Disability Services Available Services
The following services are provided routinely, per individual student eligibility:
- Reasonable modification of university policies, practices, and procedures
- Adapted administration of course tests
- Lecture notes for students with writing impairments
- Sign interpreters
- Assistive listening devices
- Loaner equipment
- Access to textbooks and other print materials
- Training on accessible features of computing-and-information services
- Wheelchair-accessible on-campus transportation
- Information and referral
- Reasonable accommodations for student housing
Reasonable Modification of University Policies, Practices, and Procedures
Government regulations require that university policies, practices, and procedures not discriminate on the basis of disability. Disability Services coordinates reasonable modifications so that individuals with disabilities can access and benefit from all programs, services, and activities of the university.
Adapted Administration Of Course Tests
Reasonable modification of the conditions, manner, or duration under which tests are administrated is provided, depending on the particular functional limitations of the individual student's disability. Modifications include but are not limited to:
- Extended time and/or uncharged breaks
- Distraction-reduced setting
- Reader or scribe
- Computer for essay writing
- Calculator
- Assistance with completing scantron sheets
Lecture Notes for Students with Writing Impairments
At the recommendation of Disability Services, course instructors help recruit classmates to share their notes with students whose disabilities impair the various functions needed to take effective lecture notes. Note takers may work as volunteers or may be paid as part-time student workers. Disability Services provides free photocopying or carbonless impression paper. During the 2005-06 academic year, a pilot program will be launched, using portable electronic note taking devices.
Sign Interpreters
Sign interpreters are provided for students with hearing impairments to access course lectures and other academic functions. It is essential and required that students requesting sign interpreters make timely requests for sign interpreting.
Assistive Listening Devices
Public address systems in lecture halls emit infrared signals that can be picked up and amplified by receiver headsets. See Disability Services for more details.
Loaner Equipment
Disability Services has a limited supply of loaner equipment for temporary use by students with disabilities, such as tape recorders and audio book players.
Access to textbooks and Other Print Materials
Disability Services provides electronic text and audio recordings of textbooks and other print materials necessary for meeting course requirements. Accessible print materials may be in the form of:
- Audio recordings made by human reader's through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic
- Electronic text on a CD-ROM
- Braille and large print (only for courses such as advanced math and foreign-language)
Note: when accessible textbooks cannot be obtained from other sources, Disability Services can put many of the student's textbooks through a high-speed scanner and optical-conversion process. Consult with Disability Services for details.
Training on Accessible Features of Computing-and-Information Services
Disability Services provides individualized training for students learning to access electronic text as well as UB's accessible computer workstations. Consult with Disability Services for details.
Wheelchair-Accessible On-Campus Transportation
Parking and Transportation has a wheelchair-accessible van as an alternative to campus buses and shuttles. Click here for more information about accessible transportation.
Information and Referral
Disability Services assists campus-community members with identifying services, both on-and off-campus, which may be of special interest for meeting both academic and campus-life needs.
Reasonable accommodations for student housing
Students who need reasonable accommodation for accessing student housing should contact Disability Services to make their accommodation requests. Current, comprehensive, and authoritative medical or psychological documentation of the basis for the request is required. Click here for more information on documenting your disability.
Unavailable Services
Disability Services does not provide the following:
- Medical or psychological assessment and diagnosis
- Attendant-care aides
- Aids or equipment for personal study
- Fundamental alteration of the nature or purpose of programs, services, and activities
- Reduction of academic standards
- Waiver of program essentials
- Services that would pose a direct threat to the health or safety to self or others
- Supplemental learning services