Home > About > Administration > General Counsel > Center for Disability Resources > Students with Disabilities > Common Accommodations

Common Accommodations

All accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are based on appropriate medical documentation, their reasonableness within the context of the University, and an interactive discussion with the student during their meeting with a representative from the Center for Disability Resources. If you are a student registered with the CDR who has any of the accommodations listed below on your Accommodation Letter, please use this content as a reference. 

If you are a student registered with the Center for Disability Resources and you do not currently have the accommodation(s) listed below on your Accommodation Letter but feel you may qualify for them based on your disability, please contact the CDR to make an appointment. The CDR can be reached by phone at 302-857-6898 or email at cdr [at] desu.edu.

Testing Accommodations

Any student who would like to use the Testing Accommodations listed on their Accommodation Letter must follow the steps below.  Remember, approved testing accommodations listed on your Accommodation Letter can be provided by your Professor/Department (or through Testing Services and Programs if you are a Wilmington Campus student).

  1. Provide a current copy of your Accommodation Letter to your professor at least 5 business days in advance of the exam.  We recommend providing a copy of the Letter at the beginning of the semester when possible.
  2. If you would like to use testing accommodations on ALL exams and quizzes in the course – Explain to your professor that you want to use your testing accommodations on all exams and quizzes when first providing your Accommodation Letter.  Please ensure that you notify your professor at least at least 5 business days (1 calendar week) before your first exam or quiz.  From that point forward the accommodation should be in place for all remaining exams and quizzes in that class. 
    • Wilmington Campus Students proctored by the Testing Center 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. 
  3. If you will be choosing which exams and quizzes you do and do not want to use your testing accommodations on you must notify your professor at least 5 business days (1 calendar week) before the exam that you will need to use your testing accommodation on the upcoming exam/quiz.

Note: If the exam is being offered online for all students through Blackboard or a 3rd Party Site you must still notify your professor as outlined above and your accommodations will be put in place for the online exam.  You are not required to take an online exam in-person unless that is the requirements for all other students.

Back to Top

Scheduling exams with your Professor/Department

  1. Students must ask their professor the following questions at the beginning of the semester OR at least 5 business days before the exam/quiz:
    • Where would you like me to take my exam? (e.g. the classroom, professor’s office, empty classroom, conference room, etc.)
    • When would you like me to take my exam? (e.g. same time as the class, an alternate time)
  2. Professors must ensure that the location and time of the student’s exam meets their approved accommodations.
  3. Students must arrive on time to take their exam.  The exam time begins as scheduled and will not be adjusted for lateness.

Back to Top

Wilmington Students scheduling in-person exams in the Testing Center

  1. Students or their professor must contact the Testing Center at 302-857-6141, at least 3-4 business days in advance of the date of the exam to schedule a test. 
    • Multiple exams and quizzes for the same class can be scheduled at one time.
  2. Students are to take the exam on the same day and at the same time as the class, unless a reasonable time conflict exists, and their professor has approved an alternate day or time.
  3. Students must arrive at the Testing Center 15 minutes before their test time and bring with them a government issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport – NOT your University ID Card).
  4. Faculty (or their designee) must provide a copy of the exam by:
    • Delivering the exam in-person to the Testing Services and Programs Office at Kirkwood location.
    • Uploading the exam electronically using a process provided by the Testing Center.
  5. Faculty (or their designee) must pick up the completed exams from the TSP in-person or request that it be delivered via their secure FTP site.

Note: If the professor does not provide a copy of the exam or quiz in time for the student’s scheduled test, the faculty member will be responsible for ensuring the student’s testing accommodations are provided.

 

Back to Top      

Wilmington Campus Students Testing with the TSP:  What to expect upon arrival at the Testing Center:

A testing clerk is stationed at the front desk to assist you.

  1. Sign-in using their computer system by selecting “Walk-In” and “DSU Courtesy”.
  2. Testing process and regulations are listed on the table and check-in station. Copies are also available from the CDR.
  3. Place keys, phone, watch, hat, sunglasses, totes, backpacks, purses, handbags, and wallets in lockers.
    • Contents are secure and will be reopened in your presence by the certified test proctor.
    • Please keep your government issue ID out.
  4. Complete any required paperwork provided by the testing clerk.
  5. Wait for a test proctor in the waiting area to escort you down to the secure testing lab.
    • No tester is allowed in the testing room without a proctor escort.
    • All testers must go through a metal detector in order to test in the TSP.
    • If you have a testing accommodation related to the environment where you test, you will be taken to an appropriate location by a test proctor.

CONDUCT: Refusal or failure to comply with any of the steps above and/or any testing processes or regulations will result in you being removed from the TSP without completing your exam.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to schedule a “walk through” of the Testing Center with the TSP before the day of their first exam. The TSP Staff would be happy to go over the sign-in and testing process as well as provide a tour of the facility.     

Back to Top    

Volunteer Note-taker

Any student who would like to use the Volunteer Note-Taker Accommodation listed on their Accommodation Letter must do the following:

  1. Provide a current copy of your Accommodation Letter to your professor within a reasonable time before you need to use the accommodation.
  2. Explain to your professor that you would like to use the Volunteer Note-taker accommodation in their class.
  3. Professor will make an announcement in class, post an announcement in Blackboard, or send an email, not naming you, asking for a volunteer from the class to share their notes.
  4. If/When a note-taker comes forward, they will contact the CDR and we will reach out to you with the option to remain anonymous or to work directly with your note-taker.

NOTE:  Since the note-taker is a volunteer, the CDR cannot guarantee that a person will come forward. All students using their volunteer note-taker accommodation are encouraged to also use their audio recording and PowerPoint accommodations. In the event that a note-taker has not come forward, the student is already using the other two accommodations, and feels they may need additional note-related support, they are encouraged to contact the CDR.

Back to Top 

Reading Materials in Accessible Format

Any student who would like to use the Reading Materials in Accessible Format Accommodation listed on their Accommodation Letter must follow the process listed below.  Generally, books are provided in PDF format unless the student’s accommodation dictates a different electronic format.  It is important to note that Publishers are not yet legally required to provide electronic files.  That said, most major publishing companies do provide files in a timely manner.  However, timing and file availability cannot be guaranteed by the CDR.

Any student who feels the publisher is taking too long to provide an electronic file (or simply prefers an alternate method) always has the option of bringing their own book to the CDR for accessibility conversion.  The CDR will have the spine cut, PDF scan the text, and have the book spiral bound and returned to the student.  This process takes approximately 4-5 business days and is free of charge.

  1. Natural Reader is a FREE text-to-speech software that highlights and reads electronic text such as Word documents, PDF files, and websites aloud.  Students with the Reading Materials in Accessible Format Accommodation are encouraged to utilize Natural Reader or any other text-to-speech software program of their choice.
  2. Fill out the Alternate Format Book Request Form and click “submit.”
    • Students are encouraged to submit this form as soon as they know their book needs for the upcoming semester – even if the semester has not yet started.
    • Visit the DSU Bookstore website to find a list of your course textbooks
  3. Once received, SAS will process the Alternate Format Book Request Form and request PDF copies of the textbooks from the book publisher.
  4. Providing proof of purchase – the student must provide SAS with proof of purchase before any electronic/PDF book files can be provided.
    • Examples of proof of purchase could include: bookstore receipt, amazon or online book distributor receipt, credit card receipt showing book purchase.
  5. Options for receiving books in PDF/electronic format:
    • If/when the publisher file and student’s proof of book purchase is received by CDR the file will be sent using a download link. 

Back to Top

Audio Recording

Any student who would like to use the Ability to Audio Record Class Lectures Accommodation listed on their Accommodation Letter must do the following:

  1. Provide a current copy of your Accommodation Letter to your professor within a reasonable amount of time before you need to use the accommodation.
  2. Explain to your professor that you would like to use the Audio Recording accommodation in their class.

By using the approved Audio Recording Accommodation, a student acknowledges that they understand and will abide by the following:

  • Students are encouraged not to share audio recordings with fellow classmates or in any other fashion, including, but not limited to: email, social media, YouTube, streaming services, etc.
  • Any audio recording device must be turned off whenever all other students are not allowed to take notes.

Helpful Hints When Audio Recording

If taking notes by hand:

  • Consider using a smart phone, digital recorder, or Echo SmartPen (Live Scribe) when audio recording.
  • If using a digital recorder or smart phone, take note of the timestamp on the recording device anytime the professor changes topic, stresses something as being important, you feel you have missed information, the professor is going faster than you can write, etc.  Note the timestamp in the margin of your notes so that you can come back to that point in the recording to review the information after class.

If taking notes on a laptop:

  • Consider using a program like Microsoft OneNote that allows the user to audio record and type at the same time while automatically synchronizing the recording with the words being typed.
  • In OneNote, go to the “Insert” tab and select “Audio Recording”.  You will then see a “Recording” tab that will allow you to stop and start the recordings.

If taking notes during a live synchronous online course:

  • When notifying your professor that you will be using the accommodation, request that they record the entire class and provide you with a copy of the recording.
  • Use the same timestamp methods listed above.

Back to Top
 

Flexibility in Attendance

Any student who would like to use the “Flexibility in attendance unless it fundamentally alters the learning outcomes of the course or program” accommodation listed on their Accommodation Letter should understand that this accommodation applies to didactic learning environments (e.g. lecture style classes) but does not apply to experiential learning environments (e.g. lab, studio, field placement, or clinical style classes).

When using the Flexibility in Attendance Accommodation, students must do the following:

  1. Notify your professor via email no later than one (1) day after an absence when experiencing a flare of your condition that prevents you from attending class that day.
    • Example: “Dear Professor, I was not able to attend class today due to a flare of my condition and am using my Flexibility in Attendance accommodation. I will stay up-to-date with the syllabus. Please let me know if any new assignments were given in class today. Sincerely, …”
    • Students are encouraged to copy CDR (cdr [at] desu.edu) on these emails for records purposes.
  2. Stay current with academic content by reading the textbook, requesting a copy of class notes from a classmate, attending free tutoring offered through Integrated Academic Support Services.
  3. Turn in daily homework electronically the same day (if electronic submission is possible) or within 1 business day if the assignment can only be submitted in person.
  4. Reschedule any missed exam or quiz if you were absent on the day of testing due to a flare of your condition. 
    • To do this, email your professor no later than one (1) day after an absence when experiencing a flare of your condition that prevents you from attending class on the day of the exam/quiz (similar to step #1).
    • The exam should be rescheduled within 48 hours or two business days.

Back to Top