Services for Students

• Academic accommodations
  Academic accommodations ensure equal access to education for students with disabilities by removing barriers to learning and testing.
• Temporary accommodations
  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.
• Test and Exam accommodations
  The Fred Smithers Centre provides accommodated testing for students registered with the centre, ensuring equitable access to quizzes, tests, midterms and final exams.

The Fred Smithers Centre has two dedicated Accessibility Advisors who support students with navigating Accessibility at Saint Mary’s

These tutorials provide step-by-step demonstrations of key assistive software available through the Fred Smithers Centre, showing what each tool does, how it can support your learning, and how to use it effectively. 

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

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.

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. 

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.