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MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH THE ACCESS CENTRE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:A CHECK LIST OF THINGS TO DO FOR THE STUDENT WITH DISABILITY

As you consider applying to Concordia University, it is important to have the information you will need to make an informed decision about university life. This checklist offers students with a disability a checklist or roadmap tono help with the transition process. This checklist is divided into stages from receiving your acceptance letter through the beginning of your first semester. It will provide you with a realistic understanding of what needs to be accomplished and in what time frame. After you have met with your academic advisor and registered for your courses, make sure the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is your next stop.

Make an appointment with an ACSD Advisor.
We urge you to make an appointment with an Advisor at the ACSD. The ACSD provides direct, professional services to students with mobility, visual and hearing impairments, learning disabilities and health-related conditions (temporary and permanent).

Call or drop by our office on the SGW Campus in the Hall Building, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Room H-580-3. We remind you that your ACSD Advisor is not an academic advisor but an academic facilitator. Whether you are a first-time university student or returning to school after years in the work place, our job is to make your transition into Concordia as smooth as possible.

Open a file with the ACSD
Officially open a file with the ACSD. This may entitle you to use our services as well as to receive academic accommodations. For this, however, you must submit recent documentation pertaining to your disability and recognized by the ACSD.

Meet with an ACSD Advisor
During the initial meeting with your Advisor, we ask for basic demographic information as well as information about your needs. This appointment is a platform to discuss your concerns and to arrange preliminary suitable academic accommodations.

Establish contact with your Professors
Your ACSD Advisor works with you and the University faculty to facilitate your registration and to see that you receive the accommodations you need. We encourage you to approach your professors openly and early to pave the road to communication. The ACSD will help by sending letters of introduction, outlining both your classroom and exam accommodations, to your professors on your behalf early in the term. These letters are intended:

  • To provide you with a means of introducing yourself to your professor so that you can establish a good working relationship.
  • To provide your professor with the necessary information about academic accommodations.Direct any of your professors' questions to the ACSD.

Keep in touch with your ACSD Advisor
During the first few months, keep in close contact with your ACSD Advisor to monitor your progress. We encourage you to update us every semester. This is vital, as we must know how to reach you and your professors.

Feel free to discuss any concerns you may have related to your disability with your ACSD Advisor. If you need an e-text version of your textbooks or course packs, or if you need your notes and class materials produced in alternative media, your ACSD Advisor can arrange for you to obtain them. Your ACSD Advisor helps you get prepared for the semester, suggesting learning strategies to minimize stress and maximize your academic potential.

Use these Survival Tips
There are things you can do to make your life a whole lot easier:

  • Make sure you have a good understanding of your disability and your needs.
  • Be your own advocate. You should develop an understanding of how your disability is connected to social experiences with your peers, your family, and your professors.
  • Go to class, to group meetings, to see your professors.
  • Notify the ACSD of any changes to your schedule and keep regular appointments to monitor needs and services.
  • If you are entitled to Exam Accommodations, make sure that you book each exam within the prescribed deadlines.
  • Visit your professors during their office hours to discuss course adaptations and classroom needs.
  • Familiarize yourself with the libraries and other student resources such as information sessions, computer labs, language labs and the assistive technology lab.
  • Keep with you the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of the people in your life, including note-takers, tutors, and interpreters so you can notify them of changes to your schedule.
  • Stay in contact with as many people as possible. Get a Concordia University email account to facilitate communication with professors, your ACSD Advisor, classmates and other University staff.

For further information about our services, contact us.

 


 

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