15 Queen’s and External Resources
Queen’s Resources
Accessibility Hub
https://www.queensu.ca/accessibility/
The Accessibility Hub is “a central online resource for accessibility at Queen’s”. From this main page, explore more resources under the “for Educators” dropdown on the main navigation panel to view the Overview, Teaching Resources, and the Accommodating Students with Disabilities pages.
You may also wish to view the Tutorials page from the menu bar to see various tutorials on different ways to create an accessible learning environment.
Finally, the Across Campus dropdown in the menu bar links to all the policies/procedures you should know about accommodations across campus, as well as information on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and more.
Accommodated Facilities
Do you need to book a room for a student or students with accommodations to write a test or exam? This page has information on booking accommodated facilities for tests/exams for students with accommodations under the “Accommodated Facilities” heading.
Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) – Accessibility
https://www.queensu.ca/ctl/resources/accessibility
This page provides a detailed overview of the principles of UDL and using these strategies in your class, including links to other resources.
From the page, we would like to highlight the following other links to important resources:
Accessibility and UDL in Practice – https://www.queensu.ca/ctl/resources/accessibility/accessibility-and-udl-practice This page includes expanders with examples of immediate and proactive solutions for supporting accommodations.
The UDL anti-checklist – This downloadable resource is available under the “So, Where Do I Start?” heading. It further outlines the three principles of UDL and simple, actionable steps you can take to implement them in your classroom.
CTL for Teaching Assistants
On this page, find a link to the Teaching Assistant Toolkit, which includes strategies that a TA can employ to create an inclusive learning environment.
You may also wish to use the menu bar to select the “Programs and Events” dropdown to view the “Graduate and Post-Doctoral Students” category which contains a link to the “Professional Development in University Teaching and Learning” (PUTL) modules. These are a series of online, self-paced modules for graduate students or postdoctoral fellows interested in teaching and learning. A module on Accessibility, Disability Justice, and Intersectionality in Education pertains to our subject matter.
Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) – Academic Consideration Page
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-consideration
This page presents information for students and instructors/staff on the process in FAS for academic consideration.
Flexible Design and Accommodation Support
This resource was developed by Meghan Norris and Tara A. Karasewich of the Queen’s University Psychology department. It provides a framework for considering your course assessments and how to support accommodations for your course.
Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO) – Training
https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/education
The HREO has training on various topics such as Ableism, Accessible Customer Service, Anti-Oppression, Creating Accessible Documents, Positive Space, Universal Design for Learning, and more.
Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) Intake Guide
https://rise.articulate.com/share/7YMSgkQnuvvl0JgJ9KR4GveQ10x5jyvB#/
This Rise resource for students “provides important information about key registration dates, documentation requirements, process for setting up academic accommodations, and what to expect as you set up your accommodations at Queen’s University.” It is informative about the process that students progress through to have academic accommodations put in place for their studies.
Student Wellness Services (SWS) Faculty Page
https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/accessibility-services/faculty
This page includes educator resources on accessibility and accommodations. For more information, you may wish to visit the menu bar under “Accessibility (QSAS)” to view the “Documentation Criteria” for an overview of the requirements for documentation for academic accommodations, or the “Academic Accommodations” page for a detailed overview of the different types of accommodations.
Student Affairs – Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances Page
This page presents an overview of related policies/procedures for academic consideration, including for excused absences (e.g., for varsity athletics events).
University Secretariat and Legal Counsel
The University Secretariat and Legal Counsel presents detailed information on policies and procedures for academic accommodations and considerations:
- Academic Consideration Requests for Excused Absence for Significant Event/Activity Procedure (Participating in Sanctioned Events; Distinguished/ Invited Guests; or Student Reserve Forces) – https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/academic-consideration-students-extenuating-circumstances-policy/academic
- Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Policy – https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/academic-accommodations-students-disabilities-policy
- Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Procedure – https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/academic-accommodations-students-disabilities-procedure#E
- Academic Consideration for Students in Extenuating Circumstances Policy – https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/academic-consideration-students-extenuating-circumstances-policy-0
External Resources
Accessible Campus
This site provides “the latest information about accessibility at universities across the province of Ontario.”
Within the Accessible Campus website are helpful links for educators about developing accessible courses/content:
- Accessibility in E-Learning – https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/educators-tool-kit/course-planning/accessibility-in-e-learning/
- Educator’s Accessibility Toolkit – https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/educators-tool-kit/
- Accessible Science Laboratories – https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/educators-tool-kit/accessible-science-laboratories/
Alternate Education Resources Ontario (AERO)
https://alternativeresources.ca/Aero/Public/WelcomePage.aspx
AERO provides alternate format text (e.g., Braille) to students with perceptual disabilities who attend publicly funded educational institutions in Ontario.
AODA – Identifying Essential Requirements in College and University Courses
https://www.aoda.ca/identifying-essential-requirements-in-college-and-university-courses/
This article outlines a Postsecondary Committee’s recommendations for identifying essential requirements in college and university courses.
Government of Ontario – Postsecondary Education Standards Development Committee
https://www.ontario.ca/page/postsecondary-education-standards-development-committee
This group developed recommendations for a new accessibility education standard under the AODA which are coming into effect in 2025.
OCUL – Accessible Content E-Portal Pilot Project
https://www.ocul.on.ca/node/1698
This program is an initiative of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario which provides financial support and expertise to organizations to educate an industry or sector across the province on their obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/universaldesignvls/
This Pressbook “will help instructors and others to incorporate principles of UDL and considerations of EDI and Indigenization into their learning environments.”
University of Waterloo – Accessibility Toolkit
https://uwaterloo.ca/library/aoda-toolkit/
Designed to support turning the AODA into everyday practices in your library or department.
