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What Services Can I Receive?

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Reading Services

Reading services are provided to students with permanent or temporary disabilities who provide appropriate documentation and meet the eligibility requirements. The process for acquiring readers follows:

First you will meet with your specialist who will determine what types of reading services would be most helpful to you. They will introduce you to our Adaptive Technology Specialist (Mark Grosch) who will explain the options to you. These include scanning your textbooks at the Adaptive Technology Center (ACT), obtaining digital books from the publishers to use with a screen reading program, and books from the Braille Institute and Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). If you qualify to receive services from RFB&D, you must first check to see if your textbooks are already available on tape or CD. Phone: (800) 221-4792, www.rfbd.org/catalog.htm . If one or more of your textbooks are available through RFB&D, DSP will pay for your membership to RFB&D and will walk you through the steps for ordering your books each quarter.

If it is decided that you qualify for readers, fill out a "Reading Contract" and "Recording Sheet," attach the class syllabus and give to the front desk receptionist. Then contact the Adaptive Technology Specialist for a tape recorder loan. You are responsible to provide your own tapes and to label them. After DSP hires a reader, the reader will phone you. It is your responsibility to work out exchanging tapes, books, and equipment. You may use the DSP office as a drop-off and pick-up location.

If you have problems with a Reader, it is your responsibility to phone the Reader and explain the situation. If the problems continue, report the situation to a DSP Staff member immediately.

Notetakers

Note taking is available to students with permanent or temporary disabilities who provide appropriate documentation and meet the eligibility requirements. Please note: You must be approved for this service by your DSP Specialist. All forms are downloadable, and can be read using Adobe Acrobat. Click Here to download Acrobat Reader. The process for acquiring a note taker follows:

1. Click Here to download the Note-taker Request Form.* 1. Fill out a DSP "Request for Note taking" form as soon as you have registered for classes. You can obtain a request form by clicking on the link or by coming into the DSP Office. Once you have completed the form, submit it at the DSP front desk. Notes will not be provided until you are officially registered in the class. Note takers are generally not provided for discussion sections. If you feel that discussion section notes are needed, consult your Specialist. * Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. If there is any change to your class schedule fill out a DSP Add/Drop/Change form and turn it in to the front desk as soon as possible
3. Within two or three working days, DSP staff will set up a mailbox (if not already set up), and place status memos in your box indicating the following:
1. Notes Memo: If Associated Students Note taking Services (AS Notes) are available, DSP will provide you with a referral form in lieu of assigning a DSP note taker.
2. Note taker confirmation memo: DSP will provide a note taker letter confirming the contact information of the note taker hired in your class.
3. Note taker request memo: If DSP cannot find a note taker, a letter and flyer will be sent to your instructor so they can announce that DSP is looking for a note taker to hire. A note will also be placed in your DSP mailbox to indicate this has been done
4. Additional provisions for obtaining note takers include the following:
1. If the notes are not complete or if you are having problems with your notes, it is best to first phone the note taker and explain your concerns to him or her. If the problem continues, please consult with a DSP staff member.
2. Notes are to be picked up at least once a week. Note takers are required to place your notes in your DSP mailbox within 24 hours of lecture. Failure to pick up your notes within the allotted period of time may result in a suspension of this service
3. Having a note taker does NOT mean that you can skip class. You MUST attend classes as any other student.
4. DSP notes are for your use only. If you share your notes with other students, your services WILL be suspended.

Test Taking Accommodations

Test accommodations are available to students with permanent or temporary disabilities who provide appropriate documentation and meet the eligibility requirements. Please note: You must be approved for this service by your DSP Specialist. The process for acquiring test accommodations follows:

Letters to Instructors

All forms are in Acrobat Reader format. Click here to download Acrobat Reader.

1. Fill out an “Exam Accommodations Request Form” as early in the quarter as possible.
2. You can obtain a request form by clicking here or by coming into the DSP office. Once you have completed the form, submit it at the DSP front desk and letters will be available for you pick up within 3-5 working days.
3. Pick up your letters in the DSP office and take them to your instructor.
4. Meet with each instructor during their office hours to: a) inform him/her you will be requiring test accommodations, b) ask if a proctor is needed and, c) arrange the time and location of your exam. If your instructor asks for a DSP proctor, refer to the Test Proctor guidelines below.
5. Meet with your instructor(s) to confirm arrangements a week before your exam.

Test Proctors

1. Click here to download or come into DSP and pick up Proctor Request forms if your instructors want “proctors” to be present and/or if you need “active proctors”. You must complete a form for each exam even if there are other DSP students in the class
2. Complete the top portion of the form (you can complete it after downloading it from this page, or print it
3. Take a form to each instructor. The instructor should complete the middle portion of the form and provide the complete exam pick-up and return instructions.
4. Review the form to make sure it is complete. DSP cannot process incomplete request forms such as using TBA as a location.
5. Return the form to DSP at least 7 days before the exam.
6. Check the Proctor Tracking Sheet in the DSP note taking room before the exam to confirm that you have a proctor. Please notify DSP if tests are cancelled, dates change or you decide not to use accommodations.
7. If you are late for the exam, you will still need to complete the exam by the originally scheduled end time. If you are more than 30 minutes late, the proctor will no longer be available; you will then need to take the exam with the rest of the class without accommodations.

Registration Assistance

When you are approved to receive services from Disabled Students Program as a permanently disabled student, you will automatically be given priority registration, which should become available to you the following quarter after you register with our program.

Deaf Student Services

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Effective 10/1/06

• INTRODUCTION

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is committed to ensuring that students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are provided equal access to programming. The Disabled Students Program (DSP) is the central location on campus for arranging academic support services for disabled students. DSP provides FM systems, note taking, and sign language interpreting services for regularly enrolled deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

DSP provides services that are academically related only. Academic requests include: lectures, discussion sections, labs, and meetings with professors, TA’s or academic advisors. DSP coordinates all other student requests for the campus community and recharges appropriate departments.

These guidelines explain the type of auxiliary services, aids and accommodations available and the procedures for requesting services. These policies and procedures are an effort to minimize administrative difficulties and to assure students are provided with appropriate services. If you have any questions, desire clarification or wish to comment on this policy, please contact Claudia Nicastro Batty, Deaf Services Coordinator (DSC) at 893-8897 or Claudia.Batty@sa.ucsb.edu

In order to ensure that our services operate as smoothly as possible, you are expected to observe the following:

• ESTABLISHING AND REQUESTING SERVICES

Prior to registering for courses, each deaf student who is requesting communication services must submit complete and current disability documentation to determine eligibility for services. Documentation required includes the following: Audiogram results aided and unaided within the past year prior to requesting services accompanied by a report written by an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Physician, General Physician or Audiologist.

Once eligibility for services are determined the student meets with the DSC, Claudia Batty to discuss scheduling for a supplemental orientation on how to access services. Priority registration will be available for all subsequent quarters. It is advisable that students meet with the DSC subsequent quarters to discuss scheduling. Students may register for classes on-line using GOLD or may meet with the DSC for assistance with registration. Immediately following registration, students are expected to submit their class schedule with their request for communication services to the DSC. If changes are made to students’ schedules the DSP office shall be informed immediately to cancel or add services upon the student’s request. The DSP office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM – noon and 1 PM - 4 PM.

Students may request services by submitting the appropriate request form available on-line under Service Request Forms (click here to download this form, an MS Word document) and in the DSP office. If using the on-line form, please submit the completed form as an attached word document to commrequests@sa.ucsb.edu. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all information on the form is accurate and complete. This includes course number; course or event title, indication of lecture, discussion, lab, meeting etc., begin and end dates, days, times, room number, professors', speakers’ names and hosting department, if available. Please include only one event on each Service Request Form. The same event with multiple and/or reoccurring dates may be submitted on one form.

Requests for services for assignments occurring on a one-time or limited basis are asked to be made a minimum of 72 hours in advance. DSP understands this is not always feasible and will make every effort to secure the communication service requested by the student within a shorter timeframe. In the event that the requested service is not available, the DSC will make every effort to arrange for reasonable, alternative accommodations. Requests for all assignments are made through DSP only and are not arranged by the service provider.

• AVAILABLE COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Sign Language Interpreting Services -Manuel Code of English (MCE) -Pidgin Sign English (PSE) -American Sign Language (ASL)

Assisstive Listening Devices (ALD’s) can be loaned out by DSP by emailing commrequests@sa.ucsb.edu Classrooms equipped with infrared systems include the following: Eng 1104, Campbell Hall, Chem 1179, Broida 1610, Buchannan 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and Girvetz 100

• NOTE TAKING

Students complete a note taking request form available on-line on the DSP web site under Service Requests Forms. Note takers make copies of class notes within 24 hours following the class and place them in the students DSP mail slot or email them to the student. If students are picking up notes in the DSP office they must be picked up minimally once per week. For additional information refer to DSP Student Guidelines.

The communication services identified above are not mutually exclusive. Where necessary, for effective communication, and based upon an individualized assessment of the student's needs and circumstances, these communication services will be provided in combination. In determining what communication services are necessary, DSP gives primary consideration to the student's requests. Students are encouraged to promptly report any difficulties that may arise with their services to DSP. The office will investigate the reported complaint and take appropriate steps necessary to resolve the problem. Students who are unsatisfied with the resolution may seek assistance through DSP’s internal and/or campus-wide grievance procedures. Information in also available on the DSP web site: www.sa.ucsb.edu/dsp

With the permission of the student, the DSC will send a letter to professors and instructors of classes in which the student is enrolled. The letter notifies the instructors that a deaf or hard-of-hearing student is in the class and of the student's accommodation needs. A brochure addressing how to work with a sign language interpreter, and deaf or hard-of-hearing student is also sent to instructors. The closed and open captioning needs of the student with regard to videos and movies are also identified in the brochure.

• BACKUP SERVICES

If a scheduled auxiliary service provider cannot show up for his/her assignment (e.g., calls in sick), the DSC will try to arrange for a substitute provider to cover the assignment. The DSC will first attempt to secure the services of the same type of provider from among staff. If none is available, the DSC will attempt to secure the services of a substitute provider from outside agencies. If the same type of communication service normally assigned is not available either through the DSC's staff or through outside agencies, the DSC will attempt to secure the services of an alternative type of service provider.

In cases where no substitutes are available for a particular assignment, the DSC will notify the student via e-mail. The student will have class notes provided by their note taker. Upon a students request, DSP will loan tape recorders for use in class. Recorders can be obtained by emailing commrequests@sa.ucsb.edu or from the DSP office. A DSP staff member will demonstrate how to use tape recorders or ALD’s to students who check them out. The audio tape will then be signed by an interpreter.

• NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES and CANCELLATIONS

DSP asks that students promptly, minimally 72 hours in advance or three business days) notify the DSP office of any changes in their schedule for which services have been established. This includes, but is not limited to: course schedule, cancellations (including exams in which you do not need services), changes in assignment location, time changes, late arrival or leaving class early. This allows the DSC to reassign staff and free-lance providers as needed. We understand that there will be times when it is not possible to provide a 72 hour advance notice. In such circumstances, please contact commrequests@sa.ucsb.edu as soon as you know of any adjustment in your schedule. If you do not attend a class for which interpreting services were scheduled and you do not provide advance notice of the cancellation, we request that you contact the DSC as soon as possible to confirm that you continue to need the services for that class.

• TARDINESS

If notice of the student's anticipated tardiness is received by the DSC, the regularly assigned service provider will stay at the class for as long as the student has indicated he/she will be late. We recognize that there may be instances in which, due to unavoidable circumstances, a student may not be able to provide advance notice of being late for class. If no advance notice of lateness is provided, service providers remain at the assignment site for 15 minutes after the start of class for a one-hour class, 20 minutes for two hour classes, and 30 minutes for class three hours in duration and longer.

In cases in which the student has failed to provide advance notice of lateness and does not show up for class within the time outlined above, service providers are instructed to return to the DSP office or to another assignment. Students who arrive at class after the service provider has left are requested to contact the DSC. The DSC will determine the appropriate course of action.

Educational Testing Referrals

Psycho-educational testing that is required to receive services for a learning disability or AD/HD can be obtained from several local service providers. A list of these providers may be obtained from any disabilities specialist in our office.

If you have never been tested for a Learning Disability or Attention Deficit Disorder, prior to undertaking extensive testing, we strongly recommend you complete a screening which will be evaluated by graduate interns from the Counseling/ Clinical/ School Psychology Program at their program as part of the Gevirtz School of Education. This screening is free, and you can pick up screening forms from their lobby at:

The Ray E. Hosford Clinic
1110 Phelps Hall
Graduate School of Education
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490


(805) 893-8064

For more information about screenings, please send an email message to screen@education.ucsb.edu . After completing the screening, the interns can best recommend if further testing is advisable and also provide you with a list of local area referrals.

Community referrals for disability diagnoses can also be obtained through the Disabled Students Program. The Disabled Students Program maintains a list of community referrals covered by USHIP and GSHIP insurance and referrals who offer UCSB students a discounted rate for assessments.