Types of Accommodations and Services
Testing accommodations may be provided to students who need more time on exams, assistance in reading or writing, a reduced-distraction environment or adaptive software and/or hardware. Tests are either administered in the OSD office or with accommodations provided by faculty.
Please schedule testing accommodations two business days prior to an exam. Please remember to sign in to the exam book at the OSD. Also, please remind your professor during the class before the exam that you will be taking it with extra time.
Online students with documented disabilities may be eligible for extra test time on tests and books in alternate formats.
If you find it difficult to take notes in class, OSD provides a peer note-taking system. Students who are allowed this accommodation may use a tablet or duplicate paper from OSD and may ask another student in class to share their notes. If you don’t know whom to ask, go to your professor for suggestions and guidance.
Students using this accommodation are usually allowed to record lectures and discussions. Additionally, many faculty post PowerPoint presentations and other materials online for further help.
OSD offers textbooks in alternate formats to students — including online students — who have disabilities affecting their ability to read print or physically handle textbooks. Students must purchase print copies of textbooks before receiving alternate formats. OSD can provide textbooks in electronic formats for most books. The student will need to use text-to-speech, screen-magnification or screen-reading software to read electronic texts.
Please request texts in alternate formats at least eight weeks before the start of the semester to ensure you receive them in time.
Braille books may be provided for math, foreign languages and other technical areas for which audio formats are not appropriate or adequate.
Please request Braille texts six months in advance of the semester when you will need them.
If you may need furniture and room accommodations, please use priority registration through OSD to ensure access to your classroom. As soon as you register, check your assigned classrooms to determine if the room and furniture will accommodate your disability. For instance, if you use a wheelchair, check the height of the tables or desks.
Contact OSD if a desk or chair needs to be added to the classroom. We will forward your request to Facility Services to provide appropriate accommodations.
OSD staff is available by appointment to assist with training on the use specific assistive technology. Adaptive equipment and various software available to students with disabilities include Dragon Naturally Speaking software, CCTVs, assistive listening devices, JAWS screen-reading software, ZoomText screen magnification software, and much more.
If you’re a deaf or hard-of-hearing student, please contact the Program for Deaf Adults in Room C-203 to obtain accommodations and services. Learn how you can receive accommodations.