Accommodations at ACC

Reasonable accommodations are determined based on your disability, disability documentation and your interview with Student Accessibility Services staff.

Accommodations are approved on a class by class basis and do not necessarily carry over from one semester to the next. You have the option to use any or all of your approved accommodations that you may need to access your course and materials.

At ACC, students, faculty and SAS staff share the responsibility for providing accommodations. Below you will find a sample of some common accommodations, and who is responsible for them.

  • Reader (Kurzweil or other reading software)
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Provide faculty with NAA
      • Schedule tests with SAS office at least 5 business days (1 week) in advance
      • Remind instructor you will test with accommodations
      • Provide student with license for Kurzweil, or JAWS/Fusion
      • Notify faculty of testing appointment
      • Obtain test and/or test password
      		 Provide the following upon request from SASTest@austincc.edu
      • Copy of test if requested
      • Instructions for administration
      • Platform of administration
      • Time allowed
      • Deadline

      Using Kerzweil for Testing

      Kurzweil - Web Instructions

  • Note Taking Support - Peer Note Taker
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Provide faculty with NAA and note sharing information
      • Notify SAS as soon as possible if you are not receiving notes, or there is an issue with notes.
      • Provide faculty with script for recruiting note taker; set up note taker with contract
      • Ensure student receives notes through office portal
      • Help to identify a responsible notetaker and refer them to the SAS office

      Note Taking Support - Peer Note Taker
      Note taking support is meant to supplement your notes, audio recordings and other course materials that are available from your instructor.

      When you are approved for note taking support:

      • SAS will communicate with faculty for the need of a peer note taker.  Faculty will post an announcement in Blackboard, announce during class and/or send an email to the class soliciting a classmate for note taking support.  You may also request support from a classmate directly.
      • Note taking support will begin as soon as a peer note taker is identified
      • Once the note taker is identified, SAS will provide the note taker with the appropriate  paperwork and provide instructions on how to provide notes.
      • Notes should be received within 24-48 hours after the end of the class period
      • SAS will monitor the notes for quality assurance
      • You must alert SAS immediately if there are any issues with the notes.  For example, they are illegible, you haven’t received them in a timely manner, or the note taker has dropped the class.
      • You can also communicate directly with the peer note taker or your instructor.
      • If a note taker is not identified within one week, SAS will determine an alternative method for you to receive notes.  This may include audio recording, assistive technology, instructor notes (if available) or a paid note taker.
  • Note Taking Support - Glean or Sonocent (assistive technology)
  • Extended Testing Time
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Provide faculty with NAA
      • Fill out the SAS Test Request Form for each exam 1 week in advance if appropriate
      • SAS Testing staff contacts faculty
      • Determines proctoring or monitoring accessibility
      • Faculty communicates with SAS Testing about time allowed for exams
      • Faculty adjusts the time allowed in Blackboard or other platforms
  • Electronic/Audio copy of textbooks
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Publisher requires that you must provide proof of purchase/rental to SAS office
      • SAS will provide student with digital textbook and text-to-speech software license

      N/A
  • Sign Language Interpreter or CART (real-time captioning)
  • Captioning (media)
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Provide faculty with NAA
      • Provide faculty with captioning request  information
  • Course and Written Materials
    • Student Responsibilities
      		 SAS Responsibiliities Faculty Responsibilities
      • Discuss preferred format with SAS
      • Communicate with faculty regarding format
      		  
      • Ensure that materials are available in Blackboard
      • Notify student/SAS of format/location of materials

High School vs. College

Have a disability?  Understanding some of the differences between high school and college can help you have a smoother transition.

High School vs. College
High School College
Teachers and parents remind you of responsibilities. You manage your own time and coursework.
Teachers may initiate contact with you. You will need to initiate contact with instructors.
Teachers may give notes if you missed class or provide you with assignments and an extended due date. Instructors expect you to be prepared for class even when you have missed class.
You may study two to eight hours a week. You should study an average of two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class.
The school prepares and provides documentation of disability. Documentation is required, and you (the student) must provide it.
The school proves eligibility. You (the student) must prove eligibility.
Content of the program is altered to fit you. Course content is not altered, although the method of learning may be altered.
Parents, teachers, counselors and special education professionals track you and your services each year. You must identify yourself every semester if you want services.