Types of academic accommodations

Academic accommodations

Academic accommodations are intended to provide students with a disability or ongoing medical condition access to the academic environment. They do not apply to temporary injuries or acute medical conditions that are not expected to persist for longer than one term.

While this page describes the common types of academic accommodations at UBC, the specific accommodations you’re eligible for will be determined by your Accessibility Advisor. You must register with the Centre for Accessibility to request an academic accommodation.

View the Accommodation Inventory (pdf) for a comprehensive list of accommodation examples and information on the accommodation decision-making process.

Alternate format materials

Alternate format materials allow students with print disabilities to access academic materials in other formats such as digital audio, accessible PDF, and electronic text.

If you are eligible for this accommodation, submit your Alternate Format Request Form following the instructions provided in your alternate format welcome letter.

Production times for materials vary depending on the format. If possible, please send all requests 4 to 6 weeks before the start of the course to avoid delays. Materials will be sent to the email address you have on file, so make sure your contact information is up to date.

Assistive technology

The Centre for Accessibility facilitates access to a range of assistive technology. If you require software or other specialized equipment, please contact your Accessibility Advisor to explore your options. You may be eligible for funding support.

Captioning and ASL interpreting

ASL interpreting, real-time captioning, and captioning media are available for eligible Deaf and hard of hearing students.

If you are eligible for this accommodation

If you require this accommodation, you must register with the Centre for Accessibility as early as possible or as soon as you have been offered admission and before the start of your program.

You’ll be required to submit a Request for Classroom Captioning or Interpreting Form if you are eligible. 

Requesting a note taker

Note takers can help students who are not able to take sufficient notes or their own notes during class due to a disability or ongoing medical condition. Your eligibility to request a Note taker is determined by your Accessibility Advisor. It does not replace your attendance requirements.

Please consider whether you need a note taker for courses where lectures are asynchronous, meaning lectures are self-paced for students and recordings are available at any time during the term.

How to request a note taker

  1. Submit a request online by logging into the Clockwork platform with your CWL account.
  2. Similar to booking your exams, you must first generate an accommodation letter for each course you need a note taker.
  3. Once your letter has been generated, go to Course Notes on the homepage and select the correct term. Click “Refresh”.
  4. Find your course. Under the column title I require a note taker, click on “Change this”. It will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the “No” will change to “Yes”.
  5. Continue to check the platform for updates to see if a note taker has been assigned to you.
  6. Once you have a note taker, you will be able to access the notes on “Course Notes”. Click on the “Notes” button beside the course to download the notes onto your computer.

The Centre does its best to fulfill notetaking requests, but not all requests are guaranteed to be filled.

Dates and deadlines

Note taker requests must be completed by the third week of the term or one week after the add/drop date. Late requests will not be accepted. 

If you drop a class or no longer need a note taker, please email access.assistants@ubc.ca as soon as possible.

How to request an academic accommodation

The Centre for Accessibility typically works with students to arrange an academic accommodation for permanent, chronic, or long-term conditions. To request an academic accommodation, you must register with the Centre for Accessibility. An Accessibility Advisor will determine the accommodations you are eligible for. 

If you are experiencing a temporary injury or acute medical condition that is not expected to persist for longer than one term, please connect with Academic Advising.

Additional resources

If you have questions

Please contact the Centre by email at info.accessibility@ubc.ca or call 604 822 5844.