HSC Student Accommodations
Students must initiate their request for reasonable accommodation through the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center. Accommodations are provided on an individual basis dependent on the need for services and documentation of disability as stated in the above information. Students will meet virtually with the Director or Associate Director of the Center via Zoom for an initial intake and to jointly identify appropriate accommodations. Students should renew their request for accommodation at least each semester, or as needed.
Advocacy
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center will provide advocacy to students in the areas of consultation and conflict resolution. In addition, ADRC will provide information and referrals to community resources as well as student organizations and activities. ADRC staff will assist students in interpersonal skills development and leadership opportunities. Although the ADRC staff advocates for student needs, it is equally important that students learn to advocate for themselves. Students need to understand their strengths, learn to identify areas for improvement, know their rights and responsibilities, and know where to go for assistance. Early in the semester students should schedule a meeting with their instructors, and be prepared to discuss their needs and refer the instructor to the ADRC if they need additional information to assist them in providing the appropriate accommodations.
Interpreter and Real Time Captioning Services
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center will coordinate interpreter and real time captioning services on campus. We strive to provide the highest quality accommodations by hiring qualified interpreters and captionists. Students are encouraged to pre-enroll to ensure availability of interpreters and real time captionists. It is important to provide schedule information to the ADRC as soon as possible and to communicate with ADRC staff about class schedules at pre-enrollment.
Interpreter and Real Time Captioning Service requests for events outside of the classroom should be submitted at least 5 university business days in advance of the requested date. Requests for interpreter services made less than 3 university business days in advance may not be filled due to the availability of interpreters/transcriptionists.
Note-Taking Services
In most situations, a system of peer volunteer note takers is used at the University. With the student's permission, the faculty member is contacted to assist in identifying a volunteer note taker in class. Students can expect a one or two-week period to pass before note taker accommodations are completely implemented. The Student Affairs office will provide two-part carbonless (NCR) paper for use by the note taker. It is the student's responsibility to pick up this NCR paper from the Student Affairs office and deliver it to the note taker. Students may also wish to tape record class lectures. Students are expected to take their own notes in class and to use the notes from the note taker as a supplementary set of notes to compare and ensure that students are getting the information correct. Note takers are not a substitute for class attendance.
E-Text requests will be accepted for students registered with the ADRC who are approved for an alternative print format (e-text). Please email us at adrc@ou.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
E-Text Request Form (Web-based, accessible)
Textbook Proof of Purchase/Rental Form (Web-based, accessible)
Alternative testing is provided to allow a student to accurately demonstrate his/her knowledge and achievement as opposed to measuring the impact of the disability. Testing will be coordinated in conjunction with Faculty and the designated College representative. Students are expected to uphold the academic integrity of the University. Any incidents of alleged academic misconduct discovered by the staff will be reported for action under the Academic Misconduct Code for the HSC campus.
Accommodation Requests for Outside Entities
In order for the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center to release information regarding services and/or documentation on file, the student must sign and submit the Consent for Release form specific to the ADRC. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received, with most documents being sent within 5-15 university business days of when we received the signed Consent for Release form. Please allow sufficient time between contacting our office and the deadline for submission, as requests received fewer than 15 university business days out are not guaranteed to be completed prior to the submission deadline.
Standardized Assessments
If a student requires accommodation on a standardized assessment such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc., it is the student's responsibility to contact the testing board to obtain information about their accommodation procedures. There is typically a request form that is required by these entities and many have recency requirements for documentation.
Another Institution
If a student requires accommodation for courses at a different institution, it is the student's responsibility to contact the disability services office at the other institution to obtain information about their accommodation procedures. Often, a Letter of Accommodation from our office and/or the student's documentation will meet the new institution's needs.
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center work with designated College representatives to notify instructors of specific accommodations via e-mail to their OU e-mail accounts, but will only do so at the student’s request. In order to submit a request for instructor notification, students should contact the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center, email adrc@ou.edu. This process must be completed each semester in order to receive accommodations. Students are, of course, encouraged to be self-advocates and are expected to identify themselves to the instructor and discuss the specific accommodations authorized by Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Email Usage
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center team has found that the use of e-mail has increased the speed and effectiveness of the way in which we communicate information of interest and address the concerns of students. Students are encouraged to routinely check their e-mail to obtain information on scholarship opportunities, activities, workforce recruitment, priority enrollment dates, and other items of interest to the disability community.
Student e-mail accounts on the OU system are automatically set up; however, new users must activate their account. E-mail accounts can be checked from any university computer lab or on their personal device by visiting the University's email portal.
