Student Guide to Online Accommodations - Georgia ...

Georgia Highlands College
SSS - Disability Support Services

Student Guide to Online Accommodations

Students approved for accommodation by SSS will have their
accommodations transferred to the online environment. The
purpose of this guide is to facilitate a smooth transition of
accommodations for courses as they change to an online delivery
format.

Faculty Accommodation Notification - FAN
A Faculty Accommodation Notification (FAN) is still used by SSS to communicate
approved accommodations. The student is responsible for requesting a FAN each
semester, sharing it with course instructors, and meeting with course instructors (face-
to-face, virtually, phone call or email) to discuss accommodations they plan to use for
the course. Most students have already done this for spring classes. Students are
entitled to request any accommodations on their FAN for the current semester, although
some may not apply in the online environment (example: preferential seating).

Refer to the list below for information about applicable accommodations. Please refer to
this guide for answers to questions. Students are also welcome to contact the Disability
Specialist working with you for further clarification or individual concerns. The Disability
Specialist signature and contact information is located at the bottom of each student’s
FAN.

Course Accommodations
Books in Alternate Format from CIDI (Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation)
For students using electronic textbooks, the Disability Support Specialist creates an
account for you in CIDI. CIDI sends the student a welcome email with an access code,
Students can order books and CIDI notifies them when the books are available for
download. This is also where students go to download free text reading software (Claro
Read). Here is a link to the CIDI wiki page with information about their Student
Download Center.

The student is entitled to use electronic textbooks & screen reading software (with
headphones if not in a private room) anytime students are expected to use textbooks
(tests, quizzes, assignments or during lecture).

Accommodations regarding PowerPoints, Instructor Lecture Notes, and Other
Written Course Materials
      ·     Materials needed in an alternate format - Students who require screen
      reading software will need PowerPoints, handouts and other written materials in
      word or pdf format. These need to be made available either to all students, or to
      the individual student with this accommodation. This is accomplished by posting
      them in D2L.
      ·     Hard/ Digital copies - Students with this accommodation are entitled to
      copies of PowerPoints and/or instructor lecture notes prior to live lectures. In an
      online environment, students must receive access to digital/electronic versions of
      PowerPoints in order to have access. This is accomplished by posting them in
      D2L.

Captioning Services

The student is entitled to receive captioning services on a course-by-course basis, as
determined by the disability support services staff. In courses where the student
receives captioning, the student is entitled to use an electronic device to receive
wirelessly transmitted, real time captions, at their seat during live lectures. For students
who are hearing impaired and using this accommodation, faculty will need to inform
Disability Support specialists of the dates and times for live online lectures at least a
week in advance for captioning to be arranged. The faculty member is also responsible
for recording a live lecture for transcription purposes later should technology fail.

Note: While captioning of all online content is recommended, during this hectic time,
concentrate on providing captioning for classes in which a deaf or hard of hearing
student is enrolled. Unless a hard of hearing student is enrolled in your course, a simple
recording of your zoom lecture is enough for the remainder of this semester.

Captioned Videos

All videos, and required film or movies need to have subtitles or captions available.

Audio Description Videos

Students with visual impairment are entitled to an audio description of course videos for
content that can’t be heard (only seen on the screen).

Flexibility with Attendance and Related Deadlines

For students with this accommodation, faculty have been requested to work with you
individually, as needed, regarding course assignment deadlines and attendance.

Extended time on course assignments

For assignments like essays please see Testing Accommodations below.

Audio Record Lecture Notes

The student is entitled to audio record course lectures, except class discussions of a
personal nature. Faculty providing live lectures online have been requested to post a
recording of it in D2L online. That is sufficient to meet this accommodation, and
students have the option of recording it for themselves.

Testing Accommodations

Accommodated Testing
GHC Testing Centers proctor exams with accommodations. See the Accommodated
Testing webpage for scheduling and proctoring information.

Extended Time

The student is entitled to have 50% or 100% time on all tests, quizzes, and any other
graded, timed online assignments. A timed assignment is something that has a set
amount of time on it, or a timer that starts when the assignment is opened. (Example:
30 minutes to write an essay). This is distinct from a homework assignment that is due
in 1 week, like a paper or discussion post, where the student determines the amount of
time spent on it. Extended time is for 50% or 100% - students refer to your FAN for this
information. Course instructors will set extended time on tests in D2L.

Stop-the-Clock Breaks

A stop the clock break is a break during timed testing which allows a student to take
care of a health condition or need. An example might be a student who needs to
administer insulin without losing testing time. To create a stop-the-clock break online,
where a proctor is not present to pause the exam, faculty has been instructed to add
five additional minutes per 30 minutes of test time.

Example: If a test is scheduled for 60 minutes, and the student has 50% extended time,
then the test is 90 minutes total. Then we add 15 minutes for stop-the-clock breaks. So
the total time on the test is 105 minutes (60 + 30 + 15).

Distraction Reduced Environment

The student is entitled to take tests in a quiet, distraction-reduced area. When taking a
test in D2L off campus, it becomes the student's responsibility to secure a distraction-
reduced environment. This may include use of earplugs.

Speech-to-Text Software/Scribe

The student is entitled to use a scribe or assistive technology of speech-to-text (Dragon
is one program), for all tests, quizzes, and assignments, but must notify the course
instructor in advance. If a student needs a person to scribe or type in the online
environment, they will be responsible for finding a person to do so in their home
environment. Students may also choose to use dragon naturally speaking to dictate, if
they have it.

Screen Reader/Text-to-Speech Software

The student is entitled to the use of a computer with a screen reader for ALL tests,
quizzes, and written assignments, but must notify the course instructor in advance.
Students registered with disability support services have free access to Claro Read
software (screen reader) through CIDI. If a student needs a reader in the online
environment, they will be responsible for finding a person to do so in their home
environment.

Spell/Grammar Check

The student is entitled to use spell/grammar check for all tests, quizzes and written
assignments, but must notify the course instructor in advance.

Magnification/Enlargement of Font Sizes/Images

The student is entitled to enlarge the computer screen for access (Example: zoom/
control plus on the screen) Please contact your instructor if you are not able to enlarge
the screen. Your instructor may consider allowing the assignment/exam to be in a
format where a student can select all and enlarge the font (word.doc).

Non-programmable Calculator

The student is entitled to use a non-programmable calculator for all assignments,
quizzes and exams requiring math calculations (examples: Math, Chemistry, Physics,
Nursing, Business, Accounting).

Formula Sheet

The student is entitled to a formula sheet approved by faculty on all tests, quizzes, and
exams requiring formulas (examples: Math, Chemistry, Physics, Nursing, Business,
Accounting). Submit your formula sheet to the instructor for approval.

Word Bank

The student is entitled to a word bank approved by faculty on all tests, quizzes, and
exams for subjects that require specialized terminology or vocabulary. Submit your word
bank to your instructor for approval.

ADA Statement
Students with disabilities are entitled to non-discrimination and reasonable
accommodations. Student Support Services (SSS) provides accessible programs,
services, and reasonable accommodations for any student with a documented,
qualifying disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, and by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Acts of 1990 mandate
that educational institutions provide students with disabilities the necessary
accommodations to ensure equal access to all academic and co-curricular programs
and services, including those delivered in an online format.

Georgia Highlands College, along with Student Support Services, is committed to
providing students with disabilities access to our campuses’ resources and opportunities
to obtain a quality educational experience.