Services for Students with disAbilities
Information for Faculty and Adjuncts
Many of your students will be requesting academic accommodations for your courses. These accommodations might include extra time on tests, a note taker, and /or enlarged handouts and readers. This information outlines the procedures students follow to obtain their accommodations.
Course Syllabus:
I recommend that each faculty member includes in their course syllabus a statement that says “If you are a student with a documented disability and are requesting special accommodations, you should be registered with the Office of DisAbility Support Services located in Van Wagenen Library.”
Before any student with a disability receives accommodations from you, you should ask to see the student’s accommodation form that is issued from my office. This form will list the accommodations that the student will receive. It will also let you know who is registered with my office. You do not have to accommodate students who haven’t shown proof that they’ve submitted the proper documentation to me.
Extended Time Testing in the Center for Academic Support and Excellence (CASE)
Testing Procedures I
Prior to taking any test in the Center for Academic Support and Excellence (CASE) the student must identify him/herself to you and be registered with the DisAbility Support Services Office (DSS). Professors should see a student’s “Accommodation Form” before testing in CASE.
Steps to Request Testing at CASE:
1. The Student should pick up a "Test Scheduling Form" from the DisAbility Support Services Office or one online.
2. The student should fill out the student portion of the form.
3. The student should give you the form to fill out and sign.
4. The student should return the form to the DSS Office at least 3 days before the exam.
5. The student needs to fill out a form for each exam he/she plans to take at the Center for Academic Support and Excellence. If the exams are given on a weekly basis the student may fill out only 1 form with the dates for the weekly exams.
6. If the scheduled test is cancelled, the student needs to notify:
Judy Christman, Disability Support Services Assistant at 5870 or Lynn Abarno, Coordinator of DisAbility Support Services (DSS) at 5282.
Common Testing Accommodations:
- Extended time in a distraction reduced environment
- Test reader – Most of our tests will be scanned and read by the Premier reading software program. We use very few staff readers.
- Use of a computer for essay exams.
The student’s eligibility for accommodations depend on the Coordinator's review of the documentation.
More About Testing.
- Tests are proctored at CASE between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM (except for finals week). Exams must be completed by 4:00 PM. If the instructor schedules a test for a time during which the Center for Academic Support and Excellence is not open, it is up to the student to arrange with the instructor a convenient time for taking the test.
- Students must realize that part of the reason they are testing in an alternative setting is to allow them extended time. When scheduling the test with the instructor, students should pick a time in their schedule that allows them time and a half or double time to complete their exam. The allotted time is determined by the student’s documentation.
Students WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO COMPLETE THE TEST AT A LATER TIME unless they have written permission from the instructor.
- No walk-in testing will be allowed. Prior arrangements must be made. Students also need to realize that some types of tests such as laboratory practical exams cannot be taken in an alternative setting due to the nature of the test.
- Students are expected to uphold the integrity of the testing process. If a student violates any rules of testing, loss of extended time testing in the Center will result.
Services
The student with a disability must register with the Coordinator of DisAbility Support Services to receive some services. The services that the coordinator gives to a student are based on the submitted documentation. Listed below are some of the services available to documented students:
- Extended time on tests/quizzes in a distraction-reduced environment
- Use of a reader/scribe for tests/quizzes
- Use of a computer and specialized software
- Loan of equipment
- Tutors (available to all students)
- Note-takers
- Advocacy aid
- Study skills assistance (available to all students)
- Pre-registration advisement
- Priority course registration
- Enlargements of course materials
- Adaptive technology
- Tape-recording of lectures (student must sign a policy agreement form) in the office of Disability Support Services before he/she can tape classroom lectures.
Confidentiality
- Often students with a disability will share with you information about their disability. This information should be treated as medical information and handled under the same strict rules of confidentiality.
- Students with a disability are given the opportunity to sign a release form that gives me permission to share information with you on a need-to- know basis.
- It is important for all of us to know that we cannot disclose any information to anyone- parents, other teachers, Deans etc. without the written permission of the student. Be careful when parents call you and ask about their son’s/daughter’s progress or grades.
Document, Document, Document
If you have a student with a disability who is a concern, I strongly recommend that you document your communications with the student and the parents. At a later date, you may be asked for information about the student at a dismissal meeting or a disciplinary hearing etc. Keep good records!
Final Note:
Please feel free to contact me with any of your questions or concerns. I can be reached at 255- 5282, email- abarnolk@cobleskill.edu or visit me in Van Wagenen Library (lower level). My assistant, Judy Christman, can also help you with any questions. Her number is 255-5870. I hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your semester!
Lynn Abarno, Coordinator
DisAbility Support Services