Services Accommodations At the ASC, we can help to recommend and coordinate the provision of accommodations based on your unique learning needs, how they relate to your courses or program, and in consideration of your supporting documentation. Examples of accommodations can be found below. Accommodations are provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Peer Notetaking Students who have been approved to access peer note-taking as part of their accommodations will need to follow the steps listed below in order to receive their class notes. Please get in touch with your ASC team member if you have any issues regarding signing up or if you would like to discuss eligibility for the support. Steps to requesting a peer note-taker: Register online. You will use your network ID and password to register. Click on “Course Notes.” Indicate which courses you would like to receive peer notes for by clicking on the “change this” button to make your changes accordingly. Check to see if there is a note taker available under “Note Taker availability.” If there are no note-takers available, contact your ASC team member to discuss the next steps or request recruitment support. To learn how to sign up for a peer note-taker, please contact your accessibility coach. If you are interested in becoming a peer note-taker for the ASC, it is as easy as one, two, three. Step one: Start by registering online on the ASC volunteer note-taker site. You will use your student ID and network password to register. Step two: Create your note-taker profile and select the courses that you are interested in being a volunteer note-taker for. Follow these instructions on how to create your note taker profile. Step three: Upload your sample notes, and wait to receive an email once you have been selected to become a note-taker. Peer Coaching Peer coaching is a service offered by the Access and Support Centre (ASC) that provides students with the opportunity to receive support and guidance from upper-year students who have been successful in their studies at the college. Peer coaching can be a valuable resource for students who are looking for support and advice from someone who has gone through similar academic challenges and can provide a unique perspective on how to succeed in college. Test Centre The test centre is located in B291 at the Oshawa campus and RM 181 Whitby campus. These accommodations are determined in partnership with your accessibility coach and based on your exceptionality, needs, and documentation. If you need accommodations but have not set them up, don’t hesitate to contact your accessibility coach to discuss your options. To write your tests with accommodations, you will need to book your test using the online portal at least seven days before your scheduled test. To avoid missing the deadline, you can even sign up for all of your tests at once, as soon as you know the schedule for the semester! Reduced course load/tuition fee policy Students who require a reduced course load due to the impact of a permanent disability on their studies may be eligible for a reduced course load and related tuition fees. To be eligible, you must have a permanent disability/exceptionality with current supporting documentation. This includes students with invisible disabilities, including learning disabilities, medical conditions or mental health-related diagnoses. Students must be registered with the Access and Support Centre first in order to determine eligibility for the policy. If you are eligible to receive OSAP funding, you are advised to contact the Financial Aid Office to review the potential impact on your OSAP eligibility. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing American Sign Language (ASL), computerized note-taking, and real-time captioning are services that can be arranged for students who are registered with the ASC and are deaf or hard of hearing. These services are available for students registered to attend any Durham College program, including daytime programs, professional and part-time learning, and academic upgrading. The best way to help us meet your accommodation needs is to contact us in a timely manner before your course(s) start. We work diligently to provide the best possible supports for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It is important to recognize that resources in the Durham Region for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are limited. For service cancellations and requests for additional support services such as computerized note-taking, real-time captioning or American Sign Language (ASL) for faculty appointments, group meetings, tests, or appointments with ASC staff, please contact DHHservices@durhamcollege.ca. To help facilitate the coordination of ASL interpreters and computerized note-takers, please provide all the pertinent details such as date of request, start and end time, and room location. Students who have not yet registered with the ASC or had their initial meeting with an Accessibility Coach/Case Manager, and require this support are advised to contact the ASC office to initiate the registration process. Assistive Technology Students use assistive technology to reduce the functional impact of their exceptionality on their studies and help level the playing field. Some examples of assistive technology include: Reading software Dictation software Organization/time managment software Recording devices FM systems Accessible format textbooks And much more! If you have an exceptionality, you may benefit from assistive technology to help you become more independent and decrease the need for other supports. Assistive software is available in most computer labs, computer commons areas, and dedicated labs for students registered with the Access and Support Centre (ASC). STEPS FOR OBTAINING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING Talk to your accessibility coach. You will be referred to an Assistive Technologist for further assistance and training. Counselling The ASC counselling staff are available to help registered ASC students with emotional, personal or interpersonal problems. This is done through the purposeful use of relationships to facilitate improved self-awareness, coping strategies, mood, personal relationships, emotional regulation, and the optimal development of personal resources. ASC Counsellors have particular expertise in identifying barriers that impact learning and understand the complex interplay between learning disabilities and mental health. ASC Counsellors recognize that counselling support, learning strategies, accommodations and advocacy are all critical components in supporting students with exceptionalities in obtaining their educational goals. All ASC counselling and psychotherapy activities are intended to be brief, typically six sessions or less focused on the present and future, and geared to promoting your academic success. We utilize an integrative approach and primarily employ brief therapeutic modalities such as solution-focused therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy strategies. These brief models encourage you to actively collaborate with your counsellor in a process that emphasizes your competence, strengths and possibilities. Counselling provides a rare opportunity to be listened to without being judged in a supportive, confidential, trusting, accepting, and objective environment. Students can access counselling by connecting with their ASC Accessibility Coach to complete an intake form. Students that are coping with complex mental illness may need to be referred to more intensive supports as our goal is to ensure students are getting the best treatment to meet their needs and evoke positive change. ASD Social Group This is an opportunity for students who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to meet other students in an informal setting and make social connections while having some fun! The group meets twice a week. One session focusses on learning life skills and team-building skills through activities, such as; meal preparation, cooking, budgeting and wellness strategies. The other session includes social activities geared towards building friendships and relaxing, such as; playing board games, making crafts, video gaming at the Esports Arena, and celebrating special holidays. You’re welcome to attend one or both and as often as you like!
App Store
Google Play