Intake Interview
SOAR (Student Office for Alternative Resources) Office Poicies and Procedures
Intake Interview:
Students with disabilities are encouraged to meet with the Manager of the SOAR Office to determine what services need to be put into place for the academic year. This meeting will allow the student and the Manager to discuss any changes in accommodations required, as well as allow the office to have up-to-date information to facilitate the co-ordination of these accommodations.
Any request for accommodation, whether initiated by a student or faculty member must be approved by the Manager. During this interview, the Manager will complete an Intake Form to include in the student’s file.
Students will be asked to take an Individualized Service Plan form (ISP) indicating accommodations they are receiving to their course instructors to sign. This is to ensure that instructors know the student is working with the SOAR Office. A copy of this form will also be sent to the student’s school dean.
Documentation:
SOAR provides accommodations for students with documented disabilities from an allied health professional. The documentation required is dependent on the student's disability. Students should contact SOAR regarding the type of documentation required for their specific disability.
Services:
The staff in the SOAR Office assists students with disabilities to adjust to the college environment in a variety of ways. Given that each student's needs are unique, services and accommodations in the academic setting are arranged on an individual basis, and based on the documentation of the student's disability. Some of the services provided by SOAR include:
- assistance with registration
- advocacy and counselling regarding disability issues
- notetakers
- learning strategies
- psycho-educational screening and assessments
- text and journal articles on alternative text format
- campus guides for the blind/low vision, can be arranged until class routes become familiar
- maps which indicate accessible routes, entrances, and parking
- personal FM systems are available to amplify hearing in lectures and tutorials
- referrals for disability assessments
- bursary funds for purchase of disability related services and equipment for eligible students
- training and lending of assistive technology
- special arrangements for exams which include: extended test time, use of a computer with a spell check, use of assistive technology, distraction-reduced exam environment etc.
Assessments:
If a student requires an assessment, appointments will be scheduled with the staff Psychologist after in-house screening and upon approval of the Manager. The assessment process requires students to attend testing and interview appointments. Students will be asked to sign an Assessment Contract agreeing to attend the scheduled appointments. If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled appointments, a $100 fee will be added to your Loyalist College student account for any missed appointments with the Psychologist. The fee also applies if you cancel your appointment and we cannot book another student for that time. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the course instructor of any classes that will be missed and to make arrangements for any missed course work.
