Request process
Submit an intake form
Students new to Accessibility Services are required to complete an intake form.
Collect the required documentation and book an appointment with an advisor
After completing the intake form, you will be sent an email with the Functional Assessment Form (FAF) in PDF format and a link to book an appointment with an Accessibility Advisor. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail.
You can either get the FAF filled out by a medical professional or submit any supporting medical documentation you may already have.
While medical documentation is not required for your initial appointment, failure to provide it in advance may delay the setup of accommodations. If you are unsure if your documentation is sufficient or if you need assistance obtaining documentation, please discuss this with your Accessibility Advisor. You can email your documentation to accessibility.services@sait.ca or bring it to the office in MC221, Stan Grad Centre, to be scanned.
Attend your appointment with an advisor
Your appointment with an advisor can be done in person, by phone or online. During this one-hour appointment, you'll review your intake form and documentation (if available) with the advisor. At that point, they may generate an accommodation memo that states what accommodations have been decided upon.
Your accommodation memo will also outline what's expected of you and your instructors.
Provide your accommodation memo to your instructors
Share a copy of your memo with your instructors and discuss your accommodations with them. Instructors have up to seven days to implement accommodations after receiving your memo.
Required documentation
In order to receive accommodations, you will need to submit documentation of your disability or medical condition from a qualified medical professional.
Examples of accepted documentation:
- psycho-educational assessment report/psychological assessment report
- a doctor's letter, including learning barriers affecting academics and suggested accommodations
- Functional Assessment Form (SAIT's form)
An Accessibility Advisor may consider an Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Learner Support Plan (LSP) for accommodation purposes. Accommodations from high school do not automatically transfer to SAIT. You are required to provide an Accessibility Advisor with a copy of your IPP/LSP.
Please email a copy of your documentation to accessibility.services@sait.ca or bring it to your appointment.
If you are unsure if your documentation is sufficient or if you need assistance obtaining documentation, please discuss this with your Accessibility Advisor.
Failure to provide documentation by the time of your appointment may delay the setup of your accommodations and supports.
If you are applying for grants through Alberta Student Aid, you will require a diagnosis on your documentation. Please review the documentation requirements at: Applying as a Student with a Disability (PD or PPD) | Alberta Student Aid
Updating your accommodations
As of fall 2022, SAIT students are no longer required to renew their accommodation Memos each term. The accommodation memo is valid for the duration of the program listed on the memo unless there is an expiration date.
If you need changes made to your accommodation memo due to program changes or changes to your required accommodations, book an appointment with the Accessibility Advisor listed on the memo. Contact accessibility.services@sait.ca if you need assistance with this.
You are expected to communicate directly with your instructors regarding accommodations to plan for how they will be delivered each term.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Securing accommodations
Accessibility Services can meet with you to do an initial screening. From there, you may qualify for a referral for an assessment (conditions apply).
If the initial screening does not indicate a disability, the Accessibility Advisor can recommend other resources that may help you with your studies, such as meeting with a learning strategist or available tutoring resources.
To qualify for accommodations, students are required to provide supporting medical or other documentation (physician’s statements, functional assessment forms, psychoeducational assessments, etc.).
Some of these documents contain recommendations for accommodations. The Accessibility Advisor then meets with the student to discuss what barriers are present. An accommodation memo may be created that addresses the student’s needs while meeting the academic requirements of the SAIT program.
The role of the Accessibility Advisor is to work with SAIT students and faculty in negotiating the most appropriate accommodations. This is an opportunity for information sharing and collaboration. The Accessibility Advisor is also very experienced in determining the most appropriate accommodation to reduce barriers.
Accommodations are meant to be reasonable and do not need to be perfect or exactly as requested.
Please review the accommodation appeal progress page for more information.
Please complete the intake form found at the top of this page. You will be provided with booking links to schedule a meeting with an Accessibility Advisor.
No. Accommodations from high school do not automatically transfer to SAIT. As a SAIT student, you need to register with Accessibility Services, complete the required intake form, and provide medical and/or other documentation to receive accommodations. Please connect with our office after you have been accepted.
As of fall 2022, SAIT students are no longer required to renew their accommodation memos each semester. The accommodation memo is valid for the duration of the program unless otherwise specified.
Students who need to make changes to their accommodation memo, because of a program change or a change to accommodations, need to contact their Accessibility Advisor.
Students are to communicate directly with instructors regarding accommodations. Students and instructors will then plan for how accommodations will be delivered each term.
Roles and responsibilities
- Initiate the request for accommodations by completing the Accessibility Services intake form. It is recommended to do this before your semester starts, if possible, to get everything set up for your start date.
- Provide your necessary medical documentation to Accessibility Services.
- Meet with an Accessibility Advisor to discuss appropriate accommodations.
- Provide your accommodation memo to your SAIT instructors at the beginning of each semester/training period.
- Communicate with your instructors to advocate for your academic success.
- Meet with your Accessibility Advisor to discuss progress, changes in or concerns with your accommodations.
- Review the student intake form and documentation.
- Meet with the student to discuss needs/reasonable accommodations.
- Meet with the instructor/Academic Chair as needed to discuss accommodation (usually if complex).
- Create an accommodation memo and provide it to the student and the Academic Chair.
- Meet with the student to discuss progress, changes in or concerns with accommodations.
- Recommend other support resources as necessary.
- Meet with the academic chair or instructors as needed to discuss concerns, new accommodations, etc.
- Receive the accommodation memo from the student.
- Discuss accommodation needs with the student.
- Collaborate with the student and the Accessibility Advisor on accommodation needs/changes/concerns.
- Schedule exams/assignments to meet accommodations as necessary.
- If using SAIT Testing Services for examinations:
- initiate registration in Registerblast for examinations.
- ensure the online version of the exam is provided to the test centre in advance of the scheduled examination.
- ensure student booking time meets instructor requirements.
- Refer the student to Accessibility Services if they believe a student may need additional accommodations.
Classroom accommodations
Meeting with an advisor early ensures that you receive the most appropriate accommodation and that it is in place for the start of your studies. This will ensure you are on the right track to academic success.
You must also provide a copy of your accommodation memo to your instructors as soon as you receive it, so that they may work with you to implement your accommodations.
No. Please show your instructor your accommodation memo as soon as you receive it and let them know your situation.
Asking for accommodations late in the semester will impact your ability to receive any accommodations, as Testing Services and instructors require advanced notice for booking and exam creation.
Please contact your accessibility advisor to discuss your concerns. They may be able to discuss the situation with your instructor to make some adjustments or suggest other resources that may be more helpful.
Please consult with your Accessibility Advisor. There may be a valid reason why certain accommodations cannot be implemented. Some accommodations may not work for some class/lab settings.
The role of the Accessibility Advisor is to work with SAIT students and faculty in negotiating the most appropriate accommodations. This is an opportunity for information sharing and collaboration.
Remember, accommodations do not need to be perfect, but they must be reasonable and not compromise the academic integrity of the course/program.
Communicate directly with your instructors about scheduling your exam. Together, you might want to explore alternative exam start times.
Students looking for accommodations for religious observance should contact the Interfaith Centre.
Contact us
Accessibility Services
Lamb Learner Success Centre, MC221, Stan Grad Centre
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Phone - 403.774.5093
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Monday - Friday | 8 am - 4 pm
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.