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Disability Management Advising

Every person, disabled or not, wants to exercise control over his/her lives. At CSUDH we have a service that makes this possible for students with disabilities. We call it "Disability Management Advising." Students using this service are given opportunities to explore increasing independence, improve communication with faculty, and evaluate career choices against functional limitations. In addition to individual consultation, the office maintains an assistive device resource file and provides workshops on time management, supervision and management skills, and other topics of interest.

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Disabled Parking

Disabled Parking is available to the driver of a vehicle displaying a DMV issued disabled person's license plate or parking placard.

To park in a disabled paring space without the proper decal will result in a parking ticket.

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Priority Registration

Priority registration enables students to be in the first group of students to finalize registration. In most cases, students with disabilities participate in the usual registration process. Exceptions include those whose disabilities preventing them from prolonged walking, standing, or in cases where students use readers, note takers, or sign language interpreters.

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University Required Test

Test such as the ELM and the EPT are administered through the Testing Office. Students needing adaptations should go to the Testing Office first to make all the necessary arrangements. The DSS office will work in conjunction with the Testing Office to insure that reasonable accommodations are made when necessary.

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Course Test Accommodations

University course tests can, with the instructor's permission, be administered through the DSS office. Depending on your need and instructor's authorization, extra time may be allowed, test may be read, or you may dictate to a writer, and in some cases you may be able to use the DSS computer. When requesting test adaptation alternatives, specific procedures MUST be followed:

  1. Arrangements must be made at the DSS office a minimum of five (5) working days in advance. This includes filling out the Student request for Special Test Taking Arrangements form, i.e., date, time, location, length of test, etc.
  2. You will arrive at the DSS office on time, prepared to take the test.
  3. The time allotted for your test begins at the time arranged to start, regardless of the time you actually start.
  4. The service provider (Reader/Writer) will wait a maximum of 15 minutes for you to arrive. If you fail to keep your appointment or notify DSS is advance, you must make arrangements with your instructor to take your exam at a later date.
  5. If an emergency should arise which causes you to miss the scheduled meeting -- you MUST contact DSS office at the earliest possible time.

The above instructions are DSS office policy. These instructions are designed to allow for the provision of needed test alternatives in an effective, efficient manner. It is your responsibility to follow the procedures to receive services through the DSS office.

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Writer Services

Writers are provided to those students requiring assistance in producing written material. Writers write down material dictated by students for examinations, term papers, and any other required writing assignments. Students wishing to obtain the services of a writer must provide a minimum of five (5) working days notice to the DSS office.

The writer will do punctuation as told by the student. If there is a question about punctuation, the writer will ask the student. If there is a question about the spelling of a word, the writer will ask the student. The student is expected to know the spelling of any specialized vocabulary related to a specific course.

Writer assignments are divided into two major categories:

  1. Examinations
  2. Papers

Writer Services - Examinations

Examinations may include true/false, multiple choice, or essay questions. Writers will not alter in any form, the material which is dictated to them. The writer will not answer any questions or make comments about the contents or material dictated to them. The spelling, grammar, punctuation, and content must be that of the student. The writer will not indicate any lack of clarity in the material dictated to him/her. Exceptions to this include students with Learning Disabilities affecting writing skills.

Writer Services - Papers

Writers are provided for assigned papers only. DSS does not provide a typist for the final, finished paper. DSS will allow one hour of dictation time per required typed page for a term paper or similar writing assignment. This means a student assigned a 10-page paper has 10 hours to dictate the paper to a writer. The student must show up at the time of dictation, prepared, and ready to dictate in an expedient manner. If a student is unprepared at the time of dictation, the writer will report this lack of preparedness to the DSS staff.

* All Requests for Writers must be requested five (5) working days in advance.

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Reader Services

Reader Services are divided into three categories:

  1. Examinations
  2. Research
  3. Textbook

Reader Services - Examinations

The student must give five (5) working days notice when requesting a reader for an examination. Individuals acting as readers for examinations are usually also acting as writers for examinations. Readers cannot give answers to examinations questions. Readers will only re-read material specifically asked for by the student.

Reader Services - Research

The student must give five (5) working days notice to DSS when requesting assistance for research work. Readers for research will follow the direction of the students for whom they are doing the reading

Research reading is a very difficult form of reading. The reader will be following the orders of the student to find specific materials in a text. The student may have the reader read tables of contents or indexes or other similar references. Once the student has found the material, the reader will read this onto tape. The reader is allowed to write short notes. Readers are not allowed to define words for students.

Reader Services - Textbooks

The third form of reading is textbook reading onto cassette tape. The student is to provide a schedule of assignments to the reader. The student is to give himself/herself enough time to read the material before it is due in class. The readers are to meet these deadlines. Many textbooks are pre-taped in the DSS office, students needing copies of master tapes or textbooks read, must supply blank cassette tapes.

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Taped Textbooks

Students may obtain taped textbooks from Recording for the Blind (RFB). RFB is a non-profit corporation designed to provide taped textbooks to individuals who have trouble using printed material. DSS strongly recommends that any student using RFB services read the first section of the RFB catalog which is available both in print and in audio cassette. This particular section of the catalog explains RFB's procedures. Disabilities entitled to use RFB books include: blindness, certain learning disabilities and certain physical disabilities.

Your requests to RFB must be made in the DSS office a minimum of eight (8) weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. DSS must have your book orders this far in advance to enable them to get the taped materials to you by the start of the semester. If you are not already connected with RFB, you should see a DSS staff person for an application.

Procedure for obtaining taped textbooks is as follows:

  1. Determine your classes for next semester.
  2. Using the list created in step one, go to the instructor of the course, or the department office, or the textbook office in the bookstore to find out which texts are being used. Make a list including title, author, copyright date and edition. If you are unable to obtain complete information, notify DSS immediately.
  3. If you are able to use the RFB catalog, review the catalog and provide the shelf # for those books which are available. If you are unable to use the catalog, turn in your list to DSS using the RFB Book request form.
  4. DSS will inform you of which books are available on tape and which books you must buy to be recorded if the text is unavailable from RFB.
  5. It is necessary for you to purchase two copies each of the required texts and give them to DSS to send for recording. It completion of taping, the books will be returned to the student.

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RFB Library Search

RFB will Search its entire library upon request. These searches can aid you in doing research for papers. The specific procedure is outlined in the RFB catalog. The search request should be done early in the semester.

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Typing

DSS does not provide typing services.

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Notetakers

DSS requires all students needing notetakers to first seek volunteers from the classroom. If unsuccessful, DSS will send a letter to your instructors asking them to help you secure a volunteer notetaker.DSS will provide NCR-Dualnote paper if the student meets the appropriate criteria. Only on rare occasions and in special circumstances, DSS will pay for an in-class notetaker.

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Tutoring Services

Tutoring services are provided through the Center for Learning and Academic Support Services.

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Time Management Training

DSS will provide time management training on a one-to-one basis if requested by the student.

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Interpreting Services for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Students

All requests for interpreters must be made as soon as possible. As soon as you know your next semester schedule, go immediately to the DSS office and submit a copy.

Your classroom interpreter is scheduled to work only during the time your class meets. If you have an immediate need to meet with your instructor and your interpreter has the time, and the meeting is no longer than 30 minutes, then you do not need to notify the DSS office until after the meeting. If the meeting will be longer than 30 minutes, contact the DSS office and arrange for an interpreter at an agreed upon time.

School related functions for which you may need an interpreter requires that a written request be submitted to the DSS office five (5) working days in advance (or as soon as possible).

The interpreter will wait outside of the classroom, near the classroom entrance. Be sure to look near all doors in case you miss each other.

If you are late and don't show up within 15 minutes, the interpreter will notify the DSS office of your "No Show", and all interpreting services for that day will be canceled until you contact the DSS office.

If your interpreter does not show within 15 minutes, have someone call the DSS office for you if possible (x3660).

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Keeping Appointments

Test proctors, readers and writers will wait 15 minutes for you to show up at the appointed time. If you do not show up within 15 minutes, the service provider will notify the DSS staff.

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Equipment Loan

DSS has a variety of specialized equipment that may be available to you. Students needing to borrow equipment must fill out a Student Equipment Loan form. The following equipment is available:

  1. Accessible Computer Terminal
  2. Cassette Recorders
  3. Electric Carts/wheelchairs
  4. Four-Track Tape Recorders
  5. Optacon
  6. Perkins Brailler *Talking Calculator
  7. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
  8. Visualtek

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Learning Disabled

Services that may be available to the learning disabled is provided according to the students' individual needs. Possible services include:

  1. Reader Services
  2. Taped Books
  3. Testing
  4. Training for use of Computer with adapted software/hardware
  5. Tutoring Sessions
  6. Writers

To obtain further information regarding these services, you need to make an appointment with the DSS Coordinator or DSS Representative.

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Accommodation Memos

At the student's request, DSS will send Request for Accommodation Memos to your instructors introducing you and informing the instructor that a disabled student has enrolled in his/her class. An information sheet will be included stating the nature of your disability and alerting the instructor to the possible need for accommodations.

If you want DSS to send such information to your instructors, it is necessary for you to provide our office with your complete class schedule and sign a Release of Information form.

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Questions

If you have any questions regarding any information or procedure contained in this manual, please make an appointment with a DSS staff person. You can get to our contact information here.

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