Disability Services Resource Guide

Accessing Disability Resources for Students at Carnegie Mellon Accommodations and Service Staff & Student Guidelines for Proctoring Exams Campus Resources Contact Information

Accommodations and Services Accommodations Accessing Accommodations Requesting Accommodations Accommodation Memorandum Accommodation Plan Temporary Accommodations Temporary Disabilities Proctoring Exams Obtaining Books in Alternate Formats Interpreter Requests Emergency Waiting Areas Service Animal Guidelines Accommodations An accommodation is a modification or adjustment that is "reasonable" if it "seems reasonable on its face, i.e., ordinarily or in the run of cases;" this means it is "reasonable" if it appears to be "feasible" or "plausible." An accommodation also must be effective in meeting the needs of the individual. An accommodation shall take those steps that may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless the public accommodation can demonstrate that taking those steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations being offered or would result in an undue burden, i.e., significant difficulty or expense. Accessing Accommodations To access services/accommodations, individuals must first refer themselves to the EOS, Disability Resources office and provide adequate documentation of the disability. The first step in this process is to complete and return the Voluntary Disclosure of a Disability Form. However, you may identify as having a disability at any time. The documentation must come from an outside source. Please note the EOS does not initiate accommodations without a specific written request from an individual with a disability. Then every semester individuals must schedule a meeting with EOS, Disability Resources. The actual meeting can be in person, by phone or electronic medium. First semester freshman must meet in person. During this meeting accommodations will be reviewed for the purpose of confirming that the accommodations are still applicable or if there are needed additional accommodations and completing any necessary revisions. The new accommodation memorandum will be signed off by the student and initialed by EOS, Disability Resources. Student Voluntary Disclosure of a Disability Form Requesting Accommodations Requesting accommodations is determined on a case by case basis. For classroom accommodations such as extended-time testing or a distraction-reduced environment, requests for exam accommodations must be submitted sufficiently early so that appropriate arrangements can be made. These arrangements often involve finding rooms, arranging proctors, etc. and so cannot be done at the last minute. Therefore, students making requests for special accommodations for exams (e.g., extra time, quiet room) should do so in the following time frames: 1 week prior to the date an in-semester examination is given prior to the last day to drop a course for a request involving a final examination Accommodations not requested within the above time frames may not be provided. For alternative text format, interpreters, etc., a month's notice is appropriate. Accommodation Memorandum  The accommodation memorandum is a document that lists specific student accommodations. The accommodation memorandum is the tool students use to notify instructors as to the need for accommodations and request the accommodations. It is the students’ responsibility to share this document with each instructor that the student plans to request accommodations from. Of course, the process of deciding upon reasonable academic accommodation is an interactive process between the faculty member and the individual requesting the accommodation. Every semester individuals must schedule a meeting with EOS, Disability Resources for a new memorandum. During this meeting accommodations will be reviewed for the purpose of confirming that the accommodations are still applicable or if there are needed additional accommodations and completing any necessary revisions. Accommodation Memorandum Sample Accommodation Plan The Individualized Accommodation Plan details specific physical and learning issues. Generally a copy is given to the individual to share the information in the plan with the campus community as the individual sees fit. The purpose of the accommodation plan to provide a starting place for discussion of disability as it relates to accommodations. Disability Resources may also share the Accommodation Plan with members of the campus community on a need to know basis. Student Individual Accommodation Plan Temporary Accommodations  Individuals who suspect they may have a disability may be eligible for temporary accommodations. Individuals must discuss their concerns with EOS, Disability Resources. A learning history questionnaire may be completed. If at this point it is determined that there are grounds for a suspected disability, the individual will be given a list of providers who, for a fee, will complete an evaluation to determine if a disability exists, the degree of disability, possible plans for remediation and/or accommodations. If a “good faith effort” is made on the part of the individual to secure documentation, temporary “prudent man” accommodations will be put in place for a semester or approximate period of time. At the end of that time, if the individual does not produce documentation that justifies accommodations, the accommodation(s) may be void. Temporary Disabilities Individuals who have a short term condition that substantially limits their ability to achieve day to day work at the university may be considered for assistance via EOS. If you believe you are in need of services because of a short term condition that is substantially limiting contact Larry Powell at (412) 268-2013 or lpowell@andrew.cmu.edu. Verification of a Temporary Disability Form Proctoring Exams The most appropriate environment for testing accommodations is the actual classroom. When this is not possible EOS can make arrangements for proctoring exams. Requests for Proctored Exams should be submitted a minimum of one week in advance to be assured of this service (or prior to the last day to drop a course for a request involving a final examination). The first step in requesting a proctored exam is to complete and submit a Proctored Exam Request Form to: Equal Opportunity Services - Disability Resources lpowell@andrew.cmu.edu or cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu 102 Whitfield Hall, 143 N. Craig Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213 However, given time and coordination issues an electronic response is the preferred method. As soon as Disability Resources receives the Proctored Exam Request Form we will contact you to discuss the details of your request. Staff and Student Guidelines for Proctoring Exams Proctored Exam Request Form Obtaining Books in Alternate Formats Eligible students may wish to order their textbooks on tape from a national reading service, such as Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD).  Disability Resources is available to guide students in obtaining membership if needed. Eligible students may wish to have their textbooks provided to them in e-text format.  Contact EOS, Disability Resources to discuss how to facilitate this service. Larry Powell, EOS Manager, (412) 268-2013, lpowell@andrew.cmu.edu Courtney Bryant, EOS Admin Coordinator, (412) 268-2012, cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu When using electronic text to speech some points to remember: We are new at this so please bring concerns to our attention ASAP. You should never just listen to the text. It is strongly recommended you visually follow along with the textbook as you listen to the text. Orientation of that electronic page is not important, the speech to text program should always start at the appropriate place. Our expectation is that the electronic text is 95%-100% accurate. The document has had limited review and has not been spell checked. Again, we are new at this so please bring concerns to our attention ASAP. Electronic texts sent to you are authorized for your use and your use only. Please let me know if have questions or concerns. Alternative Format Request Form Interpreter Requests   To be provided interpreter services, you must complete and submit an Interpreter Request Form. Interpreter Requests should be submitted a minimum of thirty working days in advance to be assured of this service. Interpreter Request Forms should be submitted to: lpowell@ andrew.cmu.edu or cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu. You could also submit a h ard copy of the Interpreter Request Form to Equal Opportunity Services - Disability Resources, 102 Whitfield Hall, 143 N. Craig Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213 However, given time and coordination issues an electronic response is the preferred method. As soon as Disability Resources receives the Interpreter Request Form we will contact you to discuss the det ails of your request. Interpreter Request Form Interpreter Service Evaluation Emergency Waiting Areas If you have a disability that prevents you from evacuating a building in an emergency you should inform Equal Opportunity Services, Disability Resources. In coordination with Environmental Health and Safety, Campus Police and Health Services, a plan will be put in place to assist you in the event of an emergency. You will be notified of the plan once it is in place. The first step in the plan is the most critical step. You must inform Equal Opportunity Services, Disability Resources that you need to be on the Emergency Waiting Area list. Please contact: Equal Opportunity Services - Disability Resources Larry Powell, EOS Manager, (412) 268-2013, lpowell@andrew.cmu.edu Courtney Bryant, EOS Admin Coord, (412) 268-2012, cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu 102 Whitfield Hall, 143 N. Craig Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213 Service Animal Guidelines In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( ADA), service animals are permitted in university facilities. Technically speaking, a service animal means any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing, providing minimal rescue or protection work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items. Therapy or companion animals are not service animals and are not covered under the ADA. To work on campus, a service animal must be specifically trained to perform a service function. Furthermore, the animal should wear a harness, cape, identification tag or other gear that readily identifies its working status. Service animals whose behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others may be excluded regardless of training or certification.