Student Success Centre at Dal AC

Confidentiality & Self‑Disclosure


Confidentiality

We must uphold the standards of FOIPOP (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) and PIIDPA (Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act) legislation, both of which govern the protection of personal information.

Your accessibility plan is disclosed to parties outside of the Centre only when it is necessary for the plan’s effective implementation.

You are not required to disclose the reason for which you are accommodated to your instructors.

If instructors have questions about how to support your accessibility plan, they should contact your advisor or make arrangements to meet with you outside of class time.

Your discussions with an advisor are considered confidential with these exceptions:

  • when you provide written permission to disclose information to another party
  • when an advisor believes that you may be at risk of harm to yourself or someone else
  • when an advisor becomes aware that a crime has been committed
  • when you communicate or do something that is a violation of university policy

Disclosure

Self-disclosure is about how much information you choose to share with others.

Deciding whether to self-disclose can be a simple or a complex decision. It may be simple in that disclosure is necessary to access appropriate supports. It may be complex in that disclosure may limit access due to a lack of understanding or awareness about (dis)ability or other protected characteristics.  

It is your choice to disclose to faculty members or others. While there is no step-by-step process, you are encouraged to talk with your advisor about disclosure.

Why disclose

It may be helpful to disclose in order to:

  • initiate a discussion on possible accommodations
  • address an access issue you have encountered on campus
  • fully inform discussions with an advisor or instructor on other supports
  • have a plan “just in case” (some barriers are not always predictable—be proactive rather than reactive)

What to disclose

If you require formal accommodations you must submit documentation supporting your request.

You do not have to disclose the nature of your disability, or other protected characteristic/s under which you are seeking accommodation, to your instructors. If asked, you have the right to decline.

Disclosing the barriers you have encountered, or anticipate, may help an instructor identify ways to support you beyond what is outlined in an accessibility plan.

How to disclose

Make an appointment to meet one-on-one with each of your instructors during office hours (identified in the course syllabus).

The one-on-one appointment presents an opportunity for:

  • the instructor to discuss the types of evaluation used in the course (e.g. exams, reflection papers, group presentations)
  • you to confirm your instructor’s expectations
  • you to share information such as how you work best or what your challenges are