Accessible Learning Services (ALS) is finalizing our drafted policy and procedures as our academic landscapes continue to change, and we move closer to future adoption of the proposed ‘Postsecondary Education Standards’ under The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, (AODA), it is vital to ensuring equitable practices as it relates to accessibility. It lends, reinforces and supports our efforts to ensure alignment of strategic priorities and collective commitments we have made towards our institutional pillars of Accessible Education and a Healthy and Inclusive Community.

As such, we have and continue inviting stakeholders across Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and the University of Guelph-Humber (hereafter referred to as “Humber and Guelph-Humber” or “The College”) to provide feedback starting February 1 to February 28, 2024.

How to provide feedback?

Option 1: Provide feedback online

Review the Academic Accommodations Policy and Procedures and submit your feedback by February 29, 2024.

• Read the draft Academic Accommodations Policy
• Read the draft Academic Accommodations Procedures
• Submit your feedback (Log in using your Humber/UGH credentials)

Option 2: Attend a focus group

Register to attend one of our audience-tailored focus groups to learn about the policy and procedures and provide feedback.

Focus Group Registration Form: https://forms.office.com/r/UDy1dmwNqD (Log in using your Humber/UGH credentials).                                    

Why is this important?

The implementation of a comprehensive academic accommodations policy and procedure is crucial for fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment, ensuring that all learners, regardless of ability or learning styles, has the opportunity to flourish academically. By proactively addressing and accommodating individual needs, this policy aims to uphold the principles of diversity and access while enhancing educational outcomes and contributing to a thriving academic community where every learner can experience full participation in their journey and reach their self-determined potentials.  The procedure provides guiding principles and processes designed to ensure dignity for learners with disabilities at the College.  We recognize that inclusive practices anticipate diverse learners' needs through advanced curriculum planning, course delivery, and learning environments through inclusive design. We acknowledge that learners with disabilities may still experience barriers to their full and meaningful participation. The College adheres to its obligations under Humber’s Human Rights Policy, the AODA, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990, (OHRC), hereafter referred to as “the Human Rights Code”) in advancing accessible and inclusive practices, prohibiting disability-based discrimination, and implementing appropriate accommodations for learners with disabilities,

The College will support commitments to removing barriers by adopting a social model of accommodation practices in alignment with values focused on cultural responsiveness and environmental factors that foster growth, view learners with disabilities as active contributors, affording flexibility to accessing learning that accounts for unique strengths and abilities, empowering learners in advocacy, and collaborations within the institution to reframe academic policies and procedures that hinder inclusive access to support and services.

Roles and Responsibilities

This policy applies to all members of the Humber and Guelph-Humber community, such as learners and faculty engaged in the delivery of academic programs and courses. This policy also applies to contractors, third-party service providers, and partners associated with academic programs and courses (e.g., Work Integrated Learning host experience relationships).

This policy acknowledges that the provision of disability related academic accommodations is a shared responsibility between the Humber and Guelph-Humber community and the learner, and one that is interactive in nature. Every stakeholder has accountability in those conversations for learners and faculty to be successful.

The policy coaches enquiry, gaining clarity, mutual understanding, creating safe and confidential spaces and the application of solution-focused approaches while building relationships that respect differences, commonalities and perspectives.

How does this impact Learners and Faculty?

The policy and procedure present learners and faculty with a pathway in the accommodation process.  It provides essential communication as it pertains to knowing how to access a particular process, sets out who is responsible for accommodation requests or addressing a concern, and reliance that decision-making and disputes will be implemented uniformly across the institution. 

It further delineates the collaborative and active participation in the accommodation process by all contributors, emphasis on involvement in identifying accommodation options, and ongoing agency for learners throughout their academic life at the Humber College and University of Guelph-Humber, and opportunities for faculty to shape a positive learning experience through the intentional design of curriculum and learning environments.

Timeline of Project and Key Dates