Accessibility Resources
The primary purpose of the Accessibility Resources office at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College is to give students with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their academic goals.
Starting on March 17, 2020, the office of Testing Services will not be proctoring in-person exams until further notice. During this unprecedented time we will work diligently each day to reduce potential impacts on you, your family, and our community while continuing in our educational mission.
Currently enrolled UC Clermont students that require Testing Accommodations will continue to receive support in coordination with the office of Accessible Resources.
See "Student Resources" below for UC Clermont Remote Testing Accommodation FAQs.
To initiate these specialized services, students need to self-identify and have the proper documentation sent to the program coordinator of Accessibility Resources. The program coordinator also acts as a liaison with other college officers and departments including faculty, advising/scheduling, bookstore and any other referrals.
The most appropriate academic assistance in the classroom and/or at the college will be developed to the mutual satisfaction of the student, faculty and the director of Accessibility Resources.
All UC Clermont College students who require academic accommodations or other specialized services due to disabilities should refer to the following information or contact the program coordinator of Accessibility Resources to access these services.
The mission of the University of Cincinnati Clermont College Accessibility Resources office is threefold:
- It seeks to ensure that all students with disabilities can freely and actively participate in all facets of college life.
- Through this effort, it hopes to provide and coordinate support services to maximize students' educational potential and develop their independence to the fullest extent possible by providing and coordinating support services.
- Finally, this program strives to increase the level of awareness among the UC Clermont College community so that students with disabilities are able to perform at a level limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities.
To Qualify for Services
Accessibility Resources provides assistance, appropriate accommodations or other specialized services for students with all types of disabilities. We will provide “reasonable” accommodations as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
Below are some examples of disabilities that are eligible for services:
- Learning Disabilities
- Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD / ADHD
- Psychological - Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar, PTSD, OCD
- Medical/Chronic Illness - Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Crohn's, Migraines, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Sickle Cell
- Visual - Low Vision or Blind
- Hearing - Hearing Impaired or Deaf
- Physical - Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injury
- Autism Spectrum / Autism / Asperger’s
- Cognitive - Brain Injury, Concussion
If you believe that you may have a disability that is not listed above, please reach out to our office to discuss you individual circumstances.
Process
Students who have confirmed and are registered for classes should reach out to our office if interested in receiving accommodations or other specialized services while attending UC. Accommodations from an IEP or 504 Plan from high school will be reviewed and considered but do not automatically transfer to the college level.
Registration is a 3-step process:
1. Complete the Student Introductory Application.
2. Submit appropriate documentation using the guidelines described below, along with your Student Introductory Application.
3. AR will schedule an intake meeting with you. This will be scheduled after the documentation is reviewed. During this meeting we will discuss your needs, develop an appropriate plan, discuss the processes to access your accommodations, and additional support services available at UC Clermont.
Documentation
In order for our office to provide the most appropriate, most reasonable accommodations, documentation should follow the guidelines listed below. Once the documentation is provided, an intake interview will follow to discuss the impact of the disability within the academic environment.
Documentation such as Individual Education Program (IEP), Summary of Performance (SOP), Teacher Observations, full Psychological Evaluations, Psycho-Educational Evaluations (with test scores), physician's medical records, etc., may be submitted to our offices for review.
Documentation should be relevant and from a qualified professional or professionals that are licensed or credentialed with expertise in the diagnosed area of disability; i.e., a psychologist should not diagnose an orthopedic disability.
Guidelines
- A diagnosis of disability or impairment that limits a major life activity;
- A description of how the condition will impact the student within the academic environment;
- A listing of reasonable, appropriate accommodations that will lessen the impact of the disability within the academic setting.
NOTE: Our office reserves the right to ask for more documentation to clarify how the disability will impact the student within the academic setting. Documentation can be faxed, emailed, mailed or dropped off to our office:
Fax: 513-558-8225
Email: meghann.littrell@uc.edu
Meghann Littrell
Director, Accessibility Resources & Testing Services
Peters-Jones Building, Suite 105
UC Clermont College
4200 Clermont College Drive
Batavia, Ohio 45103
Accessibility Resources
Students,
We are experiencing truly unique times. To keep you updated, we would like to share the following information concerning our office. Check this web page regularly for additional information and updates concerning our office and accommodations related to COVID-19 and remote learning.
We are Open! Our office remains open, but we must meet with you remotely. The following services are still available:
Intake appointments for Spring 2020: We are still taking documentation and scheduling appointments. Please continue to use our Online Application for Services.
We are still taking appointments and may meet with you by phone or by WebEx. Reach out to Meghann Littrell to schedule an appointment.
Remote Testing Accommodations: In collaboration with testing services we've created a Remote Testing Accommodation FAQ's page. Please refer to this page for information on testing accommodations you may have available to you and how to utilize them.
Alternative Formats and Digital Accessibility
We are still accepting requests for alternative formats. Continue to use our Alternative Format Request Form to make requests, but check out these additional resources:
- BlackBoard/Canvas Ally: Alternative formats for your readings uploaded to BlackBoard or Canvas are immediately available to you directly in BlackBoard and Canvas.
Many Publishers and Book Retailers are making alternative format and accessible e-textbooks available for free to college students in response to COVID-19 and remote learning periods. Please take advantage for the following resources.
Communication Access Team
We are working with faculty and local technical personnel to provide closed captioning fo r videos and other pre-recorded media during our transition to remote instruction. Please direct questions or inquiries about closed captioning of course videos to Katheryn Lane at katheryn.lane@uc.edu.
All live lectures will be captioned remotely. For live remote CART, students will be provided with a link prior to the start of class. The captions can be accessed via, computer, laptop, tablet or phone, at any time during class. As always, students will be emailed a transcript within 48 hours. If you have any questions, please contact Molly Adams at molly.adams@uc.edu
If you need remote ASL/English interpreting services, please complete the online interpreter request form and our team will work to provide video remote interpreting. Additionally, if you need lectures interpreted – into either ASL or spoken English – our team is able t o work directly with you to provide those services. For additional information or questions, please contact Katherine Vance at katherine.vance@uc.edu.
- Accommodation Form Request
- Assistive Technology Resources
- UC Clermont Alternative Format Request form
- Grievance Procedure
- Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
- Semester Services Request Form - Students registered with the Accessibility Resources Office intending to utilize CAT services are responsible for completing the Semester Services Request Form prior to the start of a new semester.
- Accommodated Testing Procedures
- Accommodation Form Purpose and Explanation
Can I still use my testing accommodations in the virtual/online classroom setting?
Yes, your testing accommodations can be requested and utilized in an online setting. Students are responsible for contacting their professors and making their accommodation requests for each test, quiz, exam, final exam, etc. they wish to use accommodations on (find the example later on this page).
How do I make a request to use my testing accommodations?
Extended Time on Tests (Time & ½ or Double Time)
Students should contact their faculty members directly to request their Extended Time on Tests accommodations. Faculty members will adjust times appropriately in Canvas, Blackboard and other testing platforms. To ensure that your accommodation is in place at the time of your test, it is highly recommended that you send your email communication at least 72 hours before the time of your test. Students must request their accommodations for each test they wish to use accommodations on.
Email communication should include:
- The accommodation you are requesting for the upcoming test, quiz, exam, etc.
- What specific test you are requesting the accommodation for.
- The date of the test.
Example Email:
Dear Professor,
I’m writing to request my accommodation of Extended Time on Tests: Time & ½ for the Chapter 5 Test on Wednesday, March 25. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions please contact me or Accessibility Resources, accessresources@uc.edu.
Quiet Room or Individual Room
Students can take their online exams in an environment that best meets their needs. You do not need to make a formal request for a distraction reduced environment to your faculty members.
Reader
Students who utilize a reader accommodation will be able to use Assistive Technology, such as Read & Write Gold or their computer’s built in screen reader, to facilitate a reader accommodation. Students can download Read & Write Gold for free on Accessibility Resources Assistive Technology website. Windows users can also utilize Narrator, while Mac users can use the Speech features. If Assistive Technology is not a viable option, students should contact the Accessibility Resources Office to determine an appropriate plan of action.
Students who need a scribe accommodation can utilize dictation features built-in to both Mac and Windows computers. If Assistive Technology is not a viable option, students should contact the Accessibility Resources office to determine an appropriate plan of action.
What should I do if I need additional assistance with my testing accommodations?
Any student requiring assistance with their testing accommodations should contact the Accessibility Resources Office. The director will work with you and faculty to determine the best course of action to provide your accommodation.
UC Clermont Accessibility Resources
513-558-8225 | Email Clermont Accessibility Resources
Director: Meghann Littrell
Accessibility Resources and Testing Services staff are here to support students during the remainder of this semester, even if we are not physically on campus. Please reach out with questions or concerns so that we can make this period of transition a successful one.
- Accommodations while Teaching Remotely
- Class Attendance and Expectations
- Blackboard Test Availability Exceptions
- National Center on Disability and Access to Education - Document Cheatsheets
- ALLY Accessibility Indicators
- ALLY Accessible Content Basics
- ALLY Instructor Feedback
- Faculty Responsibilities for Accommodated Testing
- UC Accessibility Network
- IT@UC Knowledgebase for accessibility
- Make your Outlook email accessible to people with disabilities
- How can I give my students extra attempts or add extra time for tests and quizzes in Canvas?
- This link provides you with General Accessibility Design Guidelines in Canvas. There are examples/explanations on how to order headings, how to embed images, using descriptions rather than web links, proper use of color and more.
- UDOIT: The Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool or UDOIT (pronounced, “You Do It”) enables faculty to identify accessibility issues in their Canvas course content. It will scan a course, generate a report, and provide resources on how to address common accessibility issues. The tool was created by the Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Canvas officially supports the following screen reader and browser combinations:
- Macintosh: VoiceOver (latest version for Safari)
- PC: JAWS (latest version for Firefox)
- PC: NVDA (latest version for Firefox)
- There is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome
Official browser support means that these browsers are actively tested against Canvas code. Canvas may be able to be used in any other browser or screen reader not listed, but official support is not provided. Learn more about supported Canvas browsers.
Contact
Meghann Littrell
Director, Accessibility Resources & Testing Services