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Facilitating Accommodations

While there is no exhaustive list of accommodations, below please find a chart listing common accommodations that Faculty and/or Administrators may be responsible for facilitating and suggestions for facilitation.  Please note that the Accommodation Letter, presented to the Faculty/Administrator by the CDR student, indicates each specific accommodation the student qualifies for and the person(s) that are responsible for facilitating the accommodation.

All students registered with the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) are responsible for providing a copy of their current Accommodation Letter to each person who will be facilitating an accommodation. They are also responsible for discussing their accommodations with the facilitating individual and articulating which of their approved accommodations they will be using in that specific academic environment.

Any Faculty member or Administrator who has questions about how to facilitate an accommodation, or whether an approved accommodation would apply to their specific course or academic environment should contact the CDR as soon as possible.

Phone: 302.857.7042
Email: cdr [at] desu.edu

Volunteer Note-taker

  • Faculty can email all students, post an announcement on Blackboard Learn, or make an announcement in class.
  • If there is a specific student(s) who the faculty is aware of as a good note-taker, it is reasonable to reach out to that student(s) directly.  If they agree, they should be directed to the CDR
  • At no point should the student with a disability be identified.

 

Sample Class Announcement or Email textA student in class would benefit from having a note-taker. If you feel confident in your own note-taking and would like to volunteer to share a copy of your notes with a fellow student please contact the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) via email at cdr [at] desu.edu. Students who provide accurate and timely notes for the duration of a semester. Accommodation Language Facilitation will receive a Letter of Recommendation from CDR. Community Service Hours may also be available.

Access to PowerPoint or overhead slides before class begins

  • If PowerPoint or overhead slides are used, the student should be provided a copy before class begins. This could be done one minute before class starts or several days in advance as long as they are provided before class starts.

  • Slides can be sent to the student via email to the DSU email address, uploaded to BlackBoard Learn, or printed and provided in-person before class begins.

Ability to use laptop in class for note-taking purposes only

  • The student is responsible for bringing their own laptop to class.
  • The student should be allowed to use their laptop for note-taking purposes.  Anything other than note-taking is not permitted.
  • Any Professor who is concerned that a CDR Student is using this accommodation for other purposes besides note-taking should notify the CDR immediately.

Priority seating when possible (e.g., allow student to sit near the front)

  • The student must make every effort to arrive to class on time to procure a front row seat.
  • When those efforts are not effective the student must notify the Professor.
  • Professor could do the following to ensure student has a front row seat:
    • Place coat, briefcase, bag, etc. on a front row seat and remove it when student enters the room. 
    • Place a “reserved” sign on the seat before class begins.
    • Contact CDR for additional suggestions if Option 1 and 2 are not successful.

Ability to give individual presentations to a small group

Ability to give individual presentations to a small group (4-5 people) or one-on-one with the professor as long as doing so does not compromise the fundamental learning outcomes of the course or program.

  • The student is responsible for making proactive arrangements with their professor.
  • Accommodation does not apply to group presentations.
  • Professors with questions or concerns regarding the reasonableness of this accommodation for their specific class should contact the CDR for case-by-case consultation.

Testing Accommodations

Note: Exams can be proctored by the Professor/Department (or via Blackboard Learn if all other students are testing online).

Extended time (1.5x) for all timed tests and quizzes

Extended time (1.5x) on all timed exams and quizzes including pop-quizzes and timed online exams and quizzes.

  • This accommodation applies to all timed exams and quizzes including: mid-terms and final exams, exams/quizzes in BlackBoard, pop-quizzes, timed in-class exams/quizzes, exams/quizzes taken through 3rd party software (e.g. MyMath Lab, McGraw-Hill Connect, etc.).
  • The Professor can proctor the exam themselves or arrange for it to be proctored through their academic department.
    1. Appropriate locations when the student does not have Reduced Distraction Testing accommodations include: same classroom as all other students as long as it is available before/after the class is over, professor’s office (no phone or computer use) or room with significantly less people than the classroom setting (conference room, unused classroom).
    2. Appropriate locations when the student does have Reduced Distraction Testing accommodations include: professor’s office (no phone or computer use) or room with significantly less people than the classroom setting (conference room, unused classroom).
  • For Wilmington Campus Students being proctored by the Testing Center the professor or student should contact the Testing Center at 302.857.6141 a minimum of 3-4 days before the test date for information on scheduling exams with accommodations.  The professor must provide the exam BEFORE the testing date.
  • For assistance with Blackboard exams contact the Office of Distance and Learning Technology (ODELT) at ext. 7122 or blackboard [at] desu.edu .

 

Extended time (2.0x) on all timed exams and quizzes

Extended time (2.0x) on all timed exams and quizzes including pop-quizzes and timed online exams and quizzes.

  • This accommodation applies to all timed exams and quizzes including: mid-terms and final exams, exams/quizzes in Blackboard, pop-quizzes, timed in-class exams/quizzes, exams/quizzes taken through 3rd party software (e.g. MyMath Lab, McGraw-Hill Connect, etc.).

  • The Professor can proctor the exam themselves or arrange for it to be proctored through their academic department.

    1.  Appropriate locations when the student does not have Reduced Distraction Testing accommodations include: same classroom as all other students as long as it is available before/after the class is over, professor’s office (no phone or computer use) or room with significantly less people than the classroom setting (conference room, unused classroom).

    2. Appropriate locations when the student does have Reduced Distraction Testing accommodations include: professor’s office (no phone or computer use) or room with significantly less people than the classroom setting (conference room, unused classroom).

  • For Wilmington Campus Students being proctored by the Testing Center the professor or student should contact the Testing Center at 302.857.6141 a minimum of 3-4 days before the test date for information on scheduling exams with accommodations.  The professor must provide the exam BEFORE the testing date.

  • For assistance with Blackboard exams contact the Office of Distance and Learning Technology (ODELT) at ext. 7122 or blackboard [at] desu.edu.

Use of Microsoft Word (without internet access) for in-person essay and short answer exams and quizzes

  • Under supervision, student may use their own personal computer or a computer provided by the Department.

Use of adaptive technology on exams and quizzes

  • The specific technology will be listed on the Accommodation Letter.
  • If student has the technology on their person computer they may, under supervision, use that computer.
    • There are times when this will be necessary given the specific settings of certain adaptive programs like JAWS or Zoom-Text.

Scribe for hand-written or hand-typed in-person exams and quizzes

  • A scribe is someone who will write what the student dictates on the exam.
  • Scribes cannot correct grammar, re-word or revise questions, or edit student content.
  • The scribe is responsible for using appropriate punctuation (may ask student for clarification) and spelling.

Exams and quizzes in electronic format

  • The Exam should be provided in Word (.doc or .docx) format for student to test using adaptive technology on a computer. 
  • A flash drive can be used when proctoring to ensure the student is not able to save a copy of the exam if using their own computer.

Excused breaks during testing

Excused breaks during testing (maximum 10 minutes per hour) not to be taken from exam time.

  • For every hour allocated for testing, including any extended time accommodation, the student should be given an additional 10 minutes of break time.
    • E.g.: If a student has 2 hours to complete and exam they would be given an additional 20 minutes of time to take breaks.
  • Break time must be taken away from the exam and student must notify proctors when breaks are being used.
  • Break time cannot be added to actual test time.
  • If a student exceeds their amount of break time, any remaining time should be taken from the actual testing time.

Exemption from use of scantron sheets

  • The student should be allowed to circle the answers on the test or write their answers on a separate sheet of paper. In the event that the student responds on a separate sheet of paper, the paper is to be collected afterwards for integrity purposes.

Human reader for exams and quizzes

Human reader for exams and quizzes in the event that exam materials are not accessible with adaptive technology.

  • A reader is only permitted to read aloud the written material on the exam.
  • Readers are not permitted to: reword information, provide context clues, or simplify questions.
  • Readers should: ask students if they would like things read faster or slower, be open to re-reading information upon request.

Distraction reduced testing environment

  • This should be a room with fewer people and fewer distractions.

    • E.g.: conference room, office (no office phone or computer use), empty or mostly empty classroom where door can be closed, etc.

Distraction reduced testing environment: Private Room

  • This should be a private room with only the student and proctor (proctor may also observe through a door window).
    • E.g. conference room, office (no office phone or computer use), empty classroom where the door can be closed, space provided by TSP.

Use of a basic 4-function calculator during exams

Use of a basic 4-function calculator during exams as long as the learning requirements of that exam are not centered on the basic 4 math functions.

  • The student should not be permitted to use a calculator containing any additional functions outside of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing unless this advanced for of calculator is permitted for all students.
  • If an exam may contain some equations that only test on the 4 basic math functions and other equations that are more advanced the following is a suggested process:
    1. Provide all equations testing the 4 basic functions first.  Student should complete these without using their calculator.
    2. The student turns in the first set of completed equations to the proctor.
    3. The proctor provides student with their basic 4-function calculator and the second half of the exam questions (which test more advanced material).
    4. Once finished with section 2, student will turn in completed section to the proctor.
    5. If student has additional time left and would like to go over section 1, the calculator should be held by the proctor before section 1 is handed back to the student.

Use of formula card during exams and quizzes

Use of formula card during exams and quizzes as long as this does not fundamentally alter the learning outcomes of the course or program (all formulas must be approved by the Department before the exam).

  • Any/all formulas used must be approved by the Department to ensure that the fundamental learning outcomes of the course are not altered.
  • Students may request additional formulas however this is at the Department’s discretion.

Flexibility in attendance

Flexibility in attendance unless it fundamentally alters the learning outcomes of the course or program.

  • Applies to didactic learning environments (e.g.: lectures) but does not apply to experiential learning environments (e.g.: lab, studio, clinical).
  • The student is required to notify professor via email as soon as possible to inform them that absence is due to a flare in the condition.
  • Any questions or concerns should be directed to the CDR.

Homework will be submitted within 24 hours (1 business day)

Homework will be submitted within 24 hours (1 business day) when “flexibility in attendance” is used and when turning homework in electronically is not possible.

  • If an assignment can be submitted electronically, student is still expected to turn it in on the due date.
  • If an assignment cannot be turned in electronically, student should be given 1 business day to turn in the assignment without penalty.

Ability to retest within 48 hours (2 business days)

Ability to retest within 48 hours (2 business days) when the student uses “flexibility in attendance” on day of exam or quiz.

  • The student is responsible for making arrangements with the professor to reschedule the exam.
  • If a student misses the rescheduled date due to disability, they must provide a doctor’s note to the CDR for verification before being allowed to reschedule the same exam more than once.

Ability to give presentation within 48 hours (2 business days)

Ability to give presentation within 48 hours (2 business days) when student uses “flexibility in attendance” on originally scheduled day of the presentation.

  • Student is responsible for making arrangements with the professor to reschedule the presentation.
  • If a student misses the rescheduled date due to disability, they must provide a doctor’s note to the CDR for verification before being allowed to reschedule the same presentation more than once.
  • This may or may not be reasonable in a group presentation setting – contact CDR for case-by-case consultation.

Synopsis of and due dates for long-term assignments and projects

Synopsis of and due dates for long-term assignments and projects to be given to the student as far in advance of their associated start date as possible.

  • Any information regarding the timeline, rubric, or project overview, etc. that would be given to the class later in the semester should be given to the student as far in advance as possible.
  • Professors are not required to teach students in advance or provide information that would not be provided to any other student.

Reading materials in accessible format

If Professor or Administrator would be providing the student with additional paper reading materials not already available in the textbook or via online download, the student should be given a copy of the material in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.