Academic Accommodations Procedures

Testing Accommodations for Qualified Students with Disabilities

The process of determining reasonable and appropriate testing accommodations for students with disabilities is a collaborative one between Disability Resources (DR), faculty, and the student. DR is responsible for determining student eligibility for accommodations, recommending reasonable and appropriate accommodations for each class, and facilitating the approved accommodations in consultation with the student and faculty. It is the responsibility of faculty to determine the essential course requirements.

It is the responsibility of the student to prepare fully for examinations, inform faculty that certain individual accommodations are necessary, and request accommodations in a timely manner.

Note: Students with disabilities do not have to use the testing accommodations if they so desire, however, faculty do not have an obligation to provide a make-up test or retroactively accommodate a student who chooses not to use testing accommodations. Students have a responsibility to request exam accommodations in a timely manner, typically 7-10 business days.

Qualified Student Responsibilities

Meet with assigned DR professional staff member

1. Request testing accommodations
2. Complete a Accommodations Request Form (ARF) for each class testing accommodations are needed in
3. Sign and date the ARF

Notify each instructor as follows:

1. Meet with each instructor in a timely manner to review the ARF
2. Discuss implementing testing accommodations with each instructor (e.g. when extra time for exam will be given, where to take the exam)
3. Request the instructor sign the ARF and then return it to DR in 22 Strong Hall

If an academic aid (e.g., reader, scribe), auxiliary aid (e.g., Braille, large print) is required, or if DR needs to arrange a separate testing location complete a Request for Test Accommodations (RTA) form 7-10 days before the exam and turn it into DR.

Address any concerns about testing accommodations to DR professional staff in a timely manner.

DR Professional Staff Responsibilities

Meet with Student

Meet with each eligible student requesting testing accommodations and determine appropriate accommodations based on documented need and verify test format.

Complete and Sign the ARF

With the student, complete and sign the ARF authorizing testing accommodations and request that students meet with each instructor to discuss accommodations.

Upon submission of the RTA form, DR will arrange for the academic aid, auxiliary aid, or separate room location.

Faculty/Instructor Responsibilities

Discuss implementation of testing accommodations with each qualified student.

Discuss where and when student will take exam if alternate location is needed.

Consult with DR professional staff if questions arise concerning the requested accommodations

Provide DR with 7-10 days advance copy of the exam if it must be converted to alternate print (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape).

Note-Taking for Qualified Students with Disabilities

Students must provide required disability documentation to Disability Resources (DR) that clearly supports the need for note-taking accommodations. Notetakers are solicited, in class, on a volunteer basis. If a student is dissatisfied with notes for any reason, the notetaker will be terminated and a new notetaker found. If the student receiving notes withdraws from a class, he or she must inform the notetaker and DR in writing within 24 hours. If the student terminates the notetaker, he or she must submit the reason for termination in writing to his/her DR professional staff.

Note: Students must attend class to obtain notes

Qualified Student Responsibilities

1. Meet with Professional Staff

Meet with assigned DR professional staff to request note taking and complete the ARF

2. Review Note Taking Procedures

Review note taking procedures with DR professional staff and pick up No Carbon Paper (NCR) and Note taking Instructors for each instructor.

3. Meet with your Instructor

Meet with faculty/instructor to discuss note taking accommodations in a timely manner. Ask the instructor for assistance in selection of the most qualified note taker from the students who volunteer. Select a primary note taker. If no one volunteers to take notes, contact DR immediately. Inquire if instructor has adequate notes that can be shared.

4. Attend class

Faculty/Instructor Responsibilities

1. Discuss note taking accommodation request with student
2. If necessary, clarify procedures with DR
3. Read the in-class announcement requesting a volunteer note taker
4. When asked, review the quality and content of notes and recommend the most qualified note taker.

Primary Notetaker Responsibilities

1. Provide clear and concise notes for the student
2. Supply copies of notes when requested by the student or instructor
3. Notify the student and DR immediately if dropping the course so that another notetaker can be identified.
4. Pick up letter of commendation for serving as a notetaker and the end of the course.

Alternative Print Policy and Procedures

Disability Resources DR at The University of Kansas will provide alternative print for required course readings to qualified students with disabilities. Textbook/print conversion is a time-intensive process and can require up to three months (e.g., math or science texts) to complete. To ensure the availability of these accommodations from the first day of class, students must provide qualifying disability documentation, meet the accommodation request deadlines, and follow specified procedures.

Policy

DR will convert materials to alternative formats for in-class required readings only.

Students are required to provide the books/materials (and a receipt for them) that are to be converted to alternative formats due to copyright laws; DR will provide a verification receipt of materials delivered for text conversion.

DR does not produce alternative print materials that are already available in the needed format at other sources (e.g., RFBD, internet public libraries).

Students are responsible for obtaining their own play back equipment (e.g., 4-track tape player, MP3 player) after the first semester.

Material that needs to be converted to e-text requires the removal of bookbindings and thus reduces or eliminates the potential for book resale at the end of the semester.

Disability Resources can Braille and edit books with plain text when the material to be Brailed is submitted at least 8 weeks in advance of when it is needed. Short items, such as syllabi and announcements, can be Brailed within 2 weeks of submission. Text with special features, such as music or math, must be sent to another facility, and can take 3 to 4 months to receive in Brailed form. It is crucial that Disability Resources have sufficient advance time for transcribing material into Braille, so students should notify this office the semester before the material is needed to ensure that their material is prepared for the upcoming semester.

Procedure

Meet with Coordinator

Students should meet with their DR coordinator to discuss eligibility for alternative formats. Students will be provided an orientation to the policies and procedures of requesting and using alternative formats. Students will be required to sign a Student Responsibility Agreement that verifies that it is the student's responsibility to bring the books to the DR office and that materials must be delivered to the Academic Aides Coordinator at least six (6) weeks in advance.

Obtain List of Textbooks

Obtain a list of textbooks you will need for each course in which you have enrolled. If DR needs to convert the textbook, students must provide all required readings to the Academic Aides Coordinator six (6) weeks before the semester begins. The list of required books can be obtained in multiple ways (see “How to obtain Your Reading List and Books” below).

Check with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic

Check with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic RFBD for availability. Students can search RFBD's on-line catalogue at View Catalogue. For each book requested you need: author's full name, complete title of the text, edition number, and copyright year.

If books are not available from RFBD, students need to fill out an Alternative Print Request Form and bring the textbooks with a copy of the receipt to the DR office for the conversion process at least six (6) weeks before the first day of class.

Disability Resources cannot guarantee availability of alternate formats by the time classes begin unless the deadline is met. Orders for materials in alternate formats will be completed on a first-come, first served basis once the deadline has passed. Students who miss the deadline will need to provide DR with a copy of each syllabus with reading due dates once they become available. Note: Alternative format materials are provided commensurate with the class reading list or syllabus until RFBD recordings arrive or if RFBD does not have the text available on tape.

Acquire Appropriate Equipment

Acquire appropriate equipment (e.g., four-track tape players, MP3 players) as necessary. Equipment is available for loan from DR in limited numbers, on a first come, first served basis. Students must provide their own equipment or make other arrangements to access their converted texts after their first semester.

Return Books

At the end of the semester all books obtained from RFBD through DR's institutional membership and any borrowed equipment must be returned. A hold will be placed on a student's record should any material not be returned to DR.

Student Resources/Using the Libraries

The University provides assistive technology that students can use themselves in order to access text materials. Flatbed scanners, conversion software, and screen readers (JAWS and Open Book) are available in Watson Library, Anschutz Library, and in computer labs in Budig and the Kansas Union. Voice-to-text software and hardware are available in the Joseph R. Pearson Learning Resource Center. A CCTV for enlarging print is available in Watson Library.

Information on using the libraries is available on the Libraries' website:Services for People with Disabilities Students doing library research should consult with library and DR staff regarding use of the Libraries' "Hawk Help" and "Web Retrieve" services. DR staff will assist students with making Web Retrieve requests for journal articles and chapters from books so that students can access that text from home. When necessary, DR can retrieve and edit text digitized by the library and send it to the student.

Another resource for students who need to obtain books and have either a computer or MP3 player is to try Audible.com. This is a web site where individuals can purchase books already convered to audio files such as MP3 files. Point your browser to: Audible.com

Students who want to order alternative print (4-track tapes or CD's) from RFBD in the first semester of their enrollment at the University of Kansas may use our institutional membership and DR will order any available materials. DR will also loan playback equipment for one semester as long as our limited supply lasts. During the first semester, students will need to secure their own membership to RFBD, and purchase their own player. DR will assist any person in this process, and also pay for the membership fees.

How to Obtain Your Reading List and Books

Contact the course instructors to obtain a copy of the syllabus or a list of required reading either in-person, by phone, or email. If the instructor is unavailable, call the academic department and inquire if they have the syllabus or reading list for your class.

Contact the KU Bookstore at the Memorial Union. You can search for your books on line at KU Bookstore; you will need to provide the course number and instructor. If your books are available, you may purchase them on-line and have them shipped to DR or to your home address. You may also contact the Jayhawk Bookstore 785.843.3826 or the University Book Shop 785.749.5206. Books are also available from Internet sources such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half.com.

If you are still unsuccessful, contact your DR Coordinator immediately.