The Accessibility Resource Program
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should students submit original copies of documentation?
- Will disability related documentation have to be updated while a student is enrolled at CLU?
- Does CLU provide diagnostic testing for students who may have a learning disability or for students who need to update their learning disability related documentation?
- Will a student with a disability receive the same accommodations they received in high school?
- How do professors know a student is to receive disability related academic modifications?
- If a student has a class with a professor that is already aware of the student's disability, do they still need a modification letter at the beginning of the semester?
- If a student with a disability begins a course and does not request modifications but has difficulty later in the semester, can they request modifications and re-take prior tests with accommodations?
- Are all learning SWDs expected to take the foreign language classes?
- Why are there differences in high school disability related accommodations and what is available at colleges and universities?
- Does CLU provide "un-timed testing" as an academic modification?
- Does the Accessibility Resources Program provide note taking services?
- Can students with disabilities tape record classes?
- Are textbooks available on audiocassette?
- Does the CAR offer tutoring?
Should students submit original copies of documentation?
No. Students should only submit copies of documentation. The student should retain the originals for their records.
Will disability related documentation have to be updated while a student is enrolled at CLU?
No, CLU does not require students to update their documentation while they are enrolled. Documentation must be up to date, when they enter. However, if an accommodation is requested that is not supported by the students existing documentation, additional documentation will need to be submitted.
Additionally, testing agencies such as the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the PRAXIS (for education majors) may require that documentation meet their own criteria. For example, a student with a learning disability who submits documentation to the CLU Coordinator of Students with Disabilities that is two years old when they enter as a freshman will in all likelihood need to be re-tested for their learning disability if they want accommodations on an ETS administered test taken during their senior year. This is because ETS requires that learning disability documentation be no older than five years old. While CLU does not require that students be re-evaluated to receive services, students may have to be re-evaluated to be eligible for accommodations in other organization's services or programs.
Does CLU provide diagnostic testing for students who may have a learning disability or for students who need to update their learning disability related documentation?
No, CLU does not provide diagnostic testing; however we can recommend local practitioners who may do the testing.
Will a student with a disability receive the same accommodations they received in high school?
Not necessarily. Postsecondary institutions are under very different obligations than high schools. Colleges and Universities look at how an accommodation will affect the nature of the class and can deny accommodations that fundamentally alter the nature of a class or institutional program or service. Additionally, colleges and universities do not have to provide accommodations that will pose an undue administrative or financial burden. What is an undue administrative or financial burden will vary from institution to institution, depending upon financial and other resources.
How do professors know a student is to receive disability related academic modifications?
Each semester that a student wishes to receive academic modifications they need to meet with the Disabilities Coordinator to request modifications. The Disabilities Coordinator will provide the student with letters that state the accommodations the student is to receive in class. The student then gives these letters to each of their professors.
If a student has a class with a professor that is already aware of the student's disability, do they still need a modification letter at the beginning of the semester?
Yes. Don't assume the professor will remember what types of modifications a student is eligible to receive. Also, if the student does not present the letter to the professor and the student does not get the modifications they need from the professor, the student will have little recourse, as they never requested a modification in that class.
The modification letter is verification that a request for a disability related modification was made by the student and approved by the Disabilities Coordinator.
If a student with a disability begins a course and does not request modifications but has difficulty later in the semester, can they request modifications and re-take prior tests with accommodations?
No. Modifications will never be granted retroactively. However, if the student in the above scenario is approved for modifications they will receive them from that point forward.
Is there a foreign language substitution courses for SWD?
No, we are allowing students to take American Sign Language which is taught in a different modality and students of varying disabilites have shown great success in that class when they have had more difficulty in traditionally taught foreign languages.
Why are there differences in high school disability related accommodations and what is available at colleges and universities?
The primary law under which services in K-12 schools are provided is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under this law schools tailor the curriculum around the student and their needs so they will be successful in the school setting. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), institutions of higher educations are only required to make reasonable accommodations that will provide the SWD equal access to the organizations programs, services and activities. Unlike high school accommodations, the reasonable accommodations postsecondary institutions provide ensure access not success and will not fundamentally alter classes or programs.
Does CLU provide "un-timed testing" as an academic modification?
In general the answer to this question is, no. As with all accommodations, the request for additional testing time is made on a case-by-case basis. Most students who receive additional testing time as an accommodation receive time-and-a-half. This means if the in-class test or quiz is to take 50 minutes, the student approved to receive time and a half would be allowed to use up to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Students with severe disabilities may receive double time to use when taking in-class tests or quizzes if their documented disability is such that double time would be needed to ensure equal access to the test.
Remember, as with all accommodations, additional testing time is used as a reasonable accommodation to provide SWDs equal access to the test. The provision of extended testing time does not guarantee a student will be able to complete the test. This is because, in classes where tests are timed, non-SWDs may or may not be able to complete the exam.
Does the Accessibility Resources Program provide note taking services?
Yes, note taking services are available for students with learning and physical disabilities. Note takers are paid volunteers from within the class the SWD is taking. Note takers are obtained by the SWD asking another student enrolled in the same class if they would act as a note taker for them.
The note taker needs to apply, is given carbonless paper or the student can bring in notes that were taken for them and the Disabilities Coordinator will make copies of the notes for the student. Any student receiving these services must still attend every class period. Note taking will cease if the SWD routinely fails to attend class.
Can students with disabilities tape record classes?
There has never been an instance where a student wanted to tape record a class and was told they couldn't by the professor. If however, this unlikely event would happen, and the student's documentation supported the use of a recording device in class, the Coordinator of Students with Disabilities would contact the professor and ask that the student be allowed to tape record their classes as a reasonable modification due to the student's disability.
Are textbooks available on audiocassette?
Yes, for students with documented reading impairments textbooks are available on audiocassette. However, there are times when particular books have not yet been recorded, or because of lack of demand may not ever be available on tape. In these instances CAR will make an effort to record the most important chapters of a book for the student, but the office will need several weeks advanced notice of when the chapter will be needed and the Office can not guarantee the recording will be completed.
Many books can also be ordered through the Books-on-Tape program that the student would need to sign up for. Many books are also available through our on-line library and e-books. Information can be obtained through the librarian reference desk for e-books.
We also have many books in the e-books program through the library.
Does the Accessibility Resources Program offer tutoring?
Yes. We have quite a few tutoring services for all students. Click here for tutoring information or call us at 493-3260.
