College”) respects your privacy. Any information that you disclose to Accessibility Services (“AS”) is collected by the College under the authority of section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, c F-25 (“FOIP”). It will remain confidential and be managed in accordance with FOIP and the College’s Privacy Policy and Records and Information Management Policy.

Personal information will be used for the purpose of providing you with appropriate student academic accommodation(s). It may be shared among AS employees for case management and consultation. Your personal information may also be used for quality assurance and program improvement or evaluation purposes, including for evaluating the accessibility and success of AS programs and services.

 

Disclosure of Personal Information

Personal information will be disclosed by AS only with your consent or as otherwise permitted under FOIP. Registration status and accommodations may be shared with College academic staff (including associate deans, instructors, course coordinators, and teaching assistants) or support staff to provide accommodations or services.

In limited circumstances, your personal information may be disclosed without consent in order to comply with applicable law, including FOIP and/or other legislation. The following is a non-exhaustive list of situations where this may occur:

 

Where there is a risk of imminent danger to the health or safety of you or to another person;

Where there is suspicion or risk that a child or vulnerable adult may be in need of protective services, disclosure may be required under applicable law, including the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, RSA 2000, c C-12 or the Protection for Persons in Care Act, SA 2009, c P-29.1;

Where records are required to be disclosed pursuant to a subpoena, warrant or court order, for use in a proceeding before a court or quasi-judicial body, or where disclosure is otherwise required under applicable law, including under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, SA 2020, c O-2.2, the Public Health Act, RSA 2000, c P-37 or the Workers' Compensation Act, RSA 2000, c W-15.

 

Student Responsibilities

Students who request support from AS are responsible for registering with AS as soon as possible and advising AS as soon as possible if changes to accommodations are required. Additional student responsibilities can be found in our Duty to Accommodate Students with Disabilities Policy

 

Discontinuation of AS Registration

You may discontinue your registration with AS at any time. This can be completed by providing written notice to an Accessibility Advisor by emailing AccessibilityAdvisor@NorQuest.ca from your NorQuest student email.

Note that a lack of registration with AS may prevent access to accommodations and support, and will result in the discontinuation of any existing academic accommodations or services provided by AS.

 

Confidentiality of Information

The College recognizes the sensitive nature of your information and have reasonable security and records management measurements in place against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, or destruction of your personal information in accordance with FOIP. Information that you provide to AS, including medical documentation, will be stored on a secure system, separate from the rest of your student record.

 

For questions regarding this form, please contact the Manager of Accessibility Services, Academic Supports.

10215 108 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1L6

Telephone: (780) 644-6788

Email: kerry.taillefer@norquest.ca