Section 5: Types of Accommodations
A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment that will enable a qualified student with a disability equal access to a course, program, facility, activity or service. Reasonable accommodations may include auxiliary aids, services, or modifications to facilities.
The goal is to give the student with a disability equal access to the learning environment. Individualized accommodations are not designed to give the student an advantage over other students, to alter a fundamental aspect of the course, nor to reduce academic rigor.
The Access Center determines reasonable accommodations as mandated under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services are determined on a case-by-case basis. The following is a list of potential accommodations which may be granted based on the students’ disability and how it impacts them in a postsecondary educational environment.
Testing Accommodations
Testing accommodations are available to eligible students who experience barriers related to timed assessments or other aspects of evaluations. The Access Center is committed to providing an equitable and secure testing environment for students. If a student has approved testing accommodations listed on their accommodation letter and plans to take their accommodated exam in the Access Testing Center, then the student is responsible for scheduling their exam utilizing the form on the Access Center website. If the student schedules an accommodated exam, the faculty member will receive an email from the Access Center requesting exam administration information. Faculty are responsible for automatically adding additional time for all exams administered online to students who are approved for additional exam time. Faculty are not responsible for providing exam accommodations in their face-to face class unless special arrangements have been made with the Access Center.
Testing accommodations may include but are not limited to the following:
- Distraction-reduced space
- Extended time
- Assistive technology (e.g. CCTV, screen-reader software)
- Accessible formats (e.g. Word Doc, large print, braille)
- Computer/Microsoft Word for written exams
- Calculator
Attendance Flexibility
Students who have been diagnosed with a chronic physical or mental health condition/disability with brief, periodic flare-ups that adversely impact course attendance could be eligible to receive attendance flexibility consideration. Students seeking this accommodation are responsible for requesting this accommodation as early in the semester as possible by completing the request form located on the Access Center website. If the student submits a request form, then the faculty member will receive an email from the Access Center asking them to respond to a series of questions. Based on the response to those question and factoring in the student’s condition, the Access Center will send out a determination email to both the student and the faculty member indicating the what degree of flexibility can be provided. The Access Center understands that course requirements vary widely due to course structure and acknowledge that additional flexibility cannot always be guaranteed.
Access to Lecture Content
Students who have trouble capturing content that is shared during class due to their disability can be approved for accommodations. The student’s Accessibility Coordinator will share the various options with the student and then collaborate with the instructor, if needed, to coordinate access to lecture content.
Alternate Formats for Print Materials
Students with a documented condition/disability that prevents access to traditional print materials are eligible to receive printed course materials in accessible electronic versions. Students are responsible for notifying their instructor and the Access Center if course materials are not accessible. Students needing to request course textbooks should use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access. See appendix for alternate format procedures.
Assignment Deadline Extensions
The purpose of this accommodation is to allow for periodic consideration of additional time to complete an outside of class assignment/paper/project due to the severe adverse effects of the student’s disability. If a student in the class is approved for this accommodation the faculty member will receive a separate email from the Access Center inquiring if there are any assignments/papers/projects during the semester that cannot be granted up to a 3 day extension due to the format or time sensitive nature of the assignment. If there are assignments that cannot be granted an extension, then the faculty member is responsible for sending an email back to the Access Center that lists the names and due dates of the assignment/paper/project and clarifies why a time extension cannot be granted.
ASL Interpreting & CART Services
The Access Center will coordinate interpreting and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services for Deaf and hard of hearing students registered with our office. Interpreters and CART providers are professionals, not classroom aides; they do not tutor students or impart additional information. Their sole focus is facilitating communication in the classroom. Students needing interpreters or CART for meetings with faculty, advisors or other types of meetings with staff on campus should use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access.
The following list contains instructional guidance when a student who is Deaf of hard of hearing is in class and applies to both interpreters and CART providers.
- Speak directly to the student who is deaf. Don’t ask the interpreter to “Tell them …”
- Look at the deaf student, not the interpreter. The interpreter will sign whatever is said and voice whatever the student signs. The interpreters are not permitted to voice their own personal opinions or enter the conversation.
- Speak at a normal rate. The interpreter will ask you to slow down or repeat if the delivery is too fast.
- Allow the interpreter to sit or stand near you. The interpreter and the instructor should work out the best place for the interpreter to work. The closer the interpreter is to the speaker, the easier it is for the student to see the interpreter, the instructor and any visual aids.
- Remember that the interpreter will be a few words behind the speaker. Allow the interpreter time to finish so that the student may ask questions or join the discussion.
- Provide the interpreter with extra copies of materials being discussed in class. This allows the interpreter to study pertinent vocabulary and be prepared for the class.
- The use of visual aids (whiteboards, overhead projectors, diagrams, charts, etc.) greatly assists students with hearing impairments.
- In a group discussion, ensure that one person is speaking at a time. Point to the speaker or have speakers raise their hands. It may be necessary to repeat questions or comments so the student can keep up with the discussion.
- Initially, an interpreter’s presence may be distracting to the instructor and other students. However, the initial curiosity will subside, and it should be a comfortable situation for all concerned.
Accessible Classroom Furniture
The Access Center is committed to ensuring students’ learning environments are accessible which could include the need for accessible classroom furniture (e.g. tables, chairs). The student will then be directed to use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access. Furniture requests usually take 1-2 business days to get placed into the classroom.
Priority Course Registration
To assist students in planning their schedule while taking disability issues into consideration, students may be eligible for priority course registration. This accommodation allows students the opportunity to register earlier than other students for upcoming semesters. Students are responsible for meeting with their academic advisor to plan for appropriate classes and registering for courses at or after their scheduled registration time. The Access Center has no ability to remove registration holds. Not all students with the Access Center are approved for priority registration.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of potential accommodations.
Note: Under ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act a postsecondary institution is not required to provide accommodations that would be considered personal services. The Access Center does not provide personal services (i.e. administering medicine and storing of medical supplies, personal aides and mobility aides, transportation to school.)
Return to Table of Contents