This portal is for students who have already completed the Self-Assessment and documentation process. Check your accommodations, request accommodation letters each semester and request changes to your accommodations.
Coordinators, exam staff and other administrators can log in here. Review student requests and exams accommodations.
No problem! Get started here.
Disability Access Services (DAS) facilitates and promotes the ongoing development of an inclusive and accessible learning environment in which students with disabilities can participate in all aspects of campus life.
Disability Access Services aims to provide equal access to educational opportunities by working collaboratively with students with disabilities.
This note is intended for parents, caregivers, guardians, and advocates of students with disabilities who are entering college for the first time.
This handbook is designed to give students both a quick overview and a deep dive into all the services we provide.
Steps to plan and implement accommodations or supports.
See what medical documentation is required.
Types of accommodations and eligibility.
Just contact us! We are here to help.
Call us with your quick questions! 1-250-862-5404
Do you have a quick question for our staff? Call our new Disability Access Services hotline at 1-250-862-5404
Fill out our online form if you have a question for the Disability Access Services department. We will do our best to respond to your inquiry within 48 hours.
An accommodation involves the removal of barriers (physical or instructional) to provide an inclusive learning environment. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to the following:
An accommodation does not involve modification of curriculum or evaluation; a student must still meet the learning objectives and essential requirements of the course.
Services and accommodations may include, but are not limited to the following:
To receive academic accommodations, students must self-disclose their disability and work collaboratively with Disability Access Services to request and implement supports. We support students who live with disabilities that can include:
Depending on the disability, documentation should:
When a service dog is required, the student may be required to show evidence of BC certification for the dog. The student will also be required to provide medical documentation to support the need for a service dog.
Students with a temporary medical condition (e.g. a broken arm) or illness should first contact their professors/instructors directly to implement temporary and reasonable academic concessions. If the prognosis proves to be longer than expected (more than one semester) or the professors/instructors are having difficulty determining a way to accommodate, the student should contact Disability Access Services.
New students to Okanagan College requesting accommodations should contact Disability Access Services at the time of acceptance into any course or program. Doing this approximately 3 months in advance of the program start date helps to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be planned and/or implemented. Although students can self-elect to these services at any time during their studies, the Disability Access registration process takes time and students are responsible for reaching out with as much notice as possible.
Implementing new accommodations during the month of a student's finals may not be possible.
Students in Arts, Science, Business or Adult Upgrading programs who wish to have accommodations in place for final exams, should complete the registration process prior to November 15 for the Fall semester, or March 15 for the Winter semester.
Interested students will complete a Disability Self-Assessment before receiving a booking link for an appointment with a Disability Access Coordinator.
The input you provide on your Disability Self-Assessment is considered when developing an appropriate plan; however, current diagnostic documentation from a qualified professional can be critical when determining appropriate academic accommodations and supports. Please refer to the Assessor and Documentation Requirements Table on the first page of the StudentAidBC Disability Verification Form for eligible provider information and types of documentation.
If you do not have current documentation, we strongly encourage you to go to the StudentAidBC Disability Funding website to get the current Disability Verification Form and have it completed by a qualified health care provider. You can also email Disability Access Services to ask for a copy of the form.
If you are unable to provide documentation, you are still highly encouraged to complete the Disability Self-Assessment after which you can meet with a Disability Access Coordinator to determine next steps.
When Disability Access Services receives the self-assessment and related documentation, a Disability Access Coordinator will contact you to discuss what accommodations you may be eligible for while you are attending school. This is a collaborative process where students must engage in accommodation and support planning with their coordinator.
If you have any questions or concerns about this intake process, please contact the Disability Access Coordinator on your campus or email disabilityaccess@okanagan.bc.ca
Documentation must be obtained from a certified health care professional who has specific training, appropriate professional designation, and expertise in the diagnosis of the conditions for which the accommodation is being requested. Examples of appropriate health care professionals include the following:
Learning Disability documentation must be a psycho-educational assessment from a registered clinical psychologist or certified school psychologist. The psycho-educational assessment must have been completed in the last five years or the assessment must have been completed after age 18.
Documentation must speak to the degree and extent of functional impact due to disability. It must also provide recommendations on what would be deemed appropriate and reasonable accommodations and/or services. When consulted, the Disability Access Coordinator will review the documentation and discuss with the student the appropriateness and reasonableness of the recommendations in relation to Okanagan College's academic standards and essential requirements of the course and/or program.
We have compiled some resources that we think might help you in your post-secondary journey. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, and we know that we have not covered everything disability related. We will continue to update this page with added information and resources as we come across them.
Tap or click (enter or spacebar for keyboard users) to expand items below to learn more.
Transition stories - stories from students, teachers, and parents.
Accessibility Services (and how it differs from High School) - this website has some useful information about Accessibility Services and the support available in college. While it is Ontario based a lot of the information is relevant nationally.
Transitioning to college with a disability (Video) - this video is an older one but contains some good dialogue around the experience of transitioning to college from high school.
ADHD - from the Transition Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities
Strategies for setting goals and time management for young adults with ADHD - this one is great for looking at schedules, time blocking, motivation, morning routines and more.
Managing adult ADHD - an excellent resource links to a bunch of other readings and some apps that may be helpful for you.
10 back-to-school tips for grownups - going back to school at any age can bring up nerves – this article sets you up for success
7 tips for college students with ADHD - this one has some neat tips, too
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) - CHADD offers lots of archived webinars covering a broad range of topics relating to ADHD.
ASD - From the Transition Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities.
Counselling Resources @ OC - Counselling Services has a list of resources to help support with everything from test anxiety to Mood disorders.
Wellness Together - free resources for mental health and substance use support.
Mental Health Disorders - from the Transition Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities .
Testing Anxiety - Looks at ways to overcome exam/testing anxiety.
Grief and Bereavement - This is a collection of useful links and resources about coping with grief.
Academic Communication Equity - British Columbia (ACE-BC) - For students who are Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing. Register for their free course - Transition into Post-Secondary Studies (TIPS) by emailing: Office@ace-bc.ca
Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) - PRCVI has assembled a transition resource guide to assist students with visual impairments
Skilled Trades BC Exam and Study Supports - Includes tips on how to apply for accommodated exams, as well as study strategies
MyHomework - Student Planner App
MyStudyLife - Study App/Student Planner
Google Tasks - Task Manager
Toggl – Time tracking app
Cold Turkey - Blocks websites, games and apps to boost productivity
Freedom – App & Website Blocker
Time Timer - Visual Timer
Pomodrone – Pomodoro timer (Here is a link explaining the Pomodoro method)
Kelowna Campus:
Student Services Building (S111)
250-862-5451
Vernon Campus:
Administration Building (A300)
250-545-7291
Penticton Campus:
Ashnola Building (PL142)
250-492-4305
Salmon Arm Campus:
Main Building (SA119)
250-832-2126
