The Office of Adaptive Services provides the following accommodations and services. This list is not inclusive and there are other accommodations and services that can be offered based on individual need.
The Director of the Office of Adaptive Services determines what accommodations an individual will receive based on the documentation provided and conversations with the individual. Other accommodations are negotiable based on the individual's past experiences and benefits from such an accommodation.
Once the documentation is presented and appropriate accommodations are determined, the individual will need to complete a Request for Accommodations Form, which can be picked up in the Office of Adaptive Services or downloaded from the forms page of the Adaptive Services website. Once received, the Accommodation Forms will be printed with their accommodations on the form. Each individual must then pick up their Acommodations Form and hand deliver to their instructors. This process will need to be repeated at the beginning of each semester.
It is up to the individual to participate in the usage of the accommodations. Additionally, it is the individual's responsibility to notify the Director if there are any problems with the services, such as mechanical problems, being serviced in the classroom, etc. It is the Director's responsibility to make sure that the accommodation is fixed or available at the appropriate times.
It is NOT the responsibility of the Director or the Office of Adaptive Services to make sure that the individual is using the accommodations. The accommodations that are offered are NOT the "magic trick" to success. They are available in order to supplement the individual's strengths and aid in combating the individual's weaknesses. The Office of Adaptive Services is NOT responsible for academic failure when the individual does not take advantage of the services that are offered.
Reasonable Accommodation
Reasonable accommodation is an accommodation that does not pose a burden or threat, either financially or physically, to the institution or the parties involved. In addition, it is an accommodation that will not alter the fundamental nature and/or requirements of the program or institution. The Office of Adaptive Services and FGCU will NOT provide an accommodation or service that will produce an undue hardship on the institutional policy, its faculty, staff, or students. The Director of the Office of Adaptive Services will determine what accommodations and services will be deemed as "unreasonable". Select the following link to view the University's policy on accommodations.
Download the Universities Policy on Accommodations [.pdf - 190kb]
Course Substitution
Course substitutions for foreign language and mathematics disabilities are available as a reasonable accommodation. Students who are registered with the Office of Adaptive Services and who have a documented disability in mathematics are eligible to petition the course substitution committee. Students who are granted a substitution may choose from a list of courses to fulfill the required general education mathematics requirements.
Test Accommodations
The Office of Adaptive Services provides testing accommodations to individuals who will benefit from such a service. Instructors take much pride in the tests that they administer and many of these tests are the product of the instructor's own work. Therefore, instructors become very particular when it comes to taking their tests. The Office of Adaptive Services understands this view and strives to work with both the instructor and the individual in a testing situation.
If an individual requires a testing accommodation, the individual MUST complete a Test Schedule Form from the Office of Adaptive Services. These forms can be picked up in the Office of Adaptive Services or downloaded from the Adaptive Services website. This form will be filled out by the individual and given to the instructor to complete the information needed for the test, for example, what materials can be used (calculator), how much time is allowed for taking the test, or any other important information. Once the instructor completes the form, the student will deliver it to the Office of Adaptive Services. On testing day, the individual will come to the Office of Adaptive Services during the time in which the test is taking place. The individual will take the test in the appropriate time allotted, including the extended time accommodation, and then return the test to the Office of Adaptive Services' staff. The staff will then seal the test in an envelope and hand-deliver the test to the instructor within 1 business day of taking the exam.
In order for the Office of Adaptive Services to provide the most ideal testing environment, the Test Schedule Form must be delivered to the Office at least 3 days in advance. Additionally, we ask that instructors turn in the exams to the Office of Adaptive Services within 1 business day of the test date. Once the Test Schedule Form is completed and turned in, the test date will be posted to the calendar and the instructor will be notified. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PICK UP A TEST SCHEDULE FORM. The Office of Adaptive Services will NOT be responsible for a missed test or less than ideal testing situation if notification is given after the 3-day time frame. In addition, the test will be returned to the instructor if the individual fails to take the test within a period of 3 days from the test date unless special accommodations are made between the instructor and the Director of Adaptive Services.
The policies and procedures for a testing accommodation MUST be followed exactly. These procedures are set so that the individual will receive the appropriate accommodation and the integrity of the test is maintained. NO deviation will be allowed in these procedures.
Download the Test Schedule Form [ 182kb- .pdf]
Download the Test Schedule Form [ 30kb- .doc]
If there are any questions or concerns regarding accommodations and services, contact the Office of Adaptive Services.
FGCU Office of Adaptive Services Common Accommodations Defined
The Office of Adaptive Services works in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in order to supply support services for qualifying students. The Office of Adaptive Services is responsible for obtaining and maintaining disability-related documentation, and for ensuring that student requests for accommodations are appropriately provided. Request forms detailing the necessary accommodations for the student will be sent to the appropriate professors. Definitions for the most common accommodations are provided below.
Classroom Accommodations
Based on the accommodations, some students may need certain services –or may need special consideration in a classroom setting. The following are common accommodation requests:
- Tape Record Lectures: The student may need to tape record the lectures during class in order to have them for reference. The student needs the permission of the instructor, as well as an accessible location for the tape recorder.
- Note Taker: The student may need a fellow student to take notes during the class period. The professor needs to inform his or her class that a note taker is needed. Any student interested in taking notes can be referred to the office of Adaptive Services and compensated for their time with Community Service hours.
- Preferential Seating: Due to a disability, a student may need to sit in a specific location in the classroom in order to better use his or her environment. Wheelchair access seating also falls within this category.
- Oral Instruction: The student may need to have instructions read by the professor instead of written or typed text.
- Books On Tape: The student receives textbooks in an audiotape format supplied either by Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic or staff employed at the Office of Adaptive Services. The professor needs to submit a copy of the syllabus with the required reading assignments as soon as possible.
- Ability to Leave Class Periodically: The student may need to leave class periodically due to the conditions of his or her disability. The professor is asked not to penalize the student unless the situation is inappropriate –during an exam, for example.
- No Penalty for Absences: The student may miss class periodically due to conditions of his or her disability. The instructor is asked not to penalize the student for occasional absences and to allow the student to make up work. Documentation explaining that absence(s) is / are related to disability is required.
- Interpreter: Students may need a sign language interpreter. The students are required to fill out an "Interpreter Request Form" that is available in the Office of Adaptive Services. In order to accommodate the interpreter, the professor is asked to supply the interpreter ahead of time with a copy of any notes used during the lecture or handouts used during the class. The professor is also asked to inform the interpreter of any audiovisual presentation so that Closed Captioning can be arranged.
Exam Accommodations
The students are required to sign a contract reviewing the Office of Adaptive Services' Testing Policy before they can have tests proctored by the staff. One requirement in the policy is that the student completes a "Test Schedule Form" with the instructor's information and signature before he or she is able to test. The forms are available as a hard copy in the Office of Adaptive Services or can be downloaded from the Adaptive Services' website and must be turned in within 3 days of the testing date. Some common accommodations the student may need during an exam are as follows:
- Extended Time: Students who require extended time can take their exams in the Office of Adaptive Services in Howard Hall Room 137 if the professor is unable to accommodate them in the classroom for the extended period of time. Students are responsible for notifying the Office Staff of any upcoming exams and making an appointment to take the exam in advance. The director of Adaptive Services then emails the instructor requesting a copy of the test. For extended time, the general time allotment is "time and a half" –indicating that the student can have the entire class period, plus half of the length of the class period –to finish the exam. Individual requirements and exceptions can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
- Low Distraction Environment: Students who request this accommodation need to test in a quiet room such as an office or cubicle. The Office of Adaptive Services is equipped with multiple cubicles and a quiet room in where the students can test. Students who require this as an accommodation are welcome to use the Office of Adaptive Services during office hours.
- Audio / Tape Recorded Exam: Some students need their exams read aloud or tape-recorded. If the instructor does not wish to read aloud or tape record the exam, they can forward it to Adaptive Services in advance and it will be done by the office staff.
- Computer / Word Processor: Some students require a word processor for their exams. If the instructor does not have access to a computer the classroom, Adaptive Services has computers to test on.
- Use of Calculator: Some students may require the use of a calculator on exams. If this is necessary, either the professor or the Adaptive Services Staff must inspect the calculator to determine if it is appropriate for testing purposes.
Some accommodations, specified under "other", are unique to a student's given disability and personal needs. Any specific accommodations will be explained to the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
Any questions or concerns in regards to any of the accommodations listed here or on the accommodation forms can be directed to Adaptive Services at 590-7956 or at adaptive@fgcu.edu
