Accommodations

DSS will convert printed information to digital format in order to make it accessible to students with print disabilities.

1. If you are approved for the accommodation of Alternative Textbook Format, you will bring your textbook(s) to the DSS Office.
2. You will fill out a Book Scanning Request Form for each book.
3. The DSS Office will then attempt to secure a digital copy from the Publisher/Accesstext/Bookshare, etc.
4. If a digital copy cannot be obtained, the DSS Office can scan your textbook. To do this you will need to take your text book to the Print Shop on campus (PS room 16) and have the binding removed (there is no cost for this service). You will then return the book to the DSS Office for scanning. Once scanned, you will be given the book back (along with a rebinding form) and can return to the Print Shop to have the book rebound. You will receive the scanned version on a flash drive.
5. Obtaining books in a digital format can take a few days to several days.
6. The DSS Office provides this service on a first come first serve basis.

Alternative furniture may be provided to students for whom the standard desks and chairs in the classroom are inaccessible due to a physical disability. Examples of alternative furniture include padded seating, armless chairs, stand-alone accessible tables etc.

If you are in need of accessible furniture, please provide the DSS Office a copy of your schedule each semester. (Preferably before the semester begins).

Many classrooms on campus have assistive listening devices built in. For those classrooms that do not have these capabilities, a student with a hearing impairment may check out a FM Unit from the DSS Office. An FM Unit consists of a microphone unit the professor wears and a receiver unit the student wears.

DSS and the Registrar coordinate classroom changes each semester to accommodate students registered for courses located in classrooms that are inaccessible. Notify DSS early with requests for changes.

A student may need to arrange an alternative method for taking course examinations and quizzes due to disability. Students are expected to speak with faculty regarding testing accommodations when they present their accommodation letter. Working collaboratively with the professor is the best way to implement testing accommodations. 

Course instructors are responsible for providing testing accommodations, in collaboration with their appropriate administrative unit(s) (colleges, departments, schools and/or programs), and in consultation with students.

Certain circumstances will require DSS to administer exams on-site in the DSS office. In these instances, students must request testing accommodations with reasonable advance notice. Disability Support Services is committed to maintaining the highest academic integrity standards when administering exams. In order to meet this goal, we ask that all students follow testing procedures in a timely manner. A minimum of 3 days before a test is required (7 days for a final exam). Any request after this time will be noted but not guaranteed. 

Oakland University permits a qualified student with a disability to record class lectures as a reasonable accommodation. This is an accommodation to assist students in the note-taking process while still allowing students agency over their own note-taking. Students with various disabilities might utilize this accommodation to retrieve missed information or further clarification on concepts discussed in class.  

Students who are granted this accommodation understand these recordings are for personal use and are not to be shared with others. Inappropriate use of recordings by the student can lead to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

As a condition of receiving the recording accommodation, the student and Disability Support Services staff person sign a Recording Contract indicating that recordings are for personal academic use.

It is the student’s responsibility to provide a signed copy of the recording contract to each instructor each semester along with their Accommodation letter.