Academic Adjustments make it possible for a student with a disability to learn the material presented and for an instructor to fairly evaluate the student’s understanding of the material without interference because of the disability.
A student needs official authorization before receiving Academic Adjustment. The student is responsible for providing the ODS office with current documentation from qualified professionals regarding the nature of the disability. After talking with the student and, if necessary, the instructor, the ODS staff member determines appropriate Academic Adjustment based on the nature and extent of the disability described in the documentation. The ODS staff member then constructs an Access Plan specifying authorized accommodations. The student is responsible for showing the Access Plan to instructors and discussing arrangements for Academic Adjustment based on the contents of the plan. The process of requesting and receiving accommodations is interactive; all people involved—the student, the instructor and ODS—have a responsibility to make sure the process works.
Examples of Academic Adjustment that students with disabilities may require:
- Use of interpreters, scribes, readers, and/or note-takers
- Taped classes and/or texts
- Enlarged copies of notes, required readings, handouts and exam questions
- Extended time on exams
- Quiet, distraction-free environment for taking exams
- Use of aids, such as calculators or desk references, during exams
- Use of computers in class or access to computers for writing assignments and exams
- Taped or oral versions of exams
- Alternative methods of testing, such as demonstrating mastery of course objectives by means of a research paper, oral presentation, etc.
Note-takers
The need for note takers will be documented in the Access Plan. Students who cannot take notes or who have difficulty taking adequate notes, can be accommodated in a number of ways, including: taping lectures, using an in-class volunteer note taker, and/or receiving an outline of lecture materials. The student may ask the instructor for assistance in finding a classmate who would volunteer to provide a copy of lecture notes. Instructors can also be of great assistance in quality assurance by occasionally reviewing copies of the notes, especially early in the term, and giving feedback to the note taker. The note taker may copy notes at ODS or use carbonless paper, available to the student with a disability at no cost from ODS.
Interpreters
If an interpreter will be in your classroom with a student who is deaf or hard of hearing (D/HOH), you will be emailed an explanation sheet from the Office for Disability Services.
During this quarter there will be a TypeWell or CART interpreter working with a student with a hearing impairment who is attending your class. If there are any videos shown in this class, we would like to make arrangements for them to be closed-captioned or scripted ahead of time, so the hearing impaired student can view the videos with the class. Please notify ODS at extension 441 if any videos will be used.
What video will be shown and when will it be shown? Please contact IT personnel to make arrangements so that the student will be able to participate in that particular class.
Thank you. Should you have any questions or need to discuss this further, please contact the Office for Disability Services at 366-9441.
Additional Resources: