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Academic support services are designed to assist students in gaining equitable access to course material, activities and evaluations. Eligibility is based on the Needs Assessment conducted by the Director or Learning Disabilities Specialist during the student's Intake with Services for Students with Disabilities. The most commonly utilized academic support services are note taking, reader or text conversion services, sign language interpreter services, and exam scribing for students whose needs cannot be met through the use of adaptive computer technology. Following are policies and procedures for requesting these services. Note takers: SSD Policy Regarding Student Use of Note taker services Note taker services for Binghamton University students with disabilities are administered through the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office. B.U. students with disabilities that significantly interfere with their ability to take notes in class are eligible to apply for note taking assistance. Comprehensive documentation from a professional, licensed or certified to diagnose and treat the specific disability, is required. Students desiring note taker assistance through SSD are expected to take an active role in the arrangement and management of their services. Refer to "Procedures for Accessing Note Taker Services through SSD" for application and utilization instructions. Procedures for Accessing Note-taker Services Through Services for Students with Disabilities Students with current authorizations to use SSD Note-taker Services must follow the procedures listed below in order to access such services: . 1. Complete and return the "goldenrod" Note-taker Request Form to SSD as soon as you know the courses for which you will need this support service.
2. Notetaker Employment Announcements will be printed and provided to you for each class in which you need a Notetaker. 3. Take the announcement to class and ask the professor to read it aloud at the beginning of the class. 4. Pick up the announcement before leaving class and begin to contact those students who signed up as being interested in notetaking. Use the list of "Interview Tips" and the "Notetaker Responsibilities" document while talking with prospective notetakers. Notetakers should be of sophomore status and have a 3.0 gpa. 5. Once you've selected the notetakers you would like to hire, contact Carol Hall immediately by email. Provide her with the name, email address and telephone number of the student you have selected for each class. Carol Hall will contact the notetaker about making an appointment with her to complete payroll materials. 6. Review the "Consumer Responsibilities" document, and be sure to sign the bi-weekly blue student timesheets. FAILURE TO PICK UP CLASS NOTES IN A TIMELY MANNER INDICATES YOU ARE NOT DEPENDENT UPON THIS SERVICE. YOUR NEED FOR NOTETAKERS MAY BE RE-EVALUATED BY THE DIRECTOR. 7. If you encounter difficulty in the Notetaker recruitment or selection process, contact Carol Hall at X72686 or chall@binghamton.edu for advice or assistance. Texts in Alternate Format: Policy and Procedures Policy and Procedures for Requesting Books In Alternate Format Through Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Binghamton University students, whose disabilities interfere with their ability to effectively utilize standard print materials, may request assistance from SSD in obtaining their academic readings in alternate format. Comprehensive disability documentation from a professional licensed or certified to diagnose and treat the individual's disability(ies) is required. Possible alternate formats include:
If you have been authorized by your Intake Counselor to utilize this service, SSD will contact you 6 - 8 weeks before classes begin to determine your definite course enrollment and your need for our assistance in obtaining alternate format texts. It will be your responsibility to confirm your course schedule and your desire for alternate format texts. Once you have done so, SSD will obtain the book lists for your courses and will proceed with the alternate format text ordering and/or conversion process. Since ordering or creating alternate format text materials is a lengthy and time-consuming process, it is critical that you respond to SSD's service inquiry immediately. Students who wait until the last minute to confirm their schedules or their need for alternate format text materials, may experience a delay in receiving them. Before actually receiving textbooks SSD has ordered as publisher e-text or created through our campus-based text conversion services, students must :
Books on Audio TapeIf you are a member of Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D):
If you are not a member of RFB&D:
Campus-based Text Conversion ServicesSSD acquires an e-text copy of the book from the publisher, whenever feasible. If it is not available, SSD will remove the bindings from your book so the pages can be fed into a high-speed scanner for the conversion process . If dismantled, the paper-copy of your book will be rebound in a readily usable format and made available for your pick-up. Kurzweil 3000 and 1000 computer software programs enable students to access written material on computer by listening to it read aloud and/or by following along the highlighted text. Kurzweil 3000 software is designed for individuals with learning disabilities or low vision. It is available on one computer in each of the following 4 Library locations: the Bartle Library Adaptive Technology Room, Reference Area, Reserve Reading Room, and the Science Library Reference Area. Kurzweil 1000 software is designed for blind individuals. It is available on one computer in the Bartle Library Adaptive Technology Room. Campus-based Audio TapesCampus-based audio taping of books is available only when both the student and SSD staff determine it to be the most appropriate alternative. However, the service is dependent upon the identification and availability of readers and may not be as timely or effective as options described in the preceding sections of this policy and procedure. Sign Language Interpreter Services: Policy & Procedures Sign language interpreter services for Binghamton University students are administered through the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office. Students with severe hearing impairments are eligible for services in class, during internships, for meetings with faculty or professional staff, and during campus events. Interpreter services will also be provided, as necessary to facilitate communication between student applicants and university staff. Disability documentation is usually required. New students who require sign language interpreter services must make an appointment with the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities to discuss their particular needs. Appointments should be scheduled as far before the semester as possible. Returning students, who are already affiliated with the office, should submit their course schedules as soon as they have registered for the following semester. Service requests should include:
Advance notice of your specific sign language interpreter needs is critical to our ability to recruit qualified interpreters for the dates and times during which you require this service. Scribing Services: Policy and Procedures for Requesting It is our expectation that, with the current advancements in adaptive technology, very few students will require human-provided scribing assistance. Students with disabilities, who need such support during their transition to the use of adaptive computer technology, should discuss their situation with the Director or Learning Disabilities Specialist before the start of the semester. Please note that the scribing or typing of homework or papers is considered to be an activity of personal study and is not a university responsibility. While we may be able to assist in recruiting students to provide this service, the student consumer is responsible for paying them. Scribes serve as writers for students whose disabilities interfere with their ability to write or use standard or adaptive computer technology. They provide assistance with the physical aspects of written expression and do not function as tutors or editors. Typical responsibilities involve assistance to students in writing exam responses or typing homework assignments and papers. In the interest of academic integrity and respect for their student employers' academic abilities, they are expected to resist any temptation to make suggestions or corrections in dictated grammar or content. Personal Counseling, Advocacy & Referral Services for Students with Disabilities offers a variety of personal support services to assist students in making the most of their time at Binghamton University. SSD Personal Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Services are designed to aid students in addressing disability-related issues and support them in their personal growth and educational development. Services include:
Career Development, Internship Placements and Volunteer Opportunities As you immerse yourself in your college studies, your eventual professional career may seem to be a lifetime away. The truth is, however, that your time spent here at Binghamton can help you to prepare for future challenges and opportunities. This transition period in your life offers you a "safe" time for exploring your values, interests and goals. In fact, Binghamton offers an excellent opportunity to sample several fields of study and to integrate your academic pursuits with internships or volunteer experiences that provide first-hand experience and concrete job skills. The Career Development Center (CDC) and the SSD staff can assist you with your career exploration and goal development. Once you're settled into campus life, come to the SSD office and make an appointment, either with the director or the Learning Disabilities Specialist, so we can talk about how you'd like to use your experience here to enhance your future at Binghamton and beyond. We encourage you to visit the CDC website for information about the many ways they can assist you in your career development and job search. See "Campus Access" for information regarding SSD's role in assisting students with needs related to residence life and overall campus accessibility.
07/12/05 . |
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