Accommodations Available
Some accommodations available to students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing include but are not limited to:
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INTERPRETING SERVICES
Sign Language interpreters are available to students who use Sign Language as their primary mode of communication. The intepreters strive to match your
signing style; however, if you have a preferred style (example: more English-like signing or more ASL-like signing), please tell the Coordinator and your interpreter.
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ASSISTANCE WITH NOTETAKING
Because of the demanding nature of visual communication, assistance with notetaking is available to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The type of assistance provided depends on student request, supporting documentation, and demands of individual classes. Types of notetaking assistance:
- Peer—copies of peer notes are provided to the requesting student.
- Written—a paid notetaker attends class with the requesting student and takes detailed notes during the lecture.
- Electronic—a paid notetaker attends class with the requesting student and types a detailed summary of class lecture and activities.
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ACCESS TO AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS
The Access Office works with professors to ensure that whenever possible, captioned videos are shown in classes that are attended by students who are deaf or hard of hearing. If a captioned copy of the video is not available, the Access Office will work together with the professor to provide a script of the video.
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COPIES OF OVERHEADS/POWERPOINT SLIDES
Copies of overheads or PowerPoint slides used during lectures can be provided for D/HoH students.
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PREFERENTIAL SEATING
Depending on their documentation, students who are deaf or hard of hearing may need to sit closer to the front or on one particular side of the classroom. These students can speak to their professors individually, or they may be eligible for preferential seating as a formal accommodation through our office.
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EXTENDED TESTING TIME
Extending testing time may be appropriate for students who are D/HoH if English is not their first language. How much extra time is given depends on documentation.
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PRIVATE TESTING SPACE
Because students who are D/HoH are often more visually sensitive and may be distracted when taking their tests in the classroom, these students may be eligible to take their tests in a reduced-distraction testing environment, such as the Access Office testing lab.
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EQUIPMENT LOAN
With supporting documentation, students who are deaf or hard of hearing can borrow FM Systems or Alarms/bed shakers (only for students residing on-campus in residence halls that do not have visual alterting systems) from the Access Office.
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OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS/RESOURCES
Regents’ Testing Accommodations
Accommodations on the Regents’ Exam are decided on a case by case basis and may include any of the following: extended testing time, private testing space, use of dictionary/electronic dictionary for entirety of exam, sign language interpreter (for directions only).
Priority Registration
In order to facilitate scheduling, students receiving interpreting and/or notetaking services are eligible for priority registration. After being advised, complete a Priority Registration form and submit it to the Access Office before regular registration begins each semester.
Video Phone
We value direct communication whenever possible. The Coordinator for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services and the Staff Interpreter both have Video Phones in their offices. There is also a video phone in the Access Office conference room for occasional student use, and another in the Library Adaptive Technology Lab (first floor, see information desk for room access).
- Coordinator: (229) 245-2498
- Staff Interpreter: (229) 245-3789
Other
Other accommodations may be appropriate depending on documentation submitted. Please meet with the Coordinator for information on the accommodations for which you are eligible.