• Testing Accommodation Procedures
• Assisting Students in Obtaining Notetakers
• Disability Access Statement for Course Syllabi
• Reasonable Accommodations Guide
• Assistive Technology Services
• FAQs
  

Testing Accommodation Procedures

The Office of Student Disability Services strongly encourages faculty to provide testing accommodations to students who qualify; our staff is available to support and assist you in the administration of exams on behalf of our students. Our Testing Center, located in room 238 Shuster Hall, is equipped with three computers containing assistive and general technology for students who require it. A proctor, reader, or scribe can also be made available by our office.

Students who are eligible for testing accommodations during a test or a quiz, such as extended time, use of assistive technology, or a distraction-free room, should notify you at the beginning of the semester. Some professors request that SDS administers extended-time exams; other professors may choose to oversee exams themselves, with the required accommodations in place.

Students must follow the SDS testing accommodations policy to receive this service. An eligible student will be furnished with an accommodation letter, which they should present to you at the beginning of the semester, stating that they are entitled to receive testing accommodations. (It is the student’s responsibility to notify their professors and request alternative testing from them.)

If the exam is to be proctored by SDS, faculty should follow these steps:

Complete their portion of the Testing Accommodation Request form presented by the student, at least one week prior to the examination. This form is then submitted to Doreen Patrick, our CUNY Office Assistant, who logs it and schedules the exam. You must indicate the amount of time the class will have to complete the exam and provide clear instructions for SDS staff (e.g., open-book exam, no notes allowed, dictionary/calculator permitted, etc.)

Fax, e-mail, hand deliver, or inter-office mail the exam to the SDS office in room 238 Shuster Hall. (Once the student has completed the exam, unless otherwise specified, the proctor will hand deliver the exam to the department.)

Academic Integrity

Students taking exams in the Testing Center in room 238 Shuster Hall are not permitted to have backpacks, cell phones, or other personal items with them during exam time. If a student receiving a testing accommodation is caught cheating, the exam will be confiscated and the faculty member will be notified.

Assisting Students in Obtaining Notetakers

The Office of Student Disability Services recruits and pays staff notetakers an hourly wage for our eligible students. Students with disabilities may also recruit a peer notetaker—a fellow student in their same class—to take notes on the student’s behalf. Peer notetakers receive a stipend of $100 for their service and are honored at a reception at the end of the semester. From time to time, students who are eligible for notetaking services, whether their disabilities are invisible or apparent, will want to remain anonymous to their class. They might, therefore, ask their professors to make an announcement requesting a peer notetaker, similar to the one that follows:

There is a student in our class who requires a notetaker. You will receive a $100 stipend and be invited to attend a reception at the end of the semester in appreciation of your assistance. If you are interested, please raise your hand and say your name so that the student can meet you outside of our room after class to introduce themselves.

Disability Access Statement for Course Syllabi

At the college level, students with disabilities must self-identify in order to receive accommodations. (Prior to college, the school district is responsible for identifying and evaluating students.) The Office of Student Disability Services asks that all faculty include the disability access statement below, as well as announce it to the class on the first day. In this way, faculty can help facilitate success for students by increasing awareness of a vital campus resource.

Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, at 718-960-8441.

FAQs

1. What, exactly, do I do with accommodation letters and other paperwork I receive from students registered with your office?

The Office of Student Disability Services provides all students who are eligible for classroom accommodations with accommodation letters verifying such eligibility. If a student is entitled to testing accommodations, that student will bring a Testing Accommodations Request form for you to complete, so that our office can make arrangements with you on behalf of the student in a timely manner. (For information on testing accommodations procedures, please see question 2 below.) Please note that it is the student's responsibility to talk to you about any accommodations he or she receives, including testing accommodations. (You aren't required to take any action until the student does so.) If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to stop by the SDS office in room 238 Shuster Hall or call 718-960-8441.

2. What is the procedure for testing accommodations?

Students who are eligible for testing accommodations during an exam or quiz, such as extended time or a distraction-free room, should notify their professors. Some professors request that SDS administers extended-time exams; other professors may choose to oversee exams themselves, with the required accommodations in place. Students must follow the SDS testing accommodations policy to receive this service. An eligible student will be furnished with an accommodation letter, which they will present to you, stating that they are entitled to receive testing accommodations. It is the student's responsibility to notify you and request alternative testing. It is also their responsibility to present you with a Testing Accommodation Request form for completion to be returned to us by the student at least one week prior to the exam, to ensure that our office makes appropriate arrangements in a timely manner. For more information, please visit the Testing Accommodation Procedures section in the Resources for Faculty section, or feel free to either stop by our office in room 238 Shuster Hall or call us at 718-960-8441.

3. What testing accommodations are available to students with disabilities?

The Office of Student Disability Services evaluates its students on an individualized basis. Accommodations are granted based on how a student’s disability impacts their ability to take an exam. A student who is entitled to testing accommodations is required to notify you and present the proper form to you for completion prior to the exam date.

Accommodations can include, but are not limited to, extended time; a quiet/low-distraction environment; private room; use of a computer; use of a calculator; reader; scribe; sign language interpreter; use of a spell checker; Braille; large print, periodic breaks; assistive technology (e.g., closed circuit television for magnifying printed material; screen magnification or screen reading program; or speech recognition software).

4. What if a student doesn't make use of testing accommodations, performs poorly or fails the test, and wants to retake it with extended time?

It is the student's responsibility to ask for accommodations. Tests generally can't be retaken once they are administered. To help prevent this from reoccurring, please refer the student back to our office in room 238 Shuster Hall (718-960-8441) so that the student can make sure they understand the SDS testing accommodations policy. In addition, please be sure to include our Disability Access Statement in your course syllabus. This way, students with disabilities who need accommodations—and might not otherwise know where to get them—can come to our office and find out about the processes in place to get the assistance they require.

5. How do I determine whether a student's absence or late-assignment submission is disability-related?

A student's condition may fluctuate depending on the nature of their disability; there are many conditions and/or medications that may interfere with students' academics, resulting in periodic or irregular curtailments of functioning. The Office of Student Disability Services can verify the reason for extended absences, with the student’s permission and their submission of appropriate documentation. Please visit the Instructional and Communication Strategies section under Resources for Faculty for information on specific disabilities and how they might impact a student's academic pursuits.

6. I have a student in my class whom I think has a disability. What do I do?

Be sure and handle the situation delicately. Rather than tell the student you suspect they have a disability, talk to him or her about the trouble he or she is having in your class and what might be affecting progress. The student might come forward and admit that the issues are longstanding in nature or even related to a disability. If so, refer the student to SDS in room 238 Shuster Hall (718-960-8441). If not, offer a list of applicable campus resources such as tutoring, counseling, and so on, and include the Office of Student Disability Services among them.

7. What are notetaking accommodations?

Students who cannot take notes or who have difficulty taking notes adequately are generally helped by tape recording lectures and by having a notetaker in class. The Office of Student Disability Services makes arrangements for in-class notetakers for eligible students, either by hiring a staff notetaker to go to class and take notes or by offering a $100 stipend to a volunteer peer notetaker in the student's class. The student will provide their notetakers with specialized paper or will arrange to have the notes photocopied (free of charge) at the SDS office. In some cases, notes are taken on a laptop instead of by hand.

8. How can I help a student obtain a notetaker from the class?

The Office of Student Disability Services recruits and pays staff notetakers for our eligible students. However, students with disabilities may also recruit a peer notetaker—a volunteer in their same class—to take notes on their behalf. From time to time, students who are eligible for notetaking services, whether their disabilities are invisible or apparent, will want to remain anonymous to their class. They might, therefore, ask their professors to make an announcement requesting a peer notetaker, similar to the one that follows:
There is a student in our class who requires a notetaker. You will receive a $100 stipend and be invited to attend a reception at the end of the semester in appreciation of your assistance. If you are interested, please raise your hand and say your name so that the student can meet you outside of our room after class to introduce themselves.

9. Do notetakers take notes for students who are absent?

No. Notetaking accommodations are provided to students when they are in class. The notetaker is not a proxy for the student, and the notes they take are not a substitute for attendance by the student with a disability.

10. I have a student in my class who is visually impaired. How will he access course materials?

Alternate format materials such as audio recordings, mathematical translations, large print, Braille, or e-text can take a considerable amount of time to develop and/or obtain. (Visit the Academic Assistance and Requesting Services section under Our Services for further information on alternate formats.) One of the best ways to help a student who is blind or visually impaired is to have copies of your syllabus and reading assignments ready early, anywhere from three to five weeks prior to the start of the semester. During lecture, it is good to get in the habit of speaking aloud what you're writing on the board so the student can follow along. If you are going to be providing handouts to the class, be sure and provide vision impaired students with alternate formats. (Ask the student to inform you of their needs.) The Office of Student Disability Services can work with you to make sure your course documents are accessible to students who are blind or who are visually impaired. Call our assistant director at 718-960-1167 or stop by our Access and Technology Center (ATC) in room 146 in the library, or come to our office in room 238 Shuster, and we will be happy to help you prepare your materials. Additional information on visual impairment and blindness is available in the Instructional and Communication Strategies section on our Resources for Faculty page.

11. Should I modify my standards or curriculum for a student with a disability?

In short, no. While we recognize the underlying sentiment and motivation to make adjustments to courses and requirements, we do not endorse this. Students with disabilities are capable of performing as well as their peers with the right accommodations in place. All post-secondary institutions are covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Office of Student Disability Services, in accordance with Section 504, works with students one-on-one to develop suitable, individualized, accommodations plans. Examples of types of accommodations and auxiliary aids provided by our office can be found by visiting the Our Services section. For specific questions or additional information, please do not hesitate to stop by our office in room 238 Shuster Hall or contact us by phone at 718-960-8441. We would be happy to speak with you in more detail.