Student Disability Services
Student Guide

Introduction

Clemson University is committed to providing educational opportunities for all students and assisting them in making their college experience successful and positive. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Clemson University recognizes a student with a disability as anyone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Student Disability Services coordinates the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. All reasonable accommodations are individualized, flexible, and confidential based on the nature of the disability and the academic environment.

Individuals requesting accommodations must provide current documentation of their disability to the Office of Student Disability Services in Redfern Health Center (Voice/TTY 656-6848). Guidelines for licensed professionals who will be documenting the disability and making appropriate post-secondary recommendations are located at the Academic Support Center Website: www.clemson.edu/asc/pdf_files/AllSDSDocs.pdf

University Policies

Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities at the University have the right to:

  • Access courses, programs, services, activities, and facilities offered through the University.
  • Work, learn, and receive reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments ,and/or auxiliary aids and services.
  • Confidentiality of all information about their disability except as disclosures are required or permitted by law.

Students with disabilities at the University have the responsibility to:

  • Meet qualifications and maintain the essential University standard for courses, programs, services, and activities.
  • Self identify as an individual with a disability and seek information, counsel, and assistance when necessary.
  • Demonstrate and/or document (from an appropriate licensed professional)the disability.
  • Follow procedures for obtaining reasonable accommodations.
  • Request specific accommodations in a timely fashion, and ensure that the professor is aware of needed accommodations prior to each instance (e.g., each exam).
  • Understand the intent of the law….the law was meant to level the playing field and to give equal access, not an unfair advantage. Therefore, students are obligated to meet essential program requirements and are not entitled to accommodations that will eliminate, modify or fundamentally alter the requirements of the course regardless of disability classification/status. Students must satisfy essential academic requirements and standards of the institution.

Rights and Responsibilities of the Office of Student Disability Services
The Office of Student Disability Services has the right to:

  • Identify and establish appropriate accommodations for courses, programs, services, activities, and facilities.
  • Request and receive current documentation that supports the need for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.
  • Deny a request for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services if the documentation demonstrates that the request is not warranted, or if the individual fails to provide appropriate documentation.

The Office of Student Disability Services has the responsibility to:

  • Provide or arrange reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services for students.
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records and communication, except where permitted or required by law.
  • Make referrals to the Counseling Center, Student Health Center, Career Center, and other departments or organizations when appropriate.

Rights and Responsibilities of the Faculty and Staff
The Faculty and Staff have the right to:

  • Receive verification of a documented disability from the student in the form of a faculty accommodation letter. The Faculty Accommodation Letter will be generated by Student Disability Services using input from the documentation, the student's reported history and Clemson University Student Disability Services staff members.
  • Contact the Director of Student Disability Services to discuss accommodations.

The Faculty and Staff have the responsibility to:

  • Keep all disability related information regarding a student confidential.
  • Maintain the same standards for students with disabilities as are applied to all other students.
  • Provide and arrange any reasonable classroom accommodations as discussed in the Faculty Accommodation Letter.
  • Inform students of procedures for arranging accommodations at the beginning of each semester. A statement on the syllabus regarding accommodations is strongly encouraged.

Confidentiality and Release of Information
The Office of Student Disability Services is committed to ensuring all information regarding a student remains confidential as required or permitted by law. This information may include grades, biographical history, disability information, and case notes. No one has immediate access to student files in our office except authorized staff. Any information regarding a disability gained from medical or psychological evaluations shall be considered confidential and shall be shared with others within the institution on a need-to-know basis only.

Disability related information is to be treated as medical information. For example, University faculty and staff do not have a right or a need to access diagnostic or other information regarding a student's disability related needs. A student may sign a written consent form giving our office permission to discuss the disability with faculty and staff, parents, coaches, and/or advisors who require further information. Information will be released without consent when it is required by federal or state law.

Grievances
Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting the Office of Student Disability Services if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in an effective or timely manner. Our office works with students with disabilities and University personnel to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations. If no resolution is obtained, students who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of their disability may file a grievance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator in the Office of Access and Equity, E103 Martin Hall (Voice/TTY 656-0899).

University Procedures

Documentation for Services
Documentation from an appropriate licensed professional to certify that a student has a disability and to determine reasonable accommodations is required and must be provided by the student. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability, this office has the discretion to require additional documentation. Guidelines for appropriate documentation are located on the Academic Support Center website: www.clemson.edu/asc Documentation is kept in confidential files with consent forms and contact notes. Students are seen by self referral or from referrals by faculty or staff if a learning disability, attention deficit disorder, mobility impairment, or other disability is suspected.

Reasonable Accommodations
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, activity, or facility. It enables a qualified student with a disability an opportunity to attain the same level of performance or to enjoy benefits and privileges as are available to a similarly situated student without a disability. To determine reasonable accommodations, Student Disability Services may seek information from appropriate University personnel regarding essential standards for courses, programs, services, activities, and facilities. Reasonable accommodations are determined by examining:

  • Barriers resulting from interaction between the documented disability and the campus environment.
  • Possible accommodations that might remove the barriers.
  • Whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service, activity, or facility without accommodations.
  • Whether or not the essential elements of the course, program, service, activity, or facility are compromised by the accommodations.

All reasonable accommodations are individualized based on the nature of the disability and the academic environment and are discussed with each student confidentially. Below is a partial list of some of the potential accommodations received through our office.

  • Accessible classroom/location
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Auxiliary aids and services (note-takers, readers, transcribers)
  • Course substitutions (e.g., foreign language and math substitutions)
  • Document conversion (Braille, large print, tape, electronic format)
  • Assistive technology
  • Exam modifications
    • alternative test formats
    • extended time
    • private, quiet exam room
  • Housing accommodations
  • Interpreters or Captionists
  • Priority registration
  • Spelling and Grammar consideration (not penalized for in-class work)

Academic Accommodations

  • The Office of Student Disability Services will review the process for the provision of reasonable accommodations with each student with a disability, who requests accommodations.
  • Letters to faculty members will be developed with each student certifying that the student has a disability and stating the appropriate reasonable accommodations. The nature of the disability will not be disclosed to the faculty member unless specifically requested by the student.
  • The student with a disability will be responsible for delivering the individualized letters to faculty in a confidential meeting during faculty office hours.
  • Students with disabilities will be responsible for contacting our office if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in an effective or timely manner. Student Disability Services will work with the student with a disability and University personnel to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations.

Housing Accommodations
Disability related housing accommodations are to be requested through our office.

  • Students with disabilities must follow the established Housing Office sign-up procedures.
  • Students with disabilities requesting housing accommodations must begin the process by submitting the request to the Office of Student Disability Services.
  • Students must provide documentation from an appropriate professional indicating diagnosis and the need for housing accommodations. This must include:
    • Clearly stated diagnosis, ruling out alternative explanations and diagnoses;
    • Defined levels of functioning and any limitations;
    • Current treatment and medication;
    • Current letter/report (within 1 year), typed, dated and signed on letterhead; and
    • Documentation must be updated annually from an appropriately licensed professional
  • It is the responsibility of the student to notify Student Disability Services each semester that accommodations are needed (prior to signing up for housing).

Course Substitutions
A specific learning disability can interfere with a student's successful completion of a course (e.g., foreign language and math courses). Only students with a specific learning disability will be eligible to pursue the availability of a course substitution. Appropriate documentation from a psychologist that specifically addresses a foreign language or mathematics learning disability is required. Course substitutions cannot be permitted if the course is determined essential to the student's major regardless of disability status/classification.

The following process must be followed:

  • Documentation approval must be obtained through Student Disability Services. The student receives a list of approved foreign language course substitutions or the suggested list of math course substitutions.
  • Student obtains approval from his/her academic advisor or department chair regarding appropriateness of course substitution to his/her major.
  • Student completes and signs a Course Substitution Form obtained through Student Disability Services.
  • Student Disability Services signs form to verify documentation.
  • Dean of student's major college approves and signs Course Substitution Form.
  • Dean of major college in which course is taught approves and signs Course Substitution Form.
  • Course Substitution Form is returned to Student Disability Services and copies are sent to the student, advisor, Dean, and Registrar.

NOTE: High school IEP, 504 plan, and/or letter from a physician or other professional will not be sufficient to document a learning disability. While such documentation can be helpful in establishing the student’s learning history, a recent (less than three years old) psychological evaluation is still necessary to confirm current needs. See guidelines for foreign language substitutions under Learning Disorder Documentation.. This can be found under the LD/ADHD Guidelines heading on the ASC website. Students requesting a mathematics substitution must have a specific learning disability in mathematics as defined in the DSM-IV manual.

Temporary Disabilities
Temporary disabilities are not covered under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Personal care cannot be provided for temporary disabilities such as a broken ankle, wrist, etc. However, consultation, assistance with obtaining scribes, and information regarding transportation in accordance with the Clemson Area Transit System (CATS) can be provided through this office. Documentation may be required.

Auxiliary Aids

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is available to students with disabilities in various locations on campus and can enhance self-reliance. Training is coordinated through Student Disability Services. A brief description of each follows.

  • Kurzweil 3000 is a multi-sensory computer program that simultaneously highlights and speaks the words displayed on a computer monitor. It voices and highlights characters, words, lines, and screen text.
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking is a large vocabulary, speech recognition system. You can enter commands and dictate text by speaking into a microphone. You can use it with a keyboard or a mouse, or you can use it completely hands free.
  • FM Systems are assistive listening devices that use transmitters and microphones (worn by the presenter). A student uses the receiver, and headset or neck loop, with hearing aids. Volume can be controlled.
  • JAWS (Job Access with Speech) manages speech output to application programs. It will voice characters, words, lines, and screen text in nine distinct voices.
  • Lap-top computers can be used for computer assisted note-taking or test-taking.
  • CCTV (closed circuit TV) is an electronic magnification system which provides a clear, high-contrast image of printed material on a monitor. It enables individuals to read or write in a manner that best accommodates their individual visual needs.

Computer Assisted Note-Taking/C Print
Students who are deaf or hard of hearing can access lectures or class discussions by having a highly skilled captionist transcribe the discussion on a lap-top computer. As the discussion notes are typed, they are transmitted onto a students laptop. Students also have the option to obtain a final copy via email.

Sign Language Interpreters
Students who are deaf or hard of hearing often request interpreters from this office when they register for classes. In the unlikely event that a student arrives for the first day of class without an interpreter, the student should be referred to our office to schedule an interpreter. University departments that receive requests or anticipate needing an interpreter for public meetings or events should contact Student Disability Services. To ensure the availability of interpreters, this office encourages individuals to make requests at least two weeks in advance.

Guidelines for Working with Interpreters
Interpreters are bound by the code of ethics developed by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf which specifies that interpreters are to serve as communications intermediaries. Thus, when an interpreter is present, speak directly to the person who is deaf or hard of hearing rather than to the interpreter, and avoid using phrases such as "tell him" or "ask her." Other important guidelines include:

  • Relax and talk normally noting that there may be a lag time between the spoken message and the interpretation.
  • When referring to objects or written information, allow time for the translation to take place. Replace terms such as "here" and "there" with more specific terms, such as "on the second line" and "in the left corner."
  • In a conference room or class environment, the deaf student and the interpreter will work out seating arrangements with the interpreter usually located near the speaker.
  • Inform the interpreter in advance if there is an audiovisual element in a presentation so arrangements can be made for lighting and positioning.
  • Be sensitive to sessions that extend longer than one hour. The interpreter may require a short break to maintain proficiency in interpreting.

Tutoring
All students at Clemson University may take advantage of tutoring by the Academic Support Center. Brochures are available in Student Disability Services. The tutoring schedule will be available online at the ASC website: www.clemson.edu/asc

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Counseling and Diagnostic Testing
CAPS provides a variety of services (on a limited basis) including individual and group counseling; testing for learning disabilities and ADHD/ADD; workshops on topics such as assertiveness training, stress management, test anxiety; and a full range of consultative services centering on student adjustment in higher education.

Transportation Services

Clemson Area Transit (CAT)
CAT has accessible buses and routes. Routes are published and can be accessed at www.catbus.com. Occasional curb to curb stops may be pre-arranged through Student Disability Services. Students must be able to get to the bus on their own. Maps indicating routes are available in Student Disability Services and at the Union Information Desk.

Parking Services
Students must purchase and display a current Clemson University parking permit and a valid disability access placard in order to park in accessible parking spaces. When these are properly displayed, parking is also permitted in employee, student, and timed parking zones. A campus map with information about disability access including the location of curb cuts, accessible parking, and elevators is available in the Office of Student Disability Services or may be found at stuaff.clemson.edu/parking/.

Persons with temporary mobility impairments (not to exceed four weeks) may obtain a time-limited disability access parking permit from the Office of Parking Services. The application for a disability access permit must be accompanied by a written statement from a physician indicating accessible parking is required and the length of time it will be needed. Individuals who need accessible parking for longer than four weeks, or who desire to park in off-campus disability accessible spaces, must obtain a state permit from the Department of Highways and Public Transportation.