This section introduces you to services and/or goods that you may be eligible to receive. Department of Labour and Advanced Education Post-Secondary Disability Services supports and provides services and goods to help students take proactive steps in addressing their disability needs. They make every effort to assist a student with a permanent disability to ensure that course requirements are met.

The purpose of a functional assessment is to gather information from you and to determine academic services/accommodations that you may require during your period of study. Usually, this is the first contact you will have with someone in student services on your campus. This person may be the campus-based disability resource facilitator or the campus co-ordinator for disability services.

Following are some of the steps involved in your functional assessment:

• Introductions. You will have a chance to be acquainted with your campus representative.
• Student information. Your campus representative will ask you a few questions, such as your full name, address, phone number, etc.
• Learning environment. You will discuss the types of environment you will be studying in. Some examples are lecture theatres, small classrooms, one-on-one instruction. This is important, as every student learns differently.
• Tasks.You will discuss the types of tasks involved in your program. Some examples are hands-on learning, self-paced learning, extensive reading and report writing.
• Needs. You will discuss what type of tools (services/accommodations) you will need to succeed. Some examples are tutor, note-taker, alternative texts.
• Consent form review and signature. Some campuses will have a separate form for you to sign; this would be different from the one you have already signed when you applied for your Nova Scotia Student Loan.
• Training and follow-up. You will schedule any assistive technology training needed as well as follow-up appointments with the campus representative.

Some students with disabilities may need assistance with course materials—the content, retaining information, study skills, writing and/or reading skills, or time management and organizational skills. Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator will determine the need for and the amount of tutoring assistance required at the beginning of each term.

Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator may be able to provide the following assistance:

• Help locate a tutor who fits your needs.
• Orient and train the tutor, outlining responsibilities and intended outcomes.
• Set up a meeting between you and the tutor to establish goals and objectives.
• Make the necessary arrangements for the tutor to be paid for his or her services.
• Meet with you and the tutor monthly to ensure that the accommodation is working and that both parties are satisfied with performance.

Student responsibilities

• Schedule tutor times with the tutor and find a suitable location.
• Arrive on time and have your outline ready for the tutor.
• Advise the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator of any changes in your requirements.
• Arrange a meeting with the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator to arrange invoicing and signatures that may be required for payment of your tutor.
• Notify the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator of any course changes.
• Attend all scheduled classes.

With certain disabilities, some students may require the services of a note taker. Note takers provide you with a copy of class notes. Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator will assess the need for note taker assistance at the beginning of each term.

Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator may be able to provide the following assistance:

• Help locate a note taker who fits your needs.
• Orient and train the note taker, outlining responsibilities and intended outcomes.
• Set up a meeting between you and the note taker to establish goals and objectives.
• Make the necessary arrangements for the note taker to be paid for his or her services.
• Meet with you and the note taker monthly to ensure that the accommodation is working and that both parties are satisfied with performance.

Student responsibilities

• Schedule times with your note taker for notes to be picked up.
• Advise the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator of any changes in your requirements.
• Arrange a meeting with the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator to arrange invoicing and signatures that may be required for payment of your note taker.
• Notify the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator of any course changes.
• Attend all scheduled classes.

Some students with hearing disabilities may need the services of an American Sign Language(ASL) Interpreter. This service is provided to students who have a requirement for the interpretation of English Language into American Sign Language. It is provided by qualified ASL interpreters through the Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians. Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator and the co-ordinator of interpreting services will meet with you to ensure there is sufficient time to arrange for this service.

This service is dependent on the availability of ASL interpreters; therefore, you must indicate the need for this service as soon as possible to give staff enough time to secure a person to fill the position.

The following assistance may be available by your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator:

• Initiate the request for an ASL interpreter through the co-ordinator of interpreting services.
• Contact academic departments to request early access to course outlines and reading lists for the interpreter’s use.

Student responsibilities

• Meet with the American Sign Language co-ordinator for information required to initiate contact to secure the services of an interpreter.
• Advise the disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator and the American Sign Language co-ordinator of any changes in your requirements.
• Attend all scheduled classes.

Some students with disabilities may need assistance with care and mobility. Attendant care is for students who have a high-level physical disability. Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator and the attendant care co-ordinator will assess the need for attendant care. This is necessary to provide sufficient time to arrange for this service. All attendant care is arranged through the Independent Living Nova Scotia (ILNS).

Responsibilities of the attendant care co-ordinator

Kevin Penny (902) 424-7893 pennykc@gov.ns.ca

• Assess the weekly time for which you will require attendant care (maximum 45 hours per week).
• Arrange for service provider training and orientation.
• Make necessary arrangements for the attendant to be paid for services provided.

Student responsibilities

• Meet with the attendant care co-ordinator for the information required to initiate contact and secure the services of an attendant.
• Advise your campus disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator and the attendant care co-ordinator of any changes in your requirements.
• Attend all scheduled classes

Assistive technology is any device or computer software program that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Examples of available technologies include the following:

• Text-to-speech software: Printed materials can be scanned and reproduced in an accurate text file and read back aloud by the computer using this software. These programs also offer support in study skills, study notes, and outlines.
• Voice recognition software: You speak into a microphone, and this program changes your voice files into printed ones. It also reads the document back to you so you can hear how it sounds and then edit as required.
• Visual thinking software: These programs support the development and organization of thoughts and ideas in a graphical format.

Students may receive support and training in assistive technologies available. Your disability resource facilitator or campus co-ordinator can advise you on the availability and selection of appropriate tools to meet your individual needs, and may provide the following assistance:

• Provide you with all information and a demonstration of adaptive software that may be a good fit for you.
• Make every attempt to provide you access to the latest assistive technology devices.
• Co-ordinate training on individual software programs that suit your learning style.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the province of Nova Scotia may provide campus resources to students who register with student services (disability services). Colleges and universities can provide different services. You are urged to meet with student services on your campus to set up campus accommodations/services.

These services are not offered through the Department of Labour and Advanced Education; therefore, Post-Secondary Disability Services cannot state what may or may not be offered to you. You must be proactive and advocate for these services if you require them.

To receive a complete description of what resources may be available to you, visit the Student Services Office on your campus. Some examples of services that may be offered are described below.

Alternative text

This is the reformatting of your textbooks, converting traditional print into a format of your choice. Formats could include MP3, computer CD, or voice to tape.

Peer tutoring

This is a tutoring service set up by your institution. They usually rely on the services of other students who show potential in their courses.

Exam accommodation

• Proctoring: This is usually a person who will read an exam, assignment, or test to you aloud.
• Scribing: This is usually a person who will write or record your answers as you say them.
• Proctor and scribe: This is usually a person who will provide both reading and recording services to you for an exam, assignment, or test.
• Extended Time: This will allow you a longer period to take an exam or test or complete an assignment. For example, you may be eligible to receive twice the normal time; therefore, if an exam is scheduled for one hour, you may be granted a two-hour period.
• Quiet room: This usually is a separate room away from the rest of the class; someone will monitor the room to make sure the test is taken to the specifications of the institution.

To receive a complete description of what resources may be available to you, visit the Student Services Office on your campus.