Fred Smithers Centre Services

The Fred Smithers Centre has two dedicated Accessibility Advisors who support students with navigating Accessibility at Saint Mary’s. They provide guidance on available resources, discuss tailored academic accommodations and assist with implementing course and exam adjustments. They also communicate a student’s accommodations and needs to professors each semester via an Accommodation Letter.  
 
Students are assigned an advisor, based on their last name, for personalized and ongoing support throughout their academic career at SMU.

Once students have submitted the required documentation to register with the Fred Smithers Centre, they will be sent an email with a virtual booking link to schedule their first Intake Appointment with their Accessibility Advisor.

For students that are already registered, they can book an appointment with their Accessibility Advisor throughout the Semester using the online Microsoft Booking link to discuss or adjust their ongoing support.  
 
Students with the last name A-L will book with Becca Chaytor.  
Students with the last name M-Z will book with Bill Travis.  

At a student’s intake meeting, they’ll meet their Accessibility Advisor to discuss the following:  

• Go through the student’s documentation of disability and the Fred Smithers Centre Intake Form together . 
• Decide on an accommodations plan for the student while they are studying at Saint Mary’s University. 
• Students will have an opportunity to ask any questions they might have.
• Once a student has had an Intake meeting, decided on an accommodations plan and signed the Intake Form, they will be fully registered with The Fred Smithers Centre. 

After the initial intake meeting with their assigned Accessibility Advisor, students can easily book follow-up appointments with their advisor as needed. Every student is different, so it is up to the individual  how often they would like to schedule check-ins.

Accessibility Advisors help to communicate and coordinate a student’s needs by issuing individual Accommodation Letters to professors at the beginning of every Semester.

Students can meet with their advisor for any of the following:  

• Assistive technology demos and training. 
• Advocacy/help with requesting a specific accommodation or communicating a need to a professor.
• Additional strategies that might help reduce or avoid barriers.
• Help navigating the available resources at Saint Mary’s University.
• Answers to any accessibility-related questions they might have.

Academic accommodations ensure equal access to education for students with disabilities by removing barriers to learning and testing. These adjustments, such as extended test time, notetaking support, assistive technologies and more, are tailored to individual needs for both in-person and virtual courses, as well as tests and exams. Students must be registered with the Fred Smithers Centre to receive academic accommodations. 

Explore all academic accommodation provisions offered through the Fred Smithers Centre.

Temporary accommodations are short-term academic adjustments provided to students who may be experiencing a temporary disability, injury, or medical condition that affects their ability to fully participate in coursework or testing.

Students who are experiencing a temporary disability, injury, or medical condition that creates barriers to their education may be eligible for temporary accommodations.  
 
Students who do not yet have documentation that meets the Fred Smithers Centre (FSC) Documentation Criteria but can provide documents demonstrating a need for support may also receive temporary accommodations.

Temporary accommodations are intended to support students during a specific period of time and typically expire at the end of a semester or academic year.

Examples of temporary disabilities which may warrant accommodations could include but are not limited to surgery, injury, temporary illness, short-term memory impairments, and other temporary conditions that impact a student's ability to participate in coursework or testing.

Temporary accommodations are issued on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to contact the Fred Smithers Centre to discuss their situation and determine the appropriate support.

Students seeking temporary accommodations should reach out to the Fred Smithers Centre at FredSmithers.Centre@smu.ca to discuss their needs and the steps required to receive support.

The Fred Smithers Centre provides accommodated testing for students registered with the centre, ensuring equitable access to quizzes, tests, midterms and final exams. Students must submit a separate request form for each test at least two weeks (14 days) in advance to allow time for coordination. Late requests may not be accepted.  

Book a test or exam at the FSC Testing Centre here: Book a Test/Exam at the FSC Testing Centre here 

All students registered with the Fred Smithers Centre are eligible to write their quizzes, tests and midterms at the Fred Smithers Testing Centre located on the 3rd floor of the Student Centre at Saint Mary’s. 

It is the student’s responsibility for requesting accommodations for quizzes, tests and midterms and a separate request form must be submitted for each test or exam. 

To ensure accommodations are in place, students are asked that they submit their testing request at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the test date. 

Once a student has completed the test/exam request form online, the Fred Smithers Centre will reach out to their professor to coordinate the accommodations.

Due to high demand, late requests may not be accepted, and accommodations might not be provided.

To arrange accommodations for final exams, students should submit their request after the final exam schedule is posted by the Registrar’s Office, available on Banner under ‘Concise Student Schedule’.

For end-of-term exams, students will be required to submit their request for accommodations  in November for Fall term exams and in March for Winter term exams. Specific deadlines will be communicated via email to all registered FSC students once they are set, and will also be announced on the FSC landing page.

Book a test or exam at the FSC Testing Centre here: Book a Test/Exam at the FSC Testing Centre here.

A Test Request Form is only necessary for online exams if proctoring is required. 

Students enrolled in Online courses will have their professor automatically apply time extensions as per their Accommodation Letter sent out each semester.

The Fred Smithers Centre and Testing Centre is located on the 3rd floor of the O’Donnell Hennessey Student Centre, located directly to the left after exiting the elevators. Here you will find our team’s offices, the FSC common space and the two testing wings.  

This is where you will come if you have meetings with our team, or to check in before scheduled tests and exams. We have cubbies to store your items while you are writing a test or exam, a variety of seating/standing/open space options while you wait, a central water cooler, and an assortment of fidget toys and other helpful sensory aids available.

Our primary testing room is where most students will write their tests and exams. The space consists of cubicles and individual rooms located in a low-traffic area. This allows students to write tests and exams in an environment with reduced distraction. There are individual, closed rooms located in the space, which offer provisions for physical accommodations, and the computers are equipped with a variety of assistive technology software. We also have a secondary testing wing that offers a classroom-style reduced distraction environment. 

The third floor is accessible via two elevators and a staircase. There are two private, gender-neutral, wheelchair accessible bathrooms located on the third floor, situated in close proximity to both testing wings. One of the bathrooms is equipped with a power toilet seat lift. In the event that assistance is required, there are emergency pull-strings located beside the toilet in both bathrooms. 

Peer Success Coaches are upper-year students working in the Student Success Centre who support their peers by sharing knowledge and experience.

In 2024-25, Saint Mary’s introduced its first designated Accessibility Peer Support Coach, working in collaboration with the Fred Smithers Centre and the Student Success Centre, to support students with disabilities and accessibility allies. 

Coaches can offer a student perspective on common student questions including: 

• How can I manage my time and course work better? 

• How do I stay organized when things get busy? 

• Where can I find on campus resources? 

• How can I get involved? 

• Can I just chat with someone about being at SMU and/or the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility?

To connect with the Peer Success Coach you can email them at peercoaching@smu.ca, or make an appointment using the online booking page.