Accessibility and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

McMaster is committed to the accommodation of students with disabilities in accordance with the terms of The Ontario Human Rights Code.

Students who require academic accommodation are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as early as possible in their program to put in place the supports they need. Please also see the university’s policy on academic accommodation.

When you register with SAS, you’ll be matched with a coordinator. That person will connect with the GSJ Director according to the process for graduate programs in the Faculty of Humanities:

Once registered, the student’s SAS coordinator will initiate communications with the Director and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Humanities, regarding a proposed accommodation plan. Once the accommodations plan is finalized by the student and SAS coordinator, it will be sent to the Director, who is responsible for communicating these accommodations to course instructors and supervisors.

Leaves of Absence

Sometimes disabled students need to request a leave of absence for medical or disability reasons. If you think you might need to take such a leave, it’s a good idea to connect with your coordinator in SAS to make a plan that works for you, and to get the plan documented appropriately.

According to Section 2.5.7 of the Graduate Calendar,

 “A medical or disability LOA is permitted for reasons of illness or disability, provided that the request is supported by adequate medical documentation.  Students are limited to a cumulative total of 12 months of leave. Students who require consideration for a LOA, including for instances where their leave might exceed a total of 12 months due to a disability, are encouraged to visit the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) for an academic accommodation process.”

In cases where you might need a leave longer than 12 months, SAS will work with you, the GSJ program, and the Faculty of Humanities to assess next steps keeping in mind your needs, the program requirements, available resources, and other concerns.