Eligibility for Service
RARC is funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to provide access to assessment services for post-secondary students with neurodevelopmental disorders who require accommodations in the academic environment. The purpose of the assessment is for Accessibility Services advisors to be able to make informed and evidence-based decisions on appropriate academic accommodations for students.
To be eligible for an assessment, students must:
- Be currently attending post-secondary, or accepted into a post-secondary institution
- Have a documented or suspected neurodevelopmental disorder
- Have evidence of historical and current academic impairment (grades consistently at a C or lower when no accommodations are provided)
All referrals will be screened by the student's accessibility advisor and/or RARC staff to determine eligibility before proceeding with an assessment.
Our Practitioners
RARC assessments are available for any eligible post-secondary student in Southern Ontario. Depending on school and location, assessments may be completed by in-house RARC staff, or by our team of Mobile Assessment Team (MAT) practitioners. RARC will work directly with Accessibility Advisors to assign clients to practitioners.
If you are a psychologist hoping to join our MAT team, an Accessibility Advisor looking for more information on making referrals, or for any other inquiries, contact us at rarc@queensu.ca.
Assessment Process
Compare the different types of assessment to see which is most appropriate for referrals: Assessment Types Chart (PDF 51KB)
Accessibility Services Advisor
Students who believe they may need an assessment should contact their Accessibility Advisor at their college/university, who will determine if an assessment is needed. Accessibility Advisors can refer a student to RARC by emailing rarc@queensu.ca. Accessibility Advisors may assist you in collecting your necessary documentation, or they may refer you to RARC staff to start the documentation collection process.
Students will receive a detailed package of documentation from their advisor or a RARC admin staff, that must be completed and submitted before appointments can be made. All personal documents should be password protected or sent via a secure format such as through SecureDocs www.securedocs.ca. Students can create an account and send all documents to rarc@queensu.ca
NOTE: As part of the Information package, RARC asks for student timetables, so that appointments can be booked when students do not have scheduled classes.
The initial intake appointment will take place virtually or in-person by the psychologist conducting your assessment. During the initial interview the information you have provided in your intake package will be explored in greater detail and an assessment plan will be made to determine the psychometric tests you will need to complete.
In addition to the intake appointment, testing typically takes 6 to 8 hours: two or three appointments lasting approximately two to three hours long. Testing appointments take place in person.
The feedback appointment will take place virtually or in-person and involves an explanation of the results of the assessment and how they pertain to any identified learning deficits. If you are diagnosed with a disorder, information will be provided regarding support available at Accessibility Services at your school.
The student will be given a copy of the final report that documents your assessment and the findings. With your permission, a copy of the report will also be sent to the referral source. If you revoke consent to have your assessment shared, the referral source will only be informed that the assessment has been completed.
Fees and Funding
The cost of a standard psychoeducational assessment is $2800. The cost of a neuropsychological assessment or an assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder is $3200. There are options available to students to help cover the cost of assessment.
Full payment is required at the end of the assessment, however post-dated cheques or a deposit may be required before beginning the assessment.
This bursary is disbursed under the umbrella of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the federal Canadian Studies Grant (CSGE-PDE) . If currently registered university or college students are OSAP eligible, they can access this bursary to pay for their assessment. Students do not have to be receiving OSAP to apply for this bursary and only need to demonstrate financial need for $1 of OSAP to access the BSWD. OSAP only covers students whose home province is Ontario, however, students from other provinces can access federal funding, if they qualify for the student loan program in their home province. The BSWD is administered through the Accessibility Services Office at each institution and students must be pre-approved to use the bursary to pay for an assessment. Additional information is available at each school's Accessibility Services Office.
In addition, in order to access the BSWD to pay for their assessments, students MUST complete an application and qualify to OSAP. Students MUST apply by January 30th to be eligible for the current academic year. Online OSAP applications. The BSWD is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. However, it is considered taxable income.
Please see Information about the BSWD and CSGE
Either personal or parental supplemental health care insurance policies may cover all or a portion of the cost of a psychological assessment. Additionally, parental or personal Employee Assistance Programs may also cover the cost. RARC practitioners can provide detailed invoices or receipts for insurance reimbursement.
If students are not eligible for the BSWD and do not have supplemental health insurance, RARC also provides a Sliding Fee Scale for clients based on income.
Appointment "No Show" Policy
Clients who fail to come to a scheduled appointment (including intake, testing, feedback) will be charged a $200 no show fee. All clients are made aware of the no show policy at a variety of times during their contact with the Centre. Clients wishing to appeal this fee and request a fee waiver based on extenuating circumstances should be referred to RARC's manager who can be accessed at rarc@queensu.ca. The purpose of this fee is to ensure accountability on the part of the client as an active participant in the assessment process and to ensure effective use of an important resource in the post-secondary and community environment.