ACC determines reasonable accommodations for students with a disability based on the disability, disability documentation, and an interview with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) staff.
Accommodations are approved on a class-by-class basis and do not necessarily carry over from one semester to the next. A student can choose to use any or all approved accommodations to access a course and course materials.
Students, faculty, and SAS staff share the responsibility for providing accommodations. Find a sample of some common accommodations below, including who is responsible for providing them.
Reader (Kurzweil or other software
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| • Provide faculty with the Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA) • Schedule tests with the SAS office at least 5 business days (1 week) in advance • Remind instructor you will test with accommodations |
• Provide student with license for Kurzweil, or JAWS/Fusion • Notify faculty of testing appointment • Obtain test and/or test password |
Provide the following upon request from SASTest@austincc.edu: • Copy of test if requested • Instructions for administration • Platform of administration • Time allowed • Deadline |
Note-taking support/peer note taker
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| • Provide faculty with the Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA) and note sharing information. • Notify SAS as soon as possible if you are not receiving notes, or there is an issue with notes. |
• Provide faculty with script for recruiting note taker; set up note taker with contract. • Ensure student receives notes through office portal. |
Help to identify a responsible note taker and refer them to the SAS office. |
Note Taking Support – Peer Note Taker
Note taking support is meant to supplement your notes, audio recordings and other course materials that are available from your instructor.
When you are approved for note taking support:
- SAS will communicate with faculty for the need of a peer note taker. Faculty will post an announcement in Blackboard, announce during class and/or send an email to the class soliciting a classmate for note taking support. You may also request support from a classmate directly.
- Note taking support will begin as soon as a peer note taker is identified
- Once the note taker is identified, SAS will provide the note taker with the appropriate paperwork and provide instructions on how to provide notes.
- Notes should be received within 24 to 48 hours after the end of the class period.
- SAS will monitor the notes for quality assurance.
- You must alert SAS immediately if there are any issues with the notes. For example, they are illegible, you haven’t received them in a timely manner, or the note taker has dropped the class.
- You can also communicate directly with the peer note taker or your instructor.
- If a note taker is not identified within one week, SAS will determine an alternative method for you to receive notes. This may include audio recording, assistive technology, instructor notes (if available), or a paid note taker.
Note-taking support - Glean or Sonocent
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| • Accept free license • Provide faculty with NAA |
Provide student with license for Glean | N/A |
Watch this video to get started with Glean.
If you still need help after watching the video, get Glean help here!
Need support? Get help with Sonocent.
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| • Provide faculty with the Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA) • Fill out the SAS Test Request Form for each exam 1 week in advance if appropriate |
• SAS Testing staff contacts faculty • Determines proctoring or monitoring accessibility |
• Faculty communicates with SAS Testing about time allowed for exams • Faculty adjusts the time allowed in Blackboard or other platforms |
Electronic/Audio copy of textbooks
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher requires that you must provide proof of purchase/rental to the SAS office. | SAS will provide student with digital textbook and text-to-speech software license. | N/A |
Sign language interpreter or CART (real-time captioning)
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| • Provide faculty with the Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA). • Provide Interpreter Services with NAA • Contact Interpreter Services in advance of class absences. • Send your notice of approved accommodation letters to interpservices@austincc.edu |
Provide Interpreter Services with NAA. | Ensure Interpreter/CART provider has access to course material (i.e., added to Blackboard course). |
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Provide faculty with the Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA) | Provide faculty with captioning request information | • Ensure that all media is captioned • For questions about captioning email captionmymedia@austincc.edu • Ready to request captions for your media? Submit a Caption Request form. |
| Student Responsibilities | SAS Responsibilities | Faculty Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Discuss preferred format with SAS | Communicate with faculty regarding format | • Ensure that materials are available in Blackboard • Notify student/SAS of format/location of materials |
High School vs. College
Have a disability? Understanding some of the differences between high school and college can help you have a smoother transition.
| High School | College |
|---|---|
| Teachers and parents remind you of responsibilities. | You manage your own time and coursework. |
| Teachers may initiate contact with you. | You will need to initiate contact with instructors. |
| Teachers may give notes if you missed class or provide you with assignments and an extended due date. | Instructors expect you to be prepared for class even when you have missed class. |
| You may study two to eight hours a week. | You should study an average of two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. |
| The school prepares and provides documentation of disability. | Documentation is required, and you (the student) must provide it. |
| The school proves eligibility for accommodations | You (the student) must prove eligibility. |
| Content of the program is altered to fit you. | Course content is not altered, although the method of learning may be altered. |
| Parents, teachers, counselors and special education professionals track you and your services each year. | You must identify yourself every semester if you want services. |
