Accessibility Services

An accommodation involves the removal of barriers (physical or instructional) to provide an inclusive learning environment. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to the following:

• An adaptation to the physical and/or instructional environment
• Alternate formats and methods of communication
• The use of adaptive technology and/or adaptations to the examination environment 

An accommodation does not usually involve modification of curriculum or evaluation; a student must still meet the learning objectives and essential requirements of the course.

To receive academic accommodations, students must self-disclose their disability and work collaboratively with Accessibility Services to request and set up supports. We support students who live with disabilities that can include:

• ADHD
• Blind or low vision
• Chronic/systemic health impairments
• Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health disability
• Mobility/functional impairment
• Neurological disabilities

Depending on the disability, documentation should:

• Be current
• Outline the nature and extent of the disability
• Explain how the disability impacts the student in an educational environment
• Outline the functional capacity in an academic setting
• Provide recommendations for supports that mitigate the impact of the disability in an educational setting

When a service dog is required, the student may be required to show evidence of BC certification for the dog. The student will also be required to provide medical documentation to support the need for a service dog.

Students with a temporary medical condition (e.g. a broken arm) or illness should first contact their professors/instructors directly to implement temporary and reasonable academic concessions. If the prognosis proves to be longer than expected (more than one semester) or the professors/instructors are having difficulty determining a way to accommodate, the student should contact Accessibility Services.

New students to Okanagan College requesting accommodations should reach out to the Accessibility Services Department at the time of acceptance into any course or program. Reaching out approximately 3 months in advance of the program start date helps to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be planned and/or implemented. Although students can self-elect to these services at any time during their studies, the intake process takes time and students are responsible for reaching out with as much notice as possible. Implementing new accommodations during the month of a student's finals may not be possible.