Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services, in conjunction with first year and upper-level advisors, assists students (upon request of the student or advisor) with selecting courses and determining the appropriate course load for the student. In accordance with the regulations, the University will offer advising services to students with disabilities in an accessible place and manner.

Academic adjustments are those changes that will minimize or eliminate the impact of a disability and allow equal access to an education. Examples of academic adjustments may include but are not limited to: reduced course load, extended testing time, testing in a reduced distraction environment, educational support in the areas of time/stress management and learning strategies, modified tutoring services, use of assistive technologies (e.g. recorders, computers), note-takers, and readers. Once Student Accessibility Services approves an academic adjustment for a student, an accommodation letter is provided to the student, detailing the accommodations. The student is responsible for providing the accommodation letter to the faculty member(s) teaching the course(s) in question.

The Academic Success Center offers a variety of services to the campus community: drop-in peer tutoring, professional tutoring by appointment, review sessions, and workshops. The services currently offered may be modified to meet the needs of students with disabilities. 

Eligible students will:

• Obtain tutoring through the Academic Success Center by utilizing the drop-in schedule and professional hours.
• Request additional services through Student Accessibility Services as early in the semester as possible. If the student's documentation indicates additional services may be necessary in order to gain equal access to tutoring, Student Accessibility Services will discuss such accommodations with the appropriate staff member(s) from the Academic Success Center.
• Meet with staff member(s) from Academic Success Center to make tutoring and scheduling arrangements once an accommodation has been approved.
• Attend tutoring sessions regularly and notify Academic Success Center staff member(s) in advance if the accommodations are no longer required.

If a disability interferes with a student's ability to take notes in the classroom, Student Accessibility Services should be contacted as soon as possible in order to seek assistance. Assistance with note-taking is most often provided by the use of technology. Student Accessibility Services will review the process with the student. 

Individuals with documented disabilities may need to record lectures in order to have equal access to the information presented. Student Accessibility Services will work with students who are eligible to receive this.

Assistance in taking exams is available for students with documented disabilities through Student Accessibility Services in conjunction with the faculty member(s) teaching the courses in question. The University will provide appropriate auxiliary aids that do not fundamentally alter the skills or knowledge that the examination is intended to test.

Auxiliary aids include, but are not limited to the following:

• Extended time 
• Reduced distraction environment 
• Testing on a computer
• Testing on paper
• Use of a scribe or screen reader
• Enlarged print or Braille exams
• Use of assistive technology, including a computer

Eligible students will:

• Adhere to the exam scheduling processes provided to the student in their accommodation letter. 
• Schedule exams to be taken in Student Accessibility Services if the student is unable to secure accommodations through the faculty member. 
• All exam / assessment requests should be submitted through the Student Testing Accommodations Request Form. 
• Exams must be scheduled to be taken in Student Accessibility Services at four business days, and 7 calendar days in advance of the exam. Midterms and finals may require further notice. 
• All exams are usually scheduled at the same time as the class is scheduled to take them. Requests for exceptions must be approved by the faculty member.  
• Accommodations will not be guaranteed without appropriate notice.

Exam materials and instructions should be provided to the Student Accessibility Services at least 24 hours prior to the time of the scheduled exam. These materials and information can be submitted in the following ways:

• Preferred method: Instructor may submit all exam materials and instructions through the Faculty Test Materials and Information Submission Form.
• Instructors may deliver exam to the office in person (Kanbar Campus Center, Room 102D). All physical materials should be placed into an envelope and either delivered to a Proctor, professional staff member, or dropped into the secure drop box.

When Student Accessibility Services receives an exam, it is stored in a secure location until the exam is administered. Exams are administered in various locations on-campus, primarily in academic classrooms.

Exam return options are as follows:

• Completed exams are scanned upon completion and instructors receive a copy via University email. 
• Instructors may pick up the hard copy from the office during business hours. Even if an instructor selects this as their return option, a copy will be scanned and returned via University email as well. 

• Students completing their assessment with Student Accessibilty Services are required to check into the office approximately 15 minutes before their exam begins. 
• All non-exam-related materials must be checked into Student Accessibility Services and will be stored in a secured location while the assessment is being taken. Upon completion, students will return to Student Accessibility Services to check out their personal belongings. 
• All information regarding students is kept confidential and only disclosed to those individuals with a legitimate need to know.
• All students working with Accessibility Services should have a current signed release form on file. Once the release form is in place, the student may request that the Director of Student Accessibility Services consult with faculty members or other University staff to discuss the functional limitations of the student's disability, as well as reasonable accommodations for the student.

Student Accessibility Services processes requests for student access to Thomas Jefferson University facilities. Requests for alterations will be assessed based on the nature of the disability or related documentation. In keeping with its philosophy, the University will attempt to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Examples of accommodations may include but are not limited to: adaptation of bathrooms, installation of ramps, door access, and alternative lighting.

Student Accessibility Services does not provide evaluations/assessments, but may provide referrals for students who suspect they may have a disability. Once documentation of a specific disability is received from the student and/or the student's healthcare provider, potential academic adjustments can be assessed.

Student Accessibility Services provides verification of a student's disabled status to Residential Life for consideration in housing assignments. Housing accommodations are provided with appropriate documentation and must be requested in a timely manner.  Students must adhere to the housing accommodation deadlines and if deadlines are not met, accommodations cannot be guaranteed.

The Office of Public Safety and Security provides van transportation throughout the campus for all students. Public Safety and Security also enforces parking.

Students who need adapted access to the technology on campus can request assistance through Student Accessibility Services.

Eligible students will meet with Student Accessibility Services to discuss the student's specific needs for technology and the limitations currently experienced by the student. Student Accessibility Services will work in conjunction with the appropriate offices to provide the needed services.

Students Accessibility Services assists students in obtaining textbooks and other materials in alternative formats. Students must contact Student Accessibility Services for information. Accessibility Services utilizes Kurzweil software to convert information to an audio format.