Waterloo will develop standard Student Academic Accommodation Procedures. From a teaching perspective, Waterloo will strive to incorporate universal design principles within teaching spaces and related protocols.
Within the experiential education space (e.g. co-op program), Waterloo will ensure the agreements with placement organizations address accessibility and that those organizations provide equitable opportunities for students with disabilities. To complement those agreements, students will have access to tools and resources that will empower them in their accessibility planning. Additionally, Waterloo plans to review the co-op interview process to ensure students with disabilities are supported to equitably compete for opportunities within their academic program, evaluated fairly.
F1. Student Academic Accommodation Guidelines
Status: completed
Progress: completed
The University recently accepted new Student Academic Accommodation Guidelines which provide procedural guidance for students, faculty and staff on managing disability-based academic accommodations for students. The Guidelines articulate procedures for establishing accommodation plans, resolving accommodation disputes, and managing retroactive accommodations. The guidelines also describe the University’s documentation requirements and provide tips on how to refer students to accommodation supports. The Guidelines are posted on the Secretariat website for everyone to reference.
F2. Universal Design in Teaching spaces
Status: not started
Progress: behind schedule
As part of the University’s commitment to review use of campus space and utilization of resources, review committees are looking into the development of a “classroom standard”, outlining the requirements within a teaching space to ensure students experience a standard
level of learning environment throughout their academic programming. Drafting such standards will include accessibility considerations for persons with disabilities. Over the next year, discussion on the best approach in establishing this standard will take place as resources allow.
F3. Accessible experiential education
Status: completed
Progress: completed
Beginning in 2018, Waterloo International undertook an extensive review of agreement templates used to support student mobility internationally. This review process included extensive consultation with academic stakeholder units including Legal and Immigration Services. For example, template language speaks directly to prohibiting discrimination related to “race, colour, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, creed, disability or any other factor prohibited by the applicable laws of Canada or Ontario”. All agreements are reviewed by Legal and Immigration Services as well as other relevant internal stakeholders prior to signing. It is the intention that this language will be included in all new and renewed agreements going forward.
From 2018-2019, the Student Success Office (SSO) revised their website, their mandatory go abroad information session, and their exchange application form to include “Wellness Planning” sections. The aim of these sections are to educate and inform students interested in mobility programs supported by the SSO about issues related to accessibility planning. Further, each webpage which advertises individual mobility opportunities includes links to partner schools’ accessibility or wellness supports so that students may educate and inform themselves on potential opportunities. AccessAbility Services Student Advisory Committee was consulted upon to gain perspectives from students with disabilities about the challenges and barriers related to exchanges, and to explore recommendations on enhancing the accessibility
of such processes.
