Auxiliary Aids and/or Services

In order to facilitate requests for auxiliary aids and/or services (including hiring qualified service providers), it is necessary for students to be registered with the Coordinator of Special Populations & Disability Services. To help ensure the availability of services, requests should be made in a timely manner.

Following are examples of accommodations, auxiliary aids and/or services. The list is not exhaustive and the time frames are recommended ones.

Accessible Text/Materials

Students whose documentation supports an accommodation for alternative format should contact the Disability Services Coordinator as soon as possible following registration. Availability of alternative format material may be limited so students are encouraged to make a request for textbooks, or other class related materials well in advance.

It is the students’ responsibility to contact the Disability Services Coordinator when alternative text/material is needed for each class/semester.

In converting printed text into an alternative form, Disability Services will try to honor the student’s preference. However, depending on the time of the request, the availability of materials, the volume of materials, and the expected time for return, adjustments may be necessary. Such adjustments may include the student using appropriate assistive technology (CCTV/scanner/computer reader software) available on campus.

Alternative Testing

Based on disability documentation, testing accommodations may include extended time, reduced distraction environment, computer use for written exams, enlarged print or use of a calculator (calculator use depends on course requirements)

Students requesting extended time during tests will need to supply documentation that supports their request to the Disability Services Coordinator preferably at the beginning of the semester. The Disability Services Coordinator will determine the appropriate amount of extended time after reviewing the student’s documentation.

The student is expected to make arrangements as soon as possible through the course instructor and Disability Services Coordinator. Actual test accommodations (proctoring) may be provided through the Disability Services Office based on specific arrangements made by the student and course instructor. The instructor will be notified if the student is absent from the scheduled time.

Students should make every effort to provide advanced notice to the Disability Services Coordinator when wanting to be proctored during an exam/test due to other scheduled appointments/events that may prevent the Disability Coordinator from being available. In the event that the Disability Coordinator may be absent, another counselor will be appointed to provide proctoring services.

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters

ASL interpretation services will be arranged for qualifying deaf and hard of hearing students for scheduled classes and student activities when appropriate documentation is provided to the Disability Services Coordinator for review and approval for interpretation services. Every attempt will be made to honor a student’s communication preference; however, other arrangements may be made depending on the time of advanced notice and availability of interpreters.

Students must request in advance to assure that services can be arranged. Due to the national and local shortage of sign language interpreters students are asked to provide as much advanced notice as possible. Students delaying their request risk delay in implementation of interpretation services since interpreters can be hard to find.

Students who request interpreter services and plan to be absent or find that services are no longer needed must cancel arrangements immediately through the Disability Services Office.

In the event of an unreported absence, the interpreter will wait 15 minutes following the scheduled class start time. The interpreter will not remain in the classroom when the student is absent. The student will be expected to obtain materials in the same manner as other students when absences occur.

If a student has three unreported abscesses in a given class, interpreter services may be terminated until the student meets with the Disability Services Coordinator.

Students should report any concern or problem involving an interpreter to the Disability Services Coordinator as soon as possible.

Assistive Technology/Adaptive Equipment

Various adaptive equipment or software for on campus use can be made available to qualified students as a part of their classroom accommodation plan. However, any prescriptive or personal devices, including those for home use, are the responsibility of the student. Mitchell Community College is not responsible for storing, replacing or fixing personal equipment that belongs to the student.

Upon approval by the Disability Service Coordinator, a qualified student will be able to sign out equipment such as, the FM Amplification System, and talking calculator from the disability services office. Other equipment, such as computer software, Kurzweil scanner or overhead magnifier will be available in assigned classrooms or the Disability Services office for students to use.

Students that sign out any adaptive equipment from the disability services office must return the equipment as they have received it on the agreed return date established by the Disability Service Coordinator. Students may request to sign out adaptive equipment when ever needed. Every attempt will be made to accommodate these requests depending on availability.

Every attempt will be made to provide appropriate training to enable the student to effectively utilize specific equipment or software. Such training will require active student participation, advance notice and additional time on campus.

Note Taking

Students whose documentation supports an accommodation for note taking should contact the Disability Services Coordinator as soon as possible following registration.

Upon approval by the Disability Services Coordinator, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the course instructor. The student may ask the instructor for assistance in identifying a volunteer to take class notes. If the volunteer note taker cannot be identified, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Disability Services Coordinator.

Classroom notes will generally be obtained by the utilization of a tape recorder or a volunteer classmate. Carbonless duplication paper is available upon request through the disability services office as well as a photocopy machine. Students are generally responsible for providing and operating the tape recorder along with tapes and batteries. Tape recorders are limited and are provided on a first come first serve basis.

Approval for a note taker or tape recorder does not excuse class attendance. Students receiving this accommodation should not expect notes for days missed unless special arrangements have been made in advance. The student will be expected to obtain missed notes in the same manner as other students.