Accessibility accommodations

If you have a health condition or disability that affects your learning, you can get extra support. Health conditions can be temporary or permanent, or affect you physically or mentally.

Accessibility Services offers confidential advice and support with an aim to remove barriers for your learning.

We need to understand the functional limitations you have, whether it's because of a temporary or permanent health condition or disability.

Here's how it works

  1. You book an appointment to speak to an Access Advisor before your program begins, or as new functional limitations arise.
  2. You have a medical professional complete a medical accommodations form.
  3. We review your medical documents and assess how your limitations affect your learning.
  4. We co-create a plan that could include letters of accommodation or consideration for your instructors.

Read our academic and physical accommodations policy.

Types of health challenges

Health challenges can include temporary or permanent disabilities, or physical or mental health challenges.

Access Advisors will offer you different support or services depending on your circumstances.

Temporary disability

Examples of a temporary disability:

  • a healable injury
  • a broken limb
  • a concussion

For a cold or flu in our community of caring you can ask your instructors for short-term flexibility with individual assignment deadlines.

Permanent disability

Examples of a permanent disability:

  • a chronic health condition
  • low vision or blindness
  • deafness or difficulty hearing
  • limited mobility
  • neurodiversity, learning disability or mental health challenges

Academic or physical accommodations

Here are some examples of support you can receive for temporary or permanent health challenges:

Alternate format text request

Students who experience learning barriers reading printed materials may require an alternate text format to access their course materials. This support is often used by students who rely on specialized software for reading or those with visual impairments or other disabilities that make standard printed materials inaccessible.

Students in need of an alternate text format such as PDF version of book must submit a request to Accessibility Services. Please note that only students who are approved for alternate text as an accommodation with Accessibility Services are eligible to receive an alternative text format.

Additionally, to request an alternate text format for a textbook, students must first purchase a copy of the print material and provide proof of purchase.

Before requesting an alternate format, please consider the following:

  • Check for an e-book version: If the textbook is available in an e-book format and is compatible with your assistive technology, we recommend purchasing the e-book. Digital versions are often more affordable than printed copies.
  • Search the RRU Library: The text may already be available through the RRU Library. If an accessible version is available through the library, a separate alternate format request may not be necessary.
  • Check VitalSource or Publisher Availability: Many publishers provide digital versions of textbooks through platforms like VitalSource or the publisher platform. If a digital version is already available, publishers may not grant access to a separate PDF version.
  • Although we try our best, obtaining an alternate format can take up to six to eight weeks. To ensure you have the materials before your course begins, please submit your request well in advance.

To request an alternate text format, please complete the Alternate Format Text Request Form.

Other assistance

The following organizations can provide assistive technology or course materials to support your learning needs. This may include requesting materials in formats like digital audio, large print or e-text for screen readers.