Rights and Responsibilities
Columbia College Chicago is required to respond to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined both in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL-93-112) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (PL-101-336) through the provision of auxiliary aids and services that allow a student to fully participate in the programs, services, and activities at Columbia College Chicago. However, as a student with a disability, you should adhere to certain responsibilities, which will facilitate the process of having your accommodations met properly and in a timely fashion. In the end, the result will be better academic performance and improved relationships with your instructors. For ease of reading, feel free to refer to only those accommodations/services that apply to you.
In order to become eligible for services and accommodations as a student with disabilities, it is your responsibility to provide documentation of your disability to the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). After this point, it is essential that you alert SSD to any changes in your contact information. If we cannot reach you, we cannot be expected to apprise you of essential information.
| Accomodation or Service | Person(s) Responsible | How? |
| Acquiring accommodation letters | Student, SSD | It is your responsibility to visit the SSD office to discuss your accommodations and to pick up your letters no later than the first week of the semester and that you set aside at least 45 minutes to get your letters and to discuss your rights and responsibilities with a SSD counselor. Appointments are encouraged! |
| Presenting accommodation letters to instructor | Student | It is your responsibility to present your accommodation letters to instructors at the beginning of the semester BEFORE a problem arises. If you choose not to self-identify early and a problem arises, instructors may unfortunately not be able to accommodate your needs in a timely fashion. We encourage you to make an appointment with your instructors to discuss your accommodations early in the semester. |
| Use of tape-recorded textbooks | Student,SSD, Instructor, Library | Contact SSD ASAP because the tapes usually take 1-2 weeks to arrive, and sometimes longer. It is your responsibility to check with SSD on the arrival status of your taped books. It is also your responsibility to obtain a copy of your text (through a loan from your instructor or on-reserve at the library) while you wait for the tapes. While you wait for your tapes, you can use SSD's Kurzweil readers (which scan in and read your books to you) or SSD's CCTV or VideoEye (for text-enlargement), or make appointments to have SSD assistants read to you. You should not wait to start reading your course material until your books on tape arrive, since tapes may arrive late. SSD is not responsible for late assignments or students falling behind in their readings. |
| Permission to tape-record lectures | Student, Instructor, and SSD can assist (if requested) | If you do not own a tape recorder, you may borrow one from SSD. You must return the tape recorder at the end of each semester checked out. You must also inform your instructor that you will be tape-recording the lecture. |
| Note-taker | Student, Instructor, SSD, and Volunteer | You should present your accommodation letter along with your Note-taker Request Form to your instructor early in the term. Your instructor should then ask the class for volunteers to take notes. If someone volunteers, the volunteer needs to come to SSD to get the necessary materials and to sign up to get paid. If no one volunteers, ask your instructor if s/he is willing to provide you with a copy of his/her notes. If neither of these works out and/or you have a note-taker who does not consistently attend class, it is responsibility to contact SSD to let us know the class and instructor for which you have no note-taker so that we can find one for you. NOTE: A note-taker does NOT relieve you of the responsibilities to attend class and actively participate. |
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Extended time on tests, quizzes, and/or in-class assignments AND/OR Separate, distraction-free room for testing |
Student, Instructor, and SSD can assist (if requested) | You should remind your instructors at least 2 weeks prior to your exam that you have either of these accommodations to allow them adequate time in case they need to arrange a separate location for you to come early/stay late and/or to find someone to proctor the exam. If you would like to take the test at SSD, you need to provide your instructors with SSD's Test Scheduling Form and set up an appointment with SSD to take your test. For extended time on assignments, arrange acceptable due dates with your instructors in advance. |
| Oral, as well as written explanations of tests, quizzes, and assignments | Student, Instructor, & SSD can assist (if requested) | It will likely help to remind your instructor that you need to have this accommodation so that s/he will ensure to write down as well as to state what expectations are. It will be especially important to make sure that you are provided with oral and written explanations of any changes to the syllabus. If you have accommodations for a separate room and/or extended time during testing and you will be taking your test at SSD (see Test Scheduling Form), a SSD staff member can provide oral explanations of your tests. If your instructor is proctoring, however, s/he or an assistant will need to provide these explanations for you. |
| Permission to respond orally on essay tests/quizzes, and/or to have a scribe (to record in writing what is dictated by the student) |
Student, Instructor, and SSD can assist (if requested) |
You should remind your instructor about this accommodation at least 2 weeks before your test/quiz because it will require booking a separate room in order to enhance your performance. Responses can be dictated directly to instructor/class assistant, can be recorded on a tape-recorder (SSD can provide a tape-recorder and transcribing machine, if desired), and/or through Dragon Naturally Speaking software, which types spoken material, in SSD. (Training Dragon software usually takes a few weeks, however.) Once agreed upon by the instructor and student, the instructor can call SSD to arrange a scribe, or a SSD work-study or tutor can be used (see Test Scheduling Form). |
| Use of computer for in-class written work and/or tests | Student, Instructor, and SSD can assist (if requested) | If you have problems with spelling and/or illegible handwriting, you and your instructor need to work out access to a computer. SSD can provide a computer if we proctor your exams (see Test Scheduling Form), and may be able to help if you and your instructor can't get access to a computer in your class. |
| Text-enlarging software for computer classes. | Student, SSD | If you need a text-enlarging software loaded onto your computer, it is your responsibility to notify SSD. |
| Enlarged copies or Braille copies of printed materials distributed in class. | Student, Instructor, and SSD can assist (if requested) | You should let your instructor know right away how large you need to have overheads and handouts so that instructors can make them a sufficient size to begin with or so that they can enlarge them. If instructors don't have access to a copier that enlarges, they may use SSD's. If Braille is needed, please have your instructor consult SSD right away. NOTE: You should receive modified in-class materials at the same time the other students receive the material. |
| ASL-English Interpreter | Student, Interpreting Services | You must call or email Shelley Engstrom-Kestel at least 3 days before you need an interpreter ((312) 344-8295/V or (312) 360-0767/TTY; shelleyengstromkestel@colum.edu.Interpreting Services is located in the 33 E. Congress building, Ste.520 |
| Adjustable desk or other classroom-furniture-related accommodations | Student, SSD, Executive Vice President's Office, & Instructor | At least a week before the semester begins, you must alert SSD to your schedule so that we can notify the Executive Vice President's Office to provide adaptive furniture. Alternatively, if you sign a form authorizing SSD to do so, we can access what courses you have registered for and we will contact the Executive Vice President's Office automatically. Your instructor may need to prevent unauthorized students from occupying adaptive furniture and should notify SSD if adaptive furniture is not delivered. |
| Preferential seating | Student; Instructor | You should arrive to class early on the first day and arrange with the instructor where you will need to sit (in the front, near a door, etc.) |
| Permission to use a calculator during tests | Student | No special arrangements unless you have a talking calculator, in which case you should use headphones. |
| If your needs change from class-to class | Student, Instructor, SSD, and possibly others> | It is your responsibility to discuss with instructors how your disabilities may affect you in certain classes so that you can be accommodated. We recommend you call the course instructors and learn about course requirements in order to know what services, accommodations, and equipment you will need 3 weeks before the class begins. Then, call our office and let us know at least 2 weeks before the class starts so that we can make the arrangements. Let us know which classrooms you're in, too, if possible. There are simply not enough SSD staff to call all the instructors for each student who has specific needs in a class and to find out how to accommodate students. Besides, no one knows your strengths and weaknesses (and could therefore convey your situation) as well as you do.> |
| Specific SSD services | Student, SSD | If you have specific, out-of-class needs, make an appointment, whether it be with a tutor, a volunteer who will read to you, etc. That way, we can ensure that someone is in our office to meet your needs in a timely fashion. |
| SSD:?Drop-In? versus Appointment | Student, SSD | We are available to work with you on such skills as time-management, note-taking, academic planning, and organization, but improving these and other skills takes time and consistency. For these types of services, we therefore recommend that you make regular appointments with the staff. Dropping in or making appointments with the staff is recommended throughout the semester for other issues such as updating us on your classes, getting advice about approaching your instructors with concerns, and/or information to get you started searching for jobs, apartments, and scholarships. |
SSD's Test Scheduling Form needs to be filled out by you and your instructor any time you two decide to have SSD proctor an exam. This form is necessary to schedule the date and time of your exam, to ensure that SSD has available a quiet room in which you can test,and to alert SSD to how the test is to be administered (for example, if the test is/isn't open-book, if you are/aren't allowed to use a calculator, etc.).You must pick up the Test Scheduling Form from SSD and give it to your instructor at least two weeks before the exam. Your instructor then needs to return the Test Scheduling Form to SSD 48 hours prior to scheduling time. You should call SSD to ensure that the Test Scheduling Form has been received and to schedule your exam at least 24 hours in advance It is your responsibility (not your instructor's or SSD's) to make sure that the test is delivered to our office.
Whenever you have a note-taker listed as one of your accommodations, you should be given a Note-taker Request form along with your accommodation letters. You should present both forms together to your instructor in the first week of the semester. If there is no note-taker form with your accommodation letter, your instructor can still follow the procedure for soliciting a note-taker listed above, or you can contact SSD immediately and we will send your instructor a form.
Important Notices about Accommodations
- When you set up a time to take a test at SSD, you must be on time just as you would if you were showing up for a test with the rest of the class. If you do not come to SSD at the scheduled time to take your test, we will return the test to your professor.
- Extra time does not apply to take-home exams. In other words, if the instructor gives the class 4 days, you do NOT get 8. The beauty of take-home exams is that they allow instructors to build accommodations (such as extra time, a distraction-free testing room, and access to a computer) right into the exam. If you feel strongly that you need extra time on this type of exam, however, approach the instructor ahead of time, not after time has run out.
- If you have the right to extra time on tests and your instructor decides to give extra time to the whole class, the instructor has fulfilled his/her obligation with regard to this accommodation. For instance, if the instructor created an exam that was intended to be 1 hour and gave everyone 2 hours, this would be fine. Just because EVERYONE was given 2 hours for this test does not actually mean you should have been given 4 hours.
- Keep in mind that sometimes it's not in your best interest to have a large amount of extra time on all assignments, as you might get far behind in the class.
Problems Related to Accommodations
If you are experiencing difficulties in a class such as not being able to see overheads adequately or having difficulties hearing or understanding lectures/assignments, you must let your instructor know so that s/he can make the necessary adjustments.
If you and/or your instructor would like assistance from SSD to implement the adjustments that you need, please contact our office. It is also your responsibility, not your instructor's, to let SSD know if a note-taker doesn't initially sign up for you or if a note-taker signs up but does not consistently provide you with notes. Let our office know your instructor's name and the course, and we will find a note-taker. We can't know you're having problems unless you tell us. We do not call instructors routinely to check up on our students with disabilities--that would be an invasion of your privacy. You must let us know if there is a problem.
If you have shown your letters to an instructor and s/he is not honoring one or more of the listed accommodations, approach him/her immediately. Try gently reminding him/her about the letters. Indicate how SSD can help if your instructors concerned about, for example, staying long to proctor the exam, where they'll find a distraction-free room, where they can enlarge copies, etc.
If the instructor seems unwilling to work with you or says that nothing can be worked out, contact SSD. These are your legal rights, and if you have fulfilled your responsibilities, our office will intervene and mediate so that your rights are met. Keep in mind, however, that instructors who are not meeting your rights are generally not trying to be mean; they may not understand the requirements or know how to best accommodate you, which is part of why SSD exists!
Although SSD cannot make retroactive adjustments to your accommodations, if you think your accommodations are inappropriate for your circumstances, we will be happy to discuss future adjustments with you. Please make an appointment with us as soon as you are aware that your needs have changed. Be proactive and try to head off problems before they arise. (In other words, if you think you're going to run out of time on a project for which you have an extension, approach your instructor before the agreed-upon due date, and we'll be willing to help out.) You'll do better in the end, and instructors will increasingly view students with disabilities as responsible, take-charge students who are serious about their academic success.
I have read and understood the responsibilities related to my accommodation(s). I have also read and understood the "important notices about accommodations and the "problems related to accommodations" sections of this document.