Eligibility for Accessibility Services

CNC students who have one or more verifiable disabilities or disability due to a temporary or chronic health issue are eligible for accessibility services. We may request the disability to be supported by documentation from a professional health care provider or a recent psychoeducational assessment.

Students should contact Accessibility Advising Services through the Academic Success Centre as early as possible to start accommodation requests. Students are encouraged to start accommodation requests at least one month before the beginning of the academic term to avoid processing delays, particularly during high volume periods. 

If an accommodation request requires more comprehensive support, students are encouraged to provide 3 to 6 months’ advance notice (i.e. for accommodation in practical environments, such as labs, clinical placements, or trade shops).

Is This for Me?

You might be facing disability-related barriers to learning, even if you haven’t pictured yourself this way before. A disability can be permanent, temporary, chronic, or episodic (one that comes and goes). 

Some examples:

• ADHD/ADD
• Learning disabilities
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Visual impairments
• Hearing impairments
• Mobility or functional impairments
• Chronic health conditions
• Neurological disabilities
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Mental health disabilities
• Temporary injuries, illnesses, or recovery (such as a concussion or surgery)

What do I need to Provide?

Some supports can start right away. Others, especially those that take a lot of planning or resources, usually need documentation from a healthcare professional first.

The documentation we ask for, if any, depends on the supports you are looking for. Your advisor will explain what is needed for your situation, and why. If getting documentation feels like a barrier, tell us. We can often put temporary supports in place while you sort it out and point you toward help.

Steps students need to take to access services:

Whether you are a current or a prospective student you need to:

1. Meet with an Accessibility Advisor

At your appointment, you will:

• Talk about the barriers you are facing
• Learn about the supports available to you
• Look at funding opportunities
• Start building your accommodation plan

You are welcome to bring a support person.

2. Sort out documentation, if needed

Depending on the supports you are looking for, your advisor may ask for documentation from a healthcare professional. They will tell you exactly what is needed and why. Temporary supports may be available while you gather it.

3.Build your accommodation plan

Your advisor will work with you to put the right accommodations and supports in place for your courses.

It is recommended to make an appointment with an Accessibility Advisor some months prior to the start of classes, to discuss your needs and learn about the services for which you may be eligible. If you can, bring documentation about your disability with you to your appointment. Ideally, your documentation should have been acquired after the age of 18 or at least be current (within the last 5 years).

Note: CNC does not provide nor assume the cost of acquiring documentation.

If you are a returning student, you should contact an Accessibility Advisor prior to the start of classes to arrange accessibility services for the current academic year or semester. If an accommodation request requires extensive support, students are encouraged to provide 3 to 6 months’ advance notice (i.e. for accommodation in practical environments, such as labs, clinical placements, or trade shops).

Student Checklist