FAQ: Requesting Academic Accommodations

An appropriate academic accommodation in university is a modification or adjustment that will result in an equal opportunity for a student with a disability to attain the same level of performance, or enjoy the same level of benefits and privileges experienced by others, without compromising bona fide academic requirements.

Template accommodations are based on your functional impairments and determined during your intake appointment with a PMC Coordinator. These template accommodations are intended to address the anticipated impact your functional impairments will have on your academic studies. Template accommodations can include adjustments that you require for writing tests/exams or participating in your classes or labs. The accommodation process is dynamic. Your accommodations can be adjusted at any time if there is a change in your disability status or if you have a new disability diagnosis. This is done in consultation with your PMC Coordinator.

Your extra time accommodation does not apply to final “take-home” or “range” exams. Most professors usually provide sufficient time for students to complete their take-home exams. Please contact your PMC Coordinator if you have any concerns.

Upload your new documentation in the Ventus Student Portal and contact the PMC Front Desk at pmc@carleton.ca or 613-520-6608 to schedule an appointment with your PMC Coordinator. Step-by-step instructions for adding disability information and uploading documentation to your Ventus account are available on the Managing your Ventus Account page of the Ventus Help website.

Email your PMC Coordinator to ask what is the best way to proceed. You can find their contact information under our staff listing on the PMC website, or contact the PMC reception at 613-520-6608 or pmc@carleton.ca.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor to complete a new documentation form for PMC. Upload the new documentation to your Student Portal when it is ready. In the meantime, send an email to your PMC Coordinator to ask if it is possible to receive interim accommodations and supports while you are updating your documentation.

For in-term tests or midterms, please request accommodations at least ten (10) business days before the a test or midterm. Note that MEC is not able to accommodate requests for test or exam accommodations made less than five (5) business days before the test or exam.

For final exams, the deadlines to request accommodations are published in the University academic calendars for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Before you request accommodations in the Ventus Student Portal, make sure to review the evaluation requirements (e.g., test, exams, assignments, presentations, group work, class attendance, etc.) for each course so that you are ONLY requesting accommodations that are actually needed.

Email your PMC Coordinator to ask what the best way is to proceed. You can find their contact information under our staff listing on the PMC website, or contact the PMC reception at 613-520-6608 or pmc@carleton.ca to book an appointment

Your professor(s) will see your accommodations in the Ventus Faculty Portal once you have requested accommodations for their course(s).

It is your responsibility to follow up with the professor for each course after all pending accommodations have been approved by your PMC Coordinator to discuss which of the accommodations you have selected for the course are applicable based on the evaluation requirements.

Your professors will specify in their course outlines how they would like to be contacted by students. Some professors will set aside weekly office hours to meet with students. If you require privacy to discuss your accommodation needs, we recommend that you contact your professors by email to schedule an in-person or virtual meeting.

If you require coaching on what is the best way to discuss your accommodations with your professors, please contact your PMC Coordinator.

Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be able to request services such as ASL interpreters, computerized note-takers, and captioning through your Ventus Student Portal, but they will be designated as “pending approval” so that your PMC Coordinator can work with Hunter Calder to coordinate these services.

If volunteer notetaking is approved as one of your template accommodations, you can request the services each term through your Ventus Student Portal. Note that this is a teaching accommodation that is not guaranteed and is provided by peer volunteer notetakers recruited from your classes. Please follow up with each course instructor to kindly ask them to make an announcement in class and/or in Brightspace to recruit a volunteer notetaker. Ventus will notify you when a volunteer notetaker has been found for a course.

Volunteer notes can be downloaded in the “Lecture Notes” tab in Ventus.

Animals are not permitted in buildings on campus except if they are working service animals who are assisting persons with disabilities. Carleton has developed a Policy and Guidelines to provide additional information on how, and under what circumstances, animals may be permitted on campus. It also outlines the accommodation process, registration requirements, expectations and restrictions. If you wish to register your service animal through PMC, please contact the PMC at pmc@carleton.ca or 613-520-6608 to book an information meeting with a PMC coordinator to discuss documentation and training requirements and registration process.

If you wish to have a service animal with you in residence, please note that Housing and Residence Life Services has its own Policy on Service Animals in Residence and that a separate application will be required. Please contact residence@cunet.carleton.ca for more information.

Please contact your PMC Coordinator to ask for a referral. You can find their contact information under our staff listing on the PMC website.  Contact the PMC reception at 613-520-6608 or pmc@carleton.ca if you do not know who your PMC Coordinator is or if you want to book an appointment.

In addition to academic accommodations, PMC offers a wide range of support services to support your transition, your learning, and your mental health in university. Ask your PMC Coordinator for more information and referral to the following support services:

• Learning Strategy (LS)
• Disability Counselling
• Support Groups – ADHD Group, Anxiety Group Series, Graduate Student Writing Support Group, Friday Socials, Learning Strategies and Support Group
• Mentorship Volunteer Program
• Assistive Technology (AT) exploration and training

A referral from your PMC coordinator, Library Accessibility Services is required to access Alternate Format Services. Please contact your PMC Coordinator to ask for a referral.