Student Disability Services

Academically Related Services

Readers

Taped books are provided for students with print impairments. Students also have access to and are encouraged to take advantage of Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB & D).

RFB & D

RFB & D is an accommodation approved for students with print impairments. RFB & D is a national organization that provides textbooks on audio tape. Their web address is www.rfbd.org.

Sign Language Interpreting

Sign language interpretation and real-time captioning are provided for classroom and class-related activities, for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and when appropriate.

Notetakers

• Classroom notetakers are authorized for this service depending on the type and severity of disability.

To locate a volunteer notetaker

• Look around your classroom to see which students appear to be taking clear notes. Choose a couple of students and approach them after class.
• Ask your instructor(s) if there is anyone he/she would recommend to take notes for you. Either you or your instructor can approach the recommended students.
• Ask your instructor to make an announcement in class. A letter to your instructor regarding this can be obtained from your SDS counselor.
• Once you have located a possible notetaker, approach them and explain that you need a volunteer to take notes for you and that you will provide NCR paper (this way each of you will get a copy). It is suggested that you locate two students so that if one is absent, you will not miss receiving notes.

To obtain NCR paper

Simply request this paper from the front counter of SDS

If a volunteer is not available

Check with your instructor(s) to see if it would be possible for you to tape record lectures. Depending on your particular disability, this may or may not work for you. SDS does have Tape Recording Contracts which can be picked up at our front counter. If your instructor is uneasy about having you tape record his/her lectures, the contract may help.

Hiring a paid notetaker

• You must have prior approval for a paid notetaker. If you are unable to locate a volunteer, contact your SDS counselor.
• Request to see our Service Provider Notebook at the front counter. This notebook contains applications from students willing to take notes for pay.
• Look through the applications and locate those applicants who are available during your class time.
• Contact the applicant to verify whether or not he/she is interested in taking notes for you.
• Once you have chosen a notetaker, set up a "contract appointment" with our Support Services Coordinator. It is best if you and your notetaker come to this appointment together; however, if this is not possible, you must both make individual appointments, and your appointment must be first.
• Your notetaker cannot begin work until you have both met with the Support Services Coordinator.

Problems with your note taker

If you have any problems with your notetaker (i.e., not showing up, sloppy notes, etc.), contact the Support Services Coordinator immediately.

General Policies

• Notetakers are not required to provide notes to you when you do not attend class. Your attendance is mandatory unless you have prior approval to miss and receive notes. This approval is given for extreme circumstances which involve your disability and can be obtained only from the SDS Director.
• If copies of notes need to be made in SDS, please allow sufficient time. The front office staff cannot always copy them for you on the spot.
• It is essential that you sign your time sheet by the due date. All time sheets are due in SDS by the last day of the month. Your signature verifies that the hours shown were indeed worked.

Notetaker Services Handout (PDF file, requires Acrobat)

Tutoring

SDS provides tutoring to a student when it is a reasonable accommodation for his/her disability (i.e., a student with a math disability may not qualify for an English tutor).

Tutors must be requested each semester for every class for which one is needed.

To Receive a Tutor from SDS

• Set up a half-hour appointment with your SDS counselor. At this appointment you will be given a Tutoring Authorization slip.
• Take the Authorization slip to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) office, SS 2209. EOP will assist you in determining if they have an appropriate tutor available through the program.
• If, for any reason, EOP does not have a tutor available that meets your needs (i.e., type of tutor, hours available, etc.), contact the SDS Support Services Coordinator immediately to get assistance in locating a tutor elsewhere on campus.
• You can expedite the process of locating a tutor from the campus community by asking your instructor(s) and the academic department for tutor recommendations and information on labs, clubs, and other resources.
• If it is necessary to hire a tutor outside of EOP, once one has been located, he/she will need to make an appointment with the Support Services Coordinator to be put on the SDS payroll. Tutoring can begin as soon as this appointment takes place.

General Policies

• A new Tutoring Authorization slip must be completed each semester (even if you are receiving tutoring for the same class).
• Additional hours for tutoring must be approved by your SDS Counselor or the Support Services Coordinator.
• If using a SDS tutor, it is essential that you sign your tutor's time sheet by the due date. All time sheets are due in SDS by the last day of the month. Your signature verifies that the hours shown were indeed worked.

NOTE: whether you receive your tutor(s) through SDS or EOP, you must abide by the written guidelines for tutoring provided by these respective offices.

Test Accommodations

Students requiring a reader, writer, extended time or a quiet testing environment for disability-related reasons may make arrangements for these accommodations through SDS. Specific documentation of need and an orientation to services are required before these accommodations can be arranged.

Similar arrangements may be made for University placement and competency tests. Special arrangements must be made at least two days before the registration deadline. (See Test Information section in current class schedule for test dates and deadlines).

Library Aide

SDS provides library aides to assist students who have challenges in retrieving or reading of library materials. Contact the Support Services Coordinator for library aid assistance.