Student AccessAbility Centre (SAAC)
We provide a variety of services such as academic accommodations and strategies to meet the needs of students with disabilities and for whom the disability has a significant and persistent impact on their learning.
Services are available to students registered in day or evening credit courses.
Support to Students
Together with the student, our Adapted Services Counsellor will look at what services or reasonable and justifiable accommodations can be put in place in order to minimize potential barriers.
Accommodations are typically provided to students with a diagnosis of hearing, visual, motor or organic impairments, learning disabilities, neurological and/or mental health disorders. They may also be offered to students who, due to an accident or illness, require temporary support. In some cases, this same support may be available to students who are in the process of being assessed or who are awaiting a medical appointment.
Accommodations can include but are not limited to a quiet space to write tests/exams, extended or stop time for tests/exams, use of a computer, alternate formats of documents, specialized equipment or software, peer note-takers, interpreters and student attendants.
Students with accommodations must still meet curriculum competencies as well as the Standing and Advancement requirements of their program.
Some examples of accommodations
- Separate room for test and exams
- Extra time for test and exams
- Use of a computer with or without spellcheck
- Peer note-taking
- Alternate format of educational materials
- Specialized equipment or use of assistive or adapted technologies
- Student Attendant to help with physical limitations
- Interpretation into sign language
- etc.
Review of Eligibility
As mandated by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, students should provide our Centre with a medical document or a psycho-educational evaluation issued by an authorized Quebec licensed professional. Ideally, the document should contain a clear diagnosis, as well as the name, signature and license number of the professional, date of the evaluation/appointment and the name of the student. In the event of not having the appropriate documentation with a diagnosis, students can still complete the process and will receive a consultation.
Important to note: students who only have an IEP from High School and no diagnostic document are not guaranteed to receive in Cegep the same services or accommodations they had in High School.
Documentation or information about the student’s disability or situation are not transferred from High School to Cegep. The student is responsible for making the initial contact with our service if they wish to review their eligibility for receiving services.
A diagnosis or a diagnostic evaluation is usually valid for the entire life of the individual. However, we may need to request a new evaluation to better understand the student’s needs.
