Disabled students work with SDS to receive accommodations

By Taghrid Alrajoula
Correspondent writer

According to the office of Students with Disabilities Service’s website (SDS), USF is required by federal law to provide students with documented disabilities with any accommodations they may need to learn effectively.

The accommodation process consists of a student presenting documentation of their disability to the SDS office, a staff review of that documentation and a meeting with the student to determine the appropriate accommodations. Memos are then created for individual faculty members and students deliver the memos and have a confidential conversation regarding the necessary accommodations. Faculty members are required by law to comply with these accommodations. It is rare that a faculty member neglects to comply.

"First and foremost, that almost never happens," said Deborah McCarthy, director of students with disabilities services. "If the faculty member does have concerns, a faculty member and a member of the SDS staff work together to resolve the issue."

Accommodations exist for classrooms, exams, course loads and temporary injury or medical condition assistance. Common accommodations include access to Power Point presentations, alternatively formatted texts, such as in Braille, copies of class notes and extended exam times.

Senior Kyle Romano, a communications major, said he goes to SDS before every semester to receive his accommodations.

"I get notes that teachers provide me with and I get double time on tests so really I just go there because they provide me with services I need to be able to be involved in the academic environment as much as I possibly can," Romano said.

He said his experience with SDS has been very positive.

"The office of disabilities is amazing," he said. "They help me out with whatever I need and the teachers are really good too if I need anything they’re really accommodating."

Although these accommodations are available to the hundreds of students with disabilities on campus, many may not necessarily use them.

"SDS currently has about 600 students registered. All services are provided because a student requests them," McCarthy said. "There are many students on campus with disabilities who do not need academic accommodations and thus don’t work with SDS."

SDS works with the faculty and staff on campus, deans and offers a guide online that McCarthy believes would also be useful to students.

"SDS is available to work with faculty as requested. We also participate in new faculty resource fairs, dean’s councils and departmental meetings," she said. "Our faculty staff guide on the web site is a great resource for all faculty/staff. Students may find the information useful as well."

McCarthy said that it might not even be evident that a student has a disability, so discretion and respect is advised when interacting with fellow classmates.

"The majority of disabilities are invisible. Thus, it’s best to assume that you might be interacting with someone who has a disability even if you can’t see it. Treat all with courtesy and respect," McCarthy said. "Ask before you touch someone or offer assistance and, be willing to listen to the answer."

McCarthy said creating a welcoming atmosphere is integral for all students, whether they have disabilities or not.

"Creating an accessible campus is about sharing an attitude that every student is welcome and capable," she said. "I think it’s important that all of us understand the abilities of our friends, peers and colleagues and work to create a campus environment that supports all of those abilities."