Student/Faculty Handbook

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES POLICIES AND SERVICES

Adaptive Computer Technology/High Tech Center Access

If you have been found to be eligible for adaptive computer assistance through Student Support Services, youre entitled to utilize our High Tech Center located in the SSS building. There you will have access to state of the art computer equipment and software. The following is a list of just a few of the programs we have to offer:

Kurzweil
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Spanish Dragon Naturally Speaking
PDF Magic Pro
Acrobat Reader
Ultimate Talking Dictionary
Adobe Reader

Once you receive your accommodations card, you must:

Make an appointment with Jack Gallon, hes the High Tech Access Specialist (His office is located in the Student Support Services building) to determine the software appropriate for your needs.
Schedule appropriate number of training sessions to ensure full understanding and use of the assistive technology.
Utilize assistive/adaptive technology available in campus labs once program/technology has been mastered.

Alternate Format Materials

Alternate format materials for all college publications may be available upon request.

Requests for academic materials should be made at the beginning of each semester or as soon as the student is aware of the need.

Examples of materials that may be enlarged, tape-recorded, or brailed include but are not limited to:

Class syllabi
Class handouts
Examinations

Time needed to translate materials to alternate format will vary according to length, style and layout of materials, so students should plan accordingly. Additional time will be needed when materials are contracted out; i.e. sent to the print shop.

Books-On-Tape

If books-on-tape is a recommended accommodation, you must:

Immediately after registering for classes, contact the bookstore or professors to arrange a list of required textbooks needed for each class. If there is not a professor listed in the class schedule, contact the academic department to find out who will be teaching the course.
Come to Student Support Services building and ask for a "Books on Tape Request Form". Once this form is completed you can schedule an appointment with our High Tech Lab Assistant.
Bring your completed request form, accommodations card and your class schedule to this appointment.

Dont wait until the last minute! It can take up to 4-6 weeks to receive some books.

Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic phone number 1-800-221-4792 Web site http://www.rfbd.org/

Equipment Loans

If you are in need of equipment (i.e. tape-recorder, calculator, spell-checker, wheelchairs, etc.), you must:

Fill out an Equipment Check-Out Request Form available in the Learning Resource Center.
Supply your own batteries and/or tapes for equipment that require them.
Return the equipment to the Learning Resource Center by the date noted on the checkout form (usually the last day of the semester).
Holds will be placed on a student's records, transcripts, financial aid, etc., if equipment is not returned by due date.

Note Taking Assistance

In order to obtain a note taker for a class, you must:

Obtain an Accommodations Card from the Student Support Services office stating that a note taker is an approved accommodation.
Obtain NCR paper from the Student Support Services office.
Student should meet with professor during office hours in order to explain need for note taker.
Give the volunteer note taker the two-part NCR paper.

Note: If you are not comfortable approaching a professor, please contact the Student Support Services office for assistance. Also, due to the expense of NCR paper, all unused paper must be returned to Student Support Services at the end of the semester.

Priority Registration & Assistance

If you have been found to be eligible for services through Student Support Services, you are entitled to have priority when enrolling for classes. This way youre insured to get into the classes you need. We also offer assistance with the registration process if needed.

Sign Language Interpreters

Role of Interpreter

The interpreter is expected to know and follow the Code of Ethics as outlined by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Questions from the student should always be directed to the instructor and conversely, questions from the instructor should always be directed to the student. The interpreter is to transmit the questions and not answer the questions. The interpreter is not to advise the student on academic situations, only to facilitate communication. Interpreters will refer the student to the Student Support Services office for assistance if problems arise. Also, should the interpreter be unable to facilitate communication due to lack of experience, skill level, or uncomfortable ness, it should be reported to Student Support Services as soon as possible.

For students who require interpreters:

Meet with Support Services Specialist to determine interpreter needs for classes.

Provide course schedule for each semester during pre-registration, if possible, and a confirmed class schedule as soon as possible.
It is up to the student to contact Student Support Services regarding adds/drops and other schedule changes as soon as possible to avoid delays obtaining interpreters.
Student Support Services will contact interpreters and match both student and interpreter schedules to arrange assignments.
Students, interpreters, and Student Support Services staff should meet prior to the beginning of each semester to discuss any necessary adjustments.
Students and interpreters should notify Student Support Services as required in case of missed classes or absences.

Refer to Interpreter Services section for a detailed description of policies, procedures and code of ethics.

Test Taking Accommodations/Extended Time

In order to receive accommodations on tests administered by the Learning Resource Center (LRC), all students must:

Obtain an Accommodation Card from Student Support Services.
Meet with professors during their office hours to discuss accommodations. Plan to do this as early in the semester as possible. Explain the effects of your disability on taking examinations and how the accommodations for which you are approved help to equalize your ability to take examinations.
Obtain from your professors all examination dates for the semester. Often these are listed on the course syllabus. If professors are unable to identify the examination schedule, explain to them that Learning Resource Center (LRC) requires one-week advance notice before taking an exam.
Determine the date and the beginning and ending time of your accommodated exam. Testing hours are set by the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Students are expected to adhere to their scheduled, accommodated exam beginning and ending time, as these times are set.
Clarify exam conditions with your instructor, such as whether or not the exam will be open book, calculator allowed, etc. If the special condition is not marked on your Accommodation Card, you will not be able to take it into the testing room with you.
Clarify exam pickup and delivery instructions.
Contact the professor and the Learning Resource Center (LRC) to reschedule an exam if an emergency warrants the postponement of an exam. The professor must approve all changes.

Tutorial Assistance

Student Support Services does not duplicate services that already exist on campus; therefore, we do not have tutoring specifically for students with disabilities. There are a number of tutoring services on campus, and Student Support Services will provide you with a list of available tutoring, locations, and hours upon request.

Responsibilities of Students

Identify him/herself to Student Support Services and provide or obtain professional verification of his/her disability. A professionally verified disability is a condition:
... certified by a licensed physician, psychologist, audiologist, speech pathologist, registered nurse, social worker, rehabilitation counselor, physical therapist, corrective therapist, learning disability specialist, or other appropriate professional.
Meet with the Coordinator and consult with the Support Services Specialist, if necessary, to arrange specific accommodations that will be needed while enrolled in courses at Taft College.
If a learning disability is present, current testing and evaluation results must be provided and a meeting scheduled with the LD Specialist to evaluate documentation and determine eligibility for services and specific accommodations.
Present a list of approved accommodations, as specified by Student Support Services, to the faculty member(s) in whose class(es) accommodations or support services will be provided.
Notify the Student Support Services office when classroom accommodations are needed. This includes the need for adaptive furniture and/or accessible locations.
Notify the Support Services Specialist of interpreter-needs prior to the start of each semester.
Abide by departmental, school, and College policies and academic regulations, as all students are expected to do.

Responsibilities of Faculty

Work with Student Support Services in providing authorized accommodations and/or support services for the student in a fair and timely manner.
Consult with a representative of Student Support Services if there is any question regarding how to implement the authorized accommodations for a student with a disability.
Provide information indicating faculty is supportive of students with disability.
Make referrals to Student Support Services when appropriate.
Encourage students to self-identify by creating an educational environment that is inclusive of students with disabilities.
Develop, maintain and share an awareness of the variety of disabilities through continued education.

Responsibilities of Academic Administrators

Make available to each division faculty member copies of the Taft College policy regarding academic accommodations for students with disabilities.
Provide any necessary support to the faculty member who is charged with making the accommodations.
When an authorized accommodation is challenged, the division chair or responsible administrator will ensure that the accommodation is provided until the matter has been formally reviewed and resolved.
Ensure that the faculty and staff within their divisions understand Taft College's commitment to implementing law and policy assuring nondiscrimination on the basis of disability.