Confidentiality is an extremely important issue when interacting with any student
Instructors may not ask the student the nature of his/her disability. Students with disabilities may be very guarded in the information that they may want to share. It is important to respect a student’s right to exercise personal discretion in the disclosure of individual disabilities. Students are under the protection of confidentiality laws and need not disclose the specific nature of the disability.
Note takers
The ADA Office relies as much as possible on in-class volunteers to provide note taking services for qualified students. Special NCR (no-carbon required) note taking paper is available in the ADA Office. Some students find their own note takers, but generally the ADA Office asks the instructor to announce the need for a note taker by means of a letter sent the first week of classes. A sample of this letter is located in the back of this booklet marked “EXHIBIT B”.
Textbooks in Alternative Format
Recorded textbooks can be obtained through Recordings for the Blind and the ADA Office can help students apply for this service. Making arrangements to provide audio books on CD’s or EText from a publisher can be a timely process. Instructors can assist by making required book lists available well in advance of the first day of class.
Technology
The ADA Office at JSCC is committed to keeping pace with technological advances that can improve educational access to students with disabilities. Listed below are some technological accommodations that this office currently can offer to students. Accessible Internet course for the Deaf and Visually Impaired (LIFT Assist) Adaptive computer software (Kurzweil, Dragon’s Naturally Speaking, JAWS) Portable CD Players for books on audio CD
Required Quiz
Jefferson State Community College requires all faculty and staff members to complete the ADA Orientation each year. This orientation and quiz is accessible through JeffNet and also on jeffersonstate.edu From the web site: click on Students then Student Services, ADA Office and ADA Training for Instructors. Complete the quiz and the results will be forwarded to the ADA Office.