Oxford International Career Colleges is committed to ensuring that its learners have equal opportunities to education, including accessible learning and accommodations to support their learning journey.
Purpose of Policy
The purpose of this policy and practices for Oxford International Career Colleges are to create and maintain an environment and learning experience that is inclusive to the diverse needs of students and to aid in the learning of those with disabilities. It is through the continuous dialogue and collaboration with members of the Oxford International Career Colleges community can we better understand the nature and extent of our campus barriers to accessibility. As such, the members of the Oxford International Careers Colleges are responsible to be knowledgeable on the institutional policies related to prohibited grounds for discriminatory practices and accessibility. This policy follows the principles and legislation of accommodation to achieve accessibility across Canada:
Nova Scotia: preventing and removing barriers, provide for the involvement of persons with disabilities.
Ontario: preventing and removing barriers that impede students with disabilities from participating fully in the educational environment in a way that is responsive to their own unique circumstances. The principles of accommodation involves three factors:
- dignity – accommodations should be considered along a continuum from those that most respect a student’s right to privacy, autonomy and dignity, to those that least respect them. Educators have a duty to maintain a positive school environment for all persons they serve.
- individualization – there is no set formula for accommodation. Each student’s needs are unique and must be considered afresh when an accommodation request is made. Education providers must also ensure that testing and evaluation materials and procedures used to grade and place students with disabilities are not selected or implemented in a manner that is racially or culturally biased.
- inclusion – as education providers, we must first make effort to build or adapt educational services to accommodate students with disabilities in a way that promotes their inclusion and full participation. Preventing and removing barriers means all students should be able to access their environment and face the same duties and requirements with dignity and without impediment.
British Columbia: removing barriers and increasing inclusion and independence for everyone, so all people can take part in their communities through work, play and other daily activities.
To Whom the Policy Applies
Students experiencing barriers to participation in a college activity due to a characteristic protected under human rights legislation are entitled to accommodation to reduce or eliminate such barriers up to the point of undue hardship, as set out in this policy.
Definitions
In this policy:
- Accessibility: the means of conducting a learning experience through teaching styles that meet the needs of people from a variety of backgrounds, abilities and learning styles.
- Accommodation (also known as Educational Accommodation): the means of preventing and removing barriers that may impede students with disabilities from participating fully in the learning environment.
- Barrier: anything that hinders or challenges the full and effective participation in society of persons with disabilities including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communication barrier, and attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.
- Student: an individual registered in a course within any of the Oxford International Colleges across Canada. A student is considered a student whether they are studying full-time, part-time, or online.
Policy
- All members of the OICC community share in the responsibility for compliance with this policy.
- Students are encouraged to see accommodation where they believe that they are experiencing a barrier to participation in a college activity, due to a characteristic protected under human rights legislation, which may be reduced or eliminated through accommodation.
- Reasonable disability related accommodations may be considered and implemented for temporary or permanent disabilities. Any accommodations granted to a student cannot compromise the integrity of the program learning outcomes nor place undue hardship on the education provider. Some accommodations are only available if additional funding and HR support can be secured and implemented.
- Accommodations assistance may include, but are not limited to:
- Assessment, advising and planning for reasonable accommodations
- Assistance in accessing/ completing applications for government grants for disability/related services or equivalent
- Test/Exam writing accommodations
- Access to technology for learning (e.g., computers)
- Peer note takers & note taking supports
- Access to/ referral for assistive technology resources/supports
- Access to alternate format textbooks
- Other classroom accommodations
Eligibility
- To be considered for accommodation, students must self-identify and have completed the OICC admission process and submit a request for accommodation. If a student submits a request for accommodation, the student must submit any medical and/or other relevant documentation, related to the disability.
- OICC reserves the right to limit the extent and type of accommodation offered, based on available resources.
- OICC will take reasonable efforts, short of undue hardship, to eliminate or reduce disability related barriers in the learning environment. Where applicable, OICC will also assist the student in applying for Certification Exam Accommodations, including the recruitment and coordination of proctor services (see program specific Program Proctor Registration forms), during the sitting of the respective provincial certification exam.
Procedures
- Student declares need for disability supports or service accommodations during the admissions process or on orientation day as per the Student Handbook – Specialized Supports and Accommodations.
- If submitting an application for accommodation during orientation:
- Student submits request for disability related accommodations and relevant support documentation to their respective primary instructor and program coordinator.
- If submitting an application for accommodation during the admissions phase:
- Students are to inform the admission coordinator the request of accommodation.
- The admission coordinator will provide the student with the necessary forms to complete.
- Student submits request for disability related accommodations and relevant support documentation to their admission coordinator in the location they will be studying.
- Once the student request for accommodation has been received, the Primary Instructor, Program Manager, Academic Director, and School Director will arrange and conduct assessment or planning meetings as required.
- The request will be reviewed and based on evaluation, a letter will be issued to the student outlining the type of accommodations approved and any related conditions/limitations and recommendations.
- All instructors will be made aware on a class-by-class basis of any students approved for accommodation.
