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Student Resources

General Information

A variety of student resources are provided to assist students registered with Student Accessibility Services. Some of the resources available to students are listed below. General information for prospective students is provided in the Student Accessibility Services brochure.

  • Academic Access Letter Requests (each semester needed)

    Request AAL: If you are registered with Student Accessibility Services, you can request/pick-up Academic Access Letters (AAL) throughout the semester. Usually, your AAL request will be processed in 3 business days and then, be available for pick-up in the SAS office. (SAS does not send reminders to pick-up your AALs.) Please complete the below form and submit it.

    Online Courses: If you are enrolled in Online Courses, a PDF copy of your AAL letter can be emailed to your professor.

    Reminder: Please remember that you must have a discussion with your instructor regarding accommodations and how you will access them. You may give the instructor an AAL but the letter will not be in effect until the two of you have discussed the accommodations. 

    Distance Education: Please contact the accessibility/disability services office at the institution offering the distance education course. You can provide a copy of your most recent AAL letter from Clemson and ask what other documentation is needed to register with the distance education institution. Our office can provide a printed or PDF copy of your most recent AAL letter if needed.

    Accommodations Adjustments: If you need to discuss changing the accommodations on the AAL, you must make an appointment to see a SAS staff member. Please call the SAS office to make an appointment.

    Please enter the requested information in the form below:
    Are you taking an online or study abroad course? Yes No
    Do you need a PDF copy of your AAL sent to your online/study abroad professor(s)? Yes No
    List your online/study abroad professor(s) email address(es) separated by a semi-colon (example: someone@clemson.edu; ). If you do not list any faculty email addresses, the PDF copy will be emailed to you (so you will be responsible to forward the email to your professors).
     If you are not redirected to a page that says “Thank you!” for your submission, your request DID NOT go through.
  • Assistive Technology

    Barrier(s)

    Assistive Technology available

    How will it help you?

    Reading Fluency

    Reading Comprehension

    Visual Impairments

     

    E-text

    Text-to-speech Software, Read&Write

    (Free download available to students by visiting www.clemson.edu/ccit)

    Reads aloud a variety of text formats on your computer such as PDFs, word documents, websites, and screenshots.  By requesting E-Texts through our office, you will have access to your textbooks in a PDF format that the Text-To-Speech software (Read&Write) can read aloud to you. 

    Note taking

    Concentration

    Processing

    Writing

    Livescribe Echo Smartpen

    (65 pens available for use through SAS or you may purchase your own at various office/technology

    Small number of electronic voice recorders (Please Note: You may us your own device-computer, tablet, phone, etc.-to record a lecture after discussing recording with your professor)

    Smartpens are changing how students take notes in class! These pens have a built in recorder and camera to record what your instructors are saying and what you are writing.  It automatically syncs what was said and what you were writing at that very second, making playing back your lectures and filling in details very easy!

     

    Write Less, Listen More!

    Note taking

    Concentration

    Processing

    Writing

    Free/low cost apps

    Student volunteer note-takers

    We can work with your instructors to locate a volunteer note taker in your classes and relay you a copy of notes.

    Free/lowCost Apps Resources

    Student Note-taking Resources

    Visual Impairment

    Total Blindness

    Screen magnification software

    Large print keyboards

    Desktop magnifiers

    Screen magnification software (ZoomText) is available for use in our office and in the Test Proctoring Center (TPC). Large print keyboards are located in each testing room and in our office.  Also, 2 desktop magnifiers are located in our office. 

    Total Blindness

    Visual Impairment

    Screen reading software

    Braille

    JAWS screen reading software is installed on each testing computer in the TPC and in our office.  Braille orders can be placed by contacting our office.  Allow at least 2 weeks for Braille orders to be completed. 
  • Communication Services

    Real Time Captioning
    Students who are Deaf or hard of hearing can access lectures, class discussions, and other events/presentations by having a highly skilled caption writer provide real-time text-based access to the spoken/auditory message. The student can view the captioning on a laptop computer or other device, delivered via a wireless connection. Within 24 hours of the lecture/discussion/etc., the student will receive an edited (for grammar and spelling only) transcript of the event.

    Sign Language Interpreters
    Students who are Deaf or hard of hearing often request interpreters from this office when they register for classes. University departments that receive requests or anticipate needing an interpreter for public meetings or events should contact Student Accessibility 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 working for Clemson University 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 only. 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 might be a lag time between the spoken message and the interpretation. American Sign Language has a grammar structure that is completely different than spoken English.
    • 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. This allows the Deaf student to view both the interpreter and 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.
    • If there is a need to turn out the lights completely during a presentation, please inform the interpreter ahead of time so that arrangements can be made with the student.
    • Most events on campus, including classroom proceedings, will require the use of two interpreters in order to maintain the integrity of the process. The interpreters will swap out every 20-30 minutes with no interruption to the presentation.
  • Electronic Textbooks

    Scanning instructions

    STEP 1: Please complete the E-text request form and e-mail it to: studentaccess@lists.clemson.edu. Instructions on how to complete this form are on page 2. The E-Test Request Form is also printed and available in our lobby for you to complete in person.

    STEP 2: Proof of purchase or rental of textbooks must be provided with the request form. You can drop off a copy of receipt information in our office or email your proof of purchase receipts to: studentaccess@lists.clemson.edu.

    STEP 3: SAS staff will confirm receipt of your E-Text Request Form and begin processing your requests.

    STEP 4: Occasionally, E-Texts are not available for some books. If this is the case, SAS staff will notify you. If this situation occurs, SAS can cut the spine off your text book and scan each page to create a PDF file of the book. This process can take longer to complete and return to you.

    STEP 5: E-Texts are delivered to your student email address via a FileDrop Download Link (FileDrop is a process provided by CCIT). These links expire after a few business days so you will need to open the link and download your E-Texts in a timely manner.

  • 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 Student Accessibility 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 one year), typed, dated and signed on letterhead
      • Documentation must be updated annually from an appropriately licensed professional.
    • It is the responsibility of the student to notify Student Accessibility Services each semester that accommodations are needed (prior to signing up for housing).
      • Students requesting Housing Accommodations will need to meet with SAS staff to complete the appropriate Housing Accommodation forms. Please call our office to make an appointment.

    For more information, see Accommodated Housing.

  • Transportation Accommodations

    Student Accessibility Services and Parking and Transportation Services work to ensure that students with temporary and permanent mobility impairments have equal access to campus. Before accessing mobility accommodations, students will need to submit the following information to Student Accessibility Services:

    1. Appropriate medical documentation related to the mobility impairment or temporary mobility condition.  The documentation should specifically state how long the transportation accommodations will be needed and provide a rationale for the need.
    2. Students must submit the short-term transportation request form and return it to Student Accessibility Services. 

    This information can be faxed, emailed, or hand delivered to Student Accessibility Services. 


    Once this information is received by Student Accessibility Services, we will review the information and inform the student of our recommendation(s) to Parking Services. The student will then go to Parking Services to pick up their temporary parking permit and/or mobility scooter. Please allow 24 hours for Student Accessibility Services and Parking Services to process your request.

    Temporary Medical Permits
    Students with temporary mobility impairments can obtain a time-limited disability access parking permit from Parking Services. Students must have already purchased or will need to purchase and display a current Clemson University student parking permit, along with the temporary disability access parking permit in order to park in accessible parking spaces on campus. When these are properly displayed, parking is permitted in handicap, employee, student, and metered parking spaces. Campus maps indicating parking zones are located on the Parking and Transportation Services website.

    Individuals who need accessible parking for longer than four months or who desire to park in off-campus disability accessible spaces must obtain a state permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Individuals already using a state issued accessible parking tag, must inform Parking Services office to register this tag for use on campus.

    Mobility Scooters
    Mobility Scooters are available for students to use to maneuver around campus independently while experiencing temporary and/or permanent mobility impairments. These scooters are housed in Parking Services and can be rented by students for a fee of $20 per week. The request for a mobility scooter must be accompanied by a written statement from a physician indicating the need for transportation accommodations and the length of time it will be needed.

    NOTE: Mobility scooters may be used in conjunction with other transportation and/or parking accommodations. The scooters are meant to be used inside and outside and can be driven into elevators, classrooms, residence halls, and onto Clemson Area Transit buses. Scooters need to be charged regularly for optimal daily use.

    Point-to-Point Transportation
    For students with temporary and/or permanent mobility impairments, in which little to no walking is permitted for a given length of time, point to point transportation services is available through Parking Services. Once approved, the student will be instructed by Student Disability Services to contact Parking Services to communicate the dates and times that individualized transportation is needed.  

    Parking Services is located in the Edgar A. Brown University Union. Business hours are 7:30am-4:30pm. Parking Services can be reached by calling 864-656-2270 or by emailing parking@clemson.edu.

    For transportation emergencies after-hours, contact CUPD at 864-656-2222.

    Clemson Area Transit (CAT)
    CAT has accessible buses and multiple routes. Routes and maps are published and can be accessed at www.catbus.com. Occasional route deviations can be pre-arranged through Student Accessibility Services. The normal CAT bus routes are free to students, faculty/staff, visitors, and community members. A real-time bus tracker app is now available for download by visiting the CAT bus website!