Services

The following are examples of the type of services that the DSS office provides to LMU students:

• Maintains confidential student records regarding thier disabilities;

• Receives and evaluates documentation provided by students verifying disabilities;

• Consults with students and arranges appropriate individualized accommodations based upon documentation;

• Certifies eligibility for accommodation services;

• Serves as an advocate for students with faculty and/or administrators,

• Arranges for students' use of auxiliary aides (devices or services that compensate for a disabling condition; i.e. qualified Interpreters or Captionists, assistive technology, etc.);

• Provides information, academic advisement, and individual counseling to students regarding disability issues, their legal rights and responsibilities;

• Conducts informational and training programs regarding services to persons with disabilities for the university faculty and staff;

• Consults with faculty regarding the instructional needs of individual students with disabilities;

• Consults with other campus departments regarding the needs of students with disabilities (e.g. Facilities Management, Admissions, Registrar's Office, Student Accounts, Advisement and Counseling, Student Housing, Student Life, etc.);

• Communicates information regarding the DSS program to the campus community (e.g. brochures, relevant paragraphs in College catalog, Student Handbook, newsletters, etc.).

A documentation review must be completed and it must be found in the review that the student meets the requirements as defined by the ADA before accommodations may be recieved. Upon verifying eligibility, students may receive accommodations such as:

• Priority registration of all classes;

• Assistance in scheduling classes in accessible locations;

• Note takers;

• Extended testing time;

• Testing in a private room;

• Readers and/or transcribers;

• Interpreters and/or captionists;

• Assistance in obtaining a Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic membership (to obtain books on tape);

• Technology equipment that enlarges printed text (Closed Circuit Television);

• A computer adapted with a voice synthesizer and a screen-reading program (Kurzweil 3000, and JAWS for Windows);

• A dictation program (Dragon Naturally Speaking), which provides voice to text capabilities;

• Network referral system of outside agencies which may further assist a student with a disability.

ADA does not require colleges to provide personal assistants or personal assistive technology - this includes transportation services for students with disabilities. Whenever possible, the DSS Office will refer students to agencies which may provide personal assistance of that nature. Accommodations are not made which would reduce academic expectations, standards, or which would eliminate essential components of any course.