St. John Fisher College: Accommodations : Undergrad Advising Handbook

Disability Services Accommodations

Accommodations are intended to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in the College’s educational programs and activities. The provision of accommodations is based on requirements of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and as supported by appropriate documentation submitted by the student.

Housing Accommodations

If you have a disability that may require a housing accommodation, you must complete the Disability Services Request Card and be prepared to provide appropriate medical documentation. The final determination for providing appropriate and reasonable accommodations rests with the College. This information is due in the Office of Academic Affairs no later than six weeks before the start of the semester in which you are enrolling.

Handicap Parking

In accordance with New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws, handicap spaces are reserved for those vehicles displaying authorized handicap parking permits or license plates. Please note that the Safety and Security Department does not issue nor is authorized to issue temporary handicap parking permits. Contact the Safety and Security Department (585-385-8325) with questions.

Academic Accommodations

At St. John Fisher College, academic accommodations are provided by students under the supervision of the Coordinator of Disability Services. Typical accommodations include:

Assistive listening systems
Audio textbooks
Alternate location/extended time for tests
Accessible classroom location
Peer note taker
Reader
Scribe
Permission to tape record class lectures

Students with disabilities must fulfill the same course requirements as all other students. Unlike high school, there are no resource room or special education classes at the College. Students with disabilities are expected to utilize existing campus programs and services (Writing Center, Math Center, and Peer Tutoring Program) to assist them in areas of difficulty.

Eligibility for Academic Accommodations

Upon receipt of the student’s documentation, the Coordinator prepares an Academic Accommodation Verification form which outlines the accommodations that are supported by the documentation.

Eligible students who wish to use academic accommodations must pickup the Verification form and meet with their faculty each semester. Students are instructed to evaluate their needs on a course-by-course and semester-by-semester basis in deciding when to use the accommodations. The process is intended to encourage students to recognize the importance of self-advocacy and to insure the faculty that the accommodations are supported by the appropriate documentation. Having a signed Verification form on file in OAA implies that the student and faculty have discussed the accommodation plan and therefore entitles the student to use the accommodations for that semester. Test accommodations will not be provided unless the signed form is on file for each semester.

Students are instructed to:

pick up the Accommodation Verification Form each semester in the OAA within the first two weeks of classes
meet with the faculty to discuss the impact of the accommodation plan on the course requirements, to review a plan for test accommodations and to obtain the faculty signature on the Verification Form
return the signed Verification Form to the Office of Academic Affairs
notify OAA of any changes to the class schedule

Faculty are asked to:

read and sign the Accommodation Verification form (.PDF).
read and save the Procedures for Testing Accommodations (.PDF) .

Test Services

Extended Test Time/Alternate Location

At the college level, extended time is generally defined as 1.5 X the standard test time. Students whose documentation supports extended time/alternate location, and who have written approval from their faculty (signed Verification Form), may take their tests/exams under proctor supervision in the library.

Faculty have the option to provide the required test accommodation, as outlined on the signed Verification Form, independent of OAA. The student is still responsible for returning the signed Verification form to OAA each semester.

Readers

Students with documented disabilities may be provided with a person to read tests or exams, as necessary. The proctor will read the questions aloud and may repeat a question if requested. The reader may not coach the student toward an answer.

Process for taking a test through the Office of Academic Affairs:

Student:

Completes a Service Request Form (.PDF) in OAA. Request should be completed as soon as the test date is known, at least 4 business days prior to the test date.
Delivers the test envelope with attached yellow copy of the Service Request Form to the faculty.
Is responsible for checking their email for confirmation of the test arrangements--day/date/time/test location/proctor's name.
Is responsible for promptly notifying OAA by phone and email, of any changes to the arrangements, such as postponement, cancellation, etc.

Faculty:

Completes the Instructor section of the yellow Service Request Form to indicate instructions for the test and location where the test should be returned.
Delivers the test envelope to the test location at least 24 hours in advance of the test day/time as indicated on the form. Most tests are administered in the library and the delivery site is the Library Circulation Desk. Some tests are administered in the Office of Academic Affairs, Kearney 202. Since all tests are held in a locked file until the designated date, faculty may deliver the test, at their convenience, prior to the designated date.
Is asked to check SJFC e-mail regularly to be aware of final test arrangements and to contact OAA with questions or concerns.
Is asked to provide OAA with alternate contact information if SJFC contact information (e-mail/phone/address) is not the best way to reach them.

Note Taker Services

A student with supporting documentation is eligible to receive copies of another student's class notes. The service is generally provided for students with hearing or vision impairments, as well as for those with some types of physical or learning disability. The notes are not intended as a replacement for class attendance and the service will be cancelled if the student is not attending class regularly .

Students receiving notes are:

Expected to attend class regularly and to pick up notes from their folder in the library, at least once a week.
Asked to communicate with the note taker to insure that they are regularly receiving the notes in a legible and useful format.
Asked to inform the Coordinator of issues related to the service and if/when the service is no longer needed.

Notetakers are students who are enrolled in the same course(s)/section(s) and who meet designated qualifications, including a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Audio Textbooks

Students who need an audio format of textbooks should apply to the Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD) www.rfbd.org and, if applicable, to the New York State Library for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH). There is a modest fee for services from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. It is the student’s responsibility to request these services as early as possible so texts may be available in time for each semester. Audio textbooks may be obtained directly from the publisher. Contact the Coordinator of Disability Services for additional information.

Word Processor/Adaptive Technology Workstation

St. John Fisher College has an Adaptive Technology PC Workstation in the library for use by students with disabilities. The system has Dragon Naturally Speaking – voice recognition application; Zoomtext – large screen magnification program designed specifically for individuals with visual impairment; and Kurzweil 3000 – scanning software that provides audio feedback and visual cues. Students who wish to use the workstation are required to schedule a training session with the Library’s Media Technician.