Accommodations, programs, and resources for Meighen Centre students

Although unique to each student, some typical accommodations include: 

• Note-taking services
• Tutors
• Distraction free rooms for exam and test writing
• Extra time to write tests and exams
• Voice-to-text
• Non-networked computer use for test or exam writing
• Allowance for recording of lectures
• Assistive technologies in the classroom
  (smart pens/recording devices, FM transmitters)     
• Assistive technologies outside of the classroom
  (electronic textbooks, text-to-speech/voice-to-text software)
• Reduced course load

REQUEST YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE SEMESTER

You'll need to request all the accommodations you'll need for all classes during the current semester. Accommodation requests should only be made once you've attended your first day of classes and have received your syllabus/course outline.

Submit your request through Accommodate > Semester Request once you know what accommodations you'll need.

Your request will be processed by the Meighen Centre. Once approved, an email will be sent to you and your instructor explaining your accommodation needs.

Once your 'Semester Request' has been processed by the Meighen Centre, you will be able to log into Accommodate and book your test dates.

Go to Accommodate > Test and Exam Accommodations.

Important! Requests for test accommodations must be made 7 days in advance of your test date. Requests received later than this may not be processed in time for you to receive your accommodations.  

Once your test dates have been confirmed, simply show up at the Meighen Centre at your scheduled time. We will have your test and accommodations ready for you.

Options for test and exam accommodations include:

• Extra time
• Quiet room
• Use of computer/spell checker
• Reader service or test-to-voice software
• Scribe service or voice-to-text software

Please do not book test dates unless you need accommodations for the test.

Students who are eligible to receive note-taking services can sign up through Accommodate > Semester Request.

Important! Please only request notes in the classes where you actually need them, as you may be charged a fee for each class that you have requested notes.

Once processed, notes will be made available through Accommodate > Class Notes.

Meighen Centre students have access to Accessibility Advisors who can offer support or refer as needed. This can include:

• Academic — course & program selection
• Personal — referrals
• Financial — assistance with Canada Student Loans, Canada Access Grants, Grants for Services & Equipment for Students with Disabilities
• Career and post-graduation — issues dealing with employment and graduate schools

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

Canadian students with disabilities may be eligible for grant funding through the provincial government of their home province.

It is highly recommended that students registering (or registered) with the Meighen Centre apply for available government grants. Available grants can provide funding for services (such as tutoring and note taking) and equipment (such as computers, printers, smart pens, software, and other assistive technologies).

• Canada Study Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
• Canada Study Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities

To apply for these grants, apply through your province or territory.

You may be required to submit supplemental forms (in consultation with the Meighen Centre and your healthcare professional).

DISABILITY TAX CREDIT (DTC)

Students may also be interested in the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), which is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay.

Being eligible for the DTC can also open the door to other government programs such as the registered disability savings plan, the working income tax benefit disability supplement, and the child disability benefit.

The Meighen Centre has several smart pens, iPads, and laptops available to loan to students on a per semester basis.

If you want to try smart pen to see if you like it, you can sign it out for a semester.

Students must take care of all equipment and return it in good working condition at the end of the semester.

Please contact accessibility@mta.ca, or in person at the Meighen Centre room #331, to see if you qualify for the smart pen lending program or other assistive technology loans.

The Meighen Centre has a site license of Kurzweil 3000 reading software.

This software is, in our opinion, the best text-to-speech software available on the market today. This software would typically cost $1,500 for a single user license. Thanks to the generous support of the Scotiabank Innovations Fund, this software is available to all students, staff and faculty at MtA.

This means that you can download a copy of Kurzweil to your computer for free as long as you are a Mount A student or staff member.

The license we purchased gives you access to the following:

1. Full version of Kurzweil 3000 for download on your computer.
2. Firefly web software available at www.kurzweil3000.com (this is a version of Kurzweil with basic features that can be used in a web browser when connected to the Internet - e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
3. Firefly mobile app (a basic version of Kurzweil for use on Apple iPad devices. You can download the app from the iTunes App Store. Please note: if you wish to use Firefly on an Android device, this can be done through Firefly web software in a web browser on your Android device).

To register to use Kurzweil please go to the Kurzweil 3000 page on Moodle, where you will find the registration link and instructions:

1. Navigate to the Moodle > Miscellaneous
2. Scroll down and click on "Meighen Centre" and log into Moodle with your MtA username & password, if you haven't done so already.
3. Scroll down to the topic "Kurzweil 3000 Registration" and click on "Instructions for Kurzweil 3000 Registration"
4. Follow the instructions to complete your registration
5. Under "Kurzweil 3000 Registration" you may also wish to download a copy of the user installation guide for Windows or Apple OSX

Once you have registered please follow these links to download a copy of Kurzweil 3000 to your computer (Note: Please choose the "web license" option):

• Windows: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/k3win
• Apple Mac: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/k3mac

If you have questions or would like to schedule a training session on how to use Kurzweil + Firefly please contact accessibility@mta.ca.

Tutoring is available to all Meighen Centre students through the Nimbus tutoring app.

Paying for your tutor: Many students can access the Canada Study Grant to receive funding to help pay for their tutoring. To find out if you may be eligible, contact accessibility@mta.ca.

Students who are not eligible for grant funding are responsible to pay for their own tutoring services. Students with financial need may be eligible for some assistance through the Meighen Centre.

In April 2016 Mount Allison was proud to host the Intersections and Connections conference on transition to employment for students with disabilities. The conference brought together students, employers, service providers, practitioners, and scholars from around the Atlantic region. They discussed the latest research and explored best practices in expanding accessibility from post-secondary education into the workforce for students with disabilities.

The planning committee felt it was important to focus on practical and effective solutions that benefit both graduates and employers. We wanted to put resources into the hands of our students that would empower them as they enter the workforce. Therefore, at the conclusion of Intersections and Connections we announced that, as an outcome of the conference, we would create a guide to help post-secondary students with disabilities navigate the world of employment.

We are proud to release the completed publication, Transition to Employment for University Graduates with Disabilities (pdf). 

This 75-page booklet is divided into three sections that address such topics as:

• Job search
• Application and interview process
• Disclosure
• Legal rights and obligations
• Employment support resources for persons with disabilities

Limited quantities are available in print upon request.

For more information, please contact the Meighen Centre at accessibility@mta.ca.

Students approved to use a recording device in class must have documentation from a licensed medical/mental health professional specifically recommending the recording device as an approved accommodation.

Prior to using a recording device in class, students must sign a recording agreement form and inform their instructors of their accommodation. The recording agreement form is available upon request from any Meighen Centre staff member.

To be approved for an emotional support animal (ESA), students must complete ALL of the following steps PRIOR to bringing their ESA into residence:

1. Students must complete registration with the Meighen Centre by submitting documentation to a staff member for review and approval.
    
2. Have the Emotional Support Animal Questionnaire form completed by a licensed medical/mental health professional (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, family physician, social worker, etc.)
    
3. Submit documentation from a licensed veterinarian addressing each of the items on the Veterinarian Checklist form.
    
4. The student must carefully review, sign, and submit the ESA Housing Contract to the Meighen Centre.
    
5. Once the ESA Housing Contract has been reviewed by the Meighen Centre, it will be sent to Housing for final approval. Once the request has been approved by Housing, the student will be notified and the ESA may enter residence.

*In most cases, students seeking renewal of their ESA for subsequent years need only to submit updated veterinarian documentation and an updated ESA Housing Contract.

Forms are available upon request.

For further information about the ESA approval process, please contact accessibility@mta.ca.

Students approved to take a reduced course load are eligible for scholarship renewal if they have:

1. completed at least 24 credits distributed across the fall and winter semester
2. have maintained all other requirements of the scholarship (e.g., GPA requirement)

Mount Allison is proud to be an institution that welcomes and supports a diverse student body.

To this end, Mount Allison is committed to providing support for students with disabilities, and, where warranted and without compromising academic standards, will provide reasonable accommodations.

Learn more about Policy 1201 — Policy on Students with Disabilities.

All Mount Allison students can get involved with the Meighen Centre through student employment and volunteering.

The Centre hires assistants, tutors, and note takers.

Please contact us for more information about these opportunities.