Respondus & Accessibility: Info for Instructors

If SAS students require these accommodations, we anticipate that accessibility can be easily addressed.

• Extra Time: Most online exams can be adjusted to allow for extra time (a standard accommodation).
• Spelling: Some students with learning disabilities require consideration around spelling. Under normal circumstances, this is provided through the use of a word processor. When using Respondus LockDown Browser, the spell check feature is available by default. We recommend that this not be turned off. If spelling is a part of the grading criteria and must be deactivated, please ensure you announce this to the class in well in advance.
• Typed Answers: Under normal circumstances, there are a number of students who cannot write paper and pencil/pen exams. Online exams make this a non-issue.

Accommodations in this category might be a problem. Students may need to reach out to their SAS Advisor for assistance with these barriers.

• Furniture & Equipment: This includes ergonomic desks, chairs, computers and specific forms of lighting. For students who have a new disability (e.g. been in a recent accident), they may not have an appropriate setup at home.
• A distraction-reduced environment: We know some students have family, roommates, or other sources of distraction in the home that are difficult to manage. For students who are susceptible to distraction by the nature of their disability, this could be a problem.
• Adaptive Software: Respondus has made allowances for some assistive software programs such as screen readers, however there are some problems such as disabling shortcut keys. Text-to-voice software (Kurzweil 3000) is the most commonly used assistive technology in the SAS Exam Centre, which is blocked by Respondus.
• Risk of Medical Emergency: There are a handful of students who have medical conditions that are exacerbated by stressful situations such as writing exams. Normally, they are seated close to a staff member who can call for medical assistance if needed.
• Reader / Scribe: For the most part, students now use technology instead of a reader/scribe. However, on occasion, the technology is insufficient and one-on-one support is required. Depending on the need, we may be able to arrange for assistance via Teams or Zoom.
• Calculator: Calculators are sometimes required as an accommodation. In the SAS Exam Centre, calculators are scrutinized and (if applicable) students are asked to reset the memory. It may be more challenging to determine whether students are using an appropriate calculator when taking an online exam.
• Scheduling Issues: Some students are unable to write exams at specific times of day because of a medication they take, or other limitations on their functioning. In addition, there are some students who can only write one exam per day – frequently this is related to chronic pain, fatigue, or other symptoms that reduce overall functioning.
• Memory Aids: A memory aid must be approved by the course instructor before the exam. When using Respondus, the student is expected to hold the memory aid up to the camera and show both the front and back.
• Scrap Paper: If students use scrap paper to work out an answer, Respondus may flag such activity as a problem that needs review. Many SAS students use scrap paper to help with strategies, including prevention of “blanking out” due to anxiety.   Students should be expected to hold the scrap paper up to the camera and show both sides.

If a student requests any of the following accommodations, it is important to verify that the accommodation is supported by SAS. If you have concerns, please inquire about how other instructors are addressing these needs.

• Breaks and Washrooms: There are a wide range of legitimate reasons for students to need breaks or access to a washroom for urgent needs. When using virtual proctoring, it will be difficult or impossible to know what students are doing if they step away from the computer. 
• Headphones: Some students use noise-cancelling headphones to help reduce distractions, but in an online setting, it would be impossible to know whether they are listening to a recording that contains information relevant to the exam.  SAS recommends earplugs instead, which are readily available at most pharmacies.
• Question Clarification: Respondus LockDown Browser prevents students from emailing questions to the instructor. In addition, using a cell phone during an exam would be a threat to academic integrity and faculty are not expected to make their phone numbers available to students. Our normal process for this in the SAS Exam Centre is for the staff to email or call the instructor (or their designate) based on prior arrangements. This accommodation is commonly for students with a learning disability, acquired brain injury, or medication that affects information processing.
• Grammar: The need for consideration around grammar (for a learning disability) is usually accommodated through the use of a word processor.  Whereas Respondus LockDown Browser permits spell checking, there is no built-in grammar check. Additionally, Respondus prevents students from using a word processor and then copying their answers into the browser.
• Music or White Noise: Some students use music to help calm themselves or stay grounded during high-anxiety times. In the SAS Exam Centre, all music is carefully screened to ensure it does not contain content relevant to the exam.  When using Respondus, students are instructed to turn off music and background noises that might interfere with the virtual proctoring system.
• Intrusive Thoughts & Dissociation: Some students have experienced trauma related to being stalked, bullied or harassed online. Others have conditions that result in intrusive thoughts, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or psychosis. In these cases, Respondus Monitor can trigger symptoms where the only alternative might be to disable the software and have a staff member invigilate instead.