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The Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Policy (GP26) is currently under review. Ahead of the policy review process, 91ÅÝܽ engaging with key groups to help ensure revisions to the policy are aligned with provincial legislation and uphold our commitments to the student academic experience. Following these early engagements throughout the Fall, initial consultation and university-wide consultation will follow in Spring 2026.

Under the guidance of CJ Rowe, Interim Senior Director, Student Affairs (Well-being) and Mary O’Brien, Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, 91ÅÝܽ engaging faculty and staff to request feedback on GP 26 with the goal of removing barriers to an excellent learning experience, while improving standards for student accommodations. 

See below for an overview of the work in progress and a link to join an upcoming town hall to hear from the policy working group. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is there a need to change the current policy? And why now?

A: The university’s Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Policy was last updated in 2003 and since then, there have been many changes to accessibility legislation, student learning accommodations and available supports. 

This upcoming policy review process is an opportunity for SFU to ensure the university is in compliance with provincial legislation (), while meeting the goals of SFU’s Accessibility Planand the Equity Compass to transform the SFU experience for our students, faculty, staff and community. 

Q: How do these commitments and potential updates to the policy affect faculty? 

SFU’s Accessibility Plan prioritizes the identification and removal of barriers within academic settings, ensuring that students with disabilities have equitable access to learning opportunities. 

It is recognized that faculty involvement is needed to adapt course materials, assessments, and teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning needs. Current supports for faculty include guidance from SFU’s Centre for Educational Excellence (CEE) on the adoption of inclusive and accessible teaching strategies and approaches, such as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. These teaching strategies align with the Accessibility Plan's objectives and also reduce the reliance on individual student accommodations.

Q: What will this mean for students?

The number of accommodation requests has been steadily rising over the past few years both at SFU and across Canada due to increases in students presenting with one or more conditions. It is expected that these numbers may grow and as such, SFU needs to ensure that the appropriate supports are in place. At SFU, the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) facilitates disability-related academic accommodations for individual students. While the review of GP26 will not be a review of the work being done by CAL, the policy will guide CAL's future priorities.

SFU upholds our commitment to inclusive and accessible learning environments by ensuring students have access to academic accommodations, which are adjustments made to remove barriers so that students with disabilities can meaningfully participate in academic activities. However, we know there is room for improvement. 

To date, early engagements have been held with undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities via the SFSS and GSS. Proposed revisions to the draft policy will be made based on all feedback received during this early engagement period and shared with the Board later this Fall to start the formal policy review process. A town hall for all students is planned for Spring 2026 as part of university-wide consultation to gather their feedback on an updated draft policy and its procedures. 

Want to learn more? Register for a town hall on September 15.

Join a townhall hosted by the working group to hear what changes may be needed to ensure we have a policy that supports compliance with provincial legislation and uphold our commitments to the student academic experience. We welcome your insights and experience and hope you will consider sharing your feedback as we work to develop the updated policy, which will be shared with the community for feedback in Spring 2026. 

When: September 15 from 10:00-11: 15 a.m. on Zoom

RSVP to join by Friday, September 12, 5:00 PM:   

Have a question to share at the town hall?  to submit your question(s) in advance. Kindly share your questions to the working group by Thursday, September 11 at 12 p.m.

To connect with the policy working group or for questions about the upcoming policy consultation, please email: accinfo@sfu.ca