1. Home
  2. Student Services
  3. Accessibility Services

Accessibility Services is committed to ensuring equal access for students with disabilities. The search for a reasonable accommodation is a shared responsibility among the individual requiring accommodation and Saskatchewan Polytechnic. A student’s documentation must demonstrate reasonable evidence that the accommodations requested are required given the nature of the disability.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has a duty to accommodate. Duty to accommodate refers to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s legal obligation in certain circumstances to address or correct situations involving discrimination by reasonably varying rules, standards, policies or practices to avoid limiting educational opportunities for individuals or groups protected under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. The duty to accommodate is part of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s larger legal duty not to discriminate.

When an instructor has concerns regarding an approved accommodation, they will bring this to the attention of their program head. After discussing these concerns, should the program head have concerns that the accommodation restricts the student’s ability to meet Bona Fide Educational Requirements, the program head will identify and provide the essential skills, knowledge, course objectives, learning outcomes and, if applicable, professional licensing requirements that may not be met to the accessibility consultant for their program.

Student responsibilities

To access our services, please do the following:

  1. Register with Accessibility Services on your campus and submit disability documentation through Accommodate.

If you are applying for a program:

    1. Disclose that you have a disability when you apply by checking the “I have a permanent disability” box on the Saskatchewan Polytechnic application form.
    2. Meet regular or special admissions entrance requirements.
    3. At least four to six months before starting your program, meet with an accessibility consultant to discuss verification of your disability, funding grants and accommodations.

If you are already in a program:

    1. If you did not disclose a disability during the application process, accommodations may be delayed and will depend on available resources.
    2. Discuss possible supports with an accessibility consultant.
    3. If you think you have an undiagnosed disability, please discuss with an accessibility consultant.

  2. Provide current medical documentation to verify the disability and the need for specific accommodations. Your documentation should include the following:
    1. Diagnosis of a disability by a certified practitioner, ex. Registered psychologist, medical doctor, psychiatrist. In the case of learning disabilities, a recent psycho-educational assessment is required. With respect to physical disabilities, more current documentation may be required.
    2. A description of how your disability impacts your daily activities and/or will impact your academic studies.
    3. Recommendations for accommodations and support services based upon limitations of your disability.
  3. Attend a meeting with an accessibility consultant to collaboratively develop an accommodation letter.
  4. Apply for funding for academic supports to offset the cost of accommodations.
  5. Cooperate in the search for and implementation of a reasonable accommodation.
  6. Follow the accommodation letter and meet with each instructor if you require accommodations in their course. Not all accommodations may be appropriate for every class or setting, it is therefore important to discuss your accommodations with your instructor. For example, students in programs with universal design will not be granted additional time for assignments or exams.
  7. Please be aware that field placements/clinical experiences are arranged in advance, sometimes six months in advance of the actual experience. Therefore, if you anticipate you will require accommodations during field experiences, you need to request them early in the academic year.
  8. Discuss any concerns and report any changes in your needs with the accessibility consultant.
  9. Exam accommodations that utilize the test centre must be booked at least 7 business days in advance of each exam. For more information, please contact your accessibility consultant.
  10. Contact Learning Services for assistance with study skills/ test-taking, essay writing, individualized assistance with reading, writing, math and science and/or access to a tutor. There is no guarantee that a tutor will be available.
  11. Remember to check your Sask Polytech student email account, your accommodations are linked to this email address.
  12. Request your accommodation letters each term or quad through Accommodate. If you require changes to your accommodations, or require funding, meet with an accessibility consultant before the start.An accommodation letter is also required for spring/summer terms.
  13. If you add courses after your letters have been sent for the term, you will need to request a letter for the new course through Accommodate.
  14. Other responsibilities as listed in Reasonable Accommodation (pdf).