The Disability Resource Center approves accommodations for students based on an interactive, on-going process with students to meet their individual needs. Students must request individual accommodation letters to be sent for each course to their instructors to notify them of their approved accommodations. Detailed information and procedures associated with the accommodations for students to follow are listed below. If faculty have questions about facilitating accommodations within their courses, they should contact the DRC at accommodations@ufsa.ufl.edu.
How Does Universal Design Address Barriers?
For each student, barriers can differ from one course to another. Universal Design principles proactively address academic barriers. You can do that by designing flexible lessons and learning environments rather than trying to “fix” or change a student. The goal of Universal Design is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any barriers to learning and give all students equal opportunities to succeed. It’s about building in flexibility that can be adjusted for every student’s strengths and needs.
Academic Accommodations
Access to PowerPoint Presentations
Students should meet with their instructors during office hours to obtain presentations if they are not provided to the class already.
Additional Breaks/Use of Restroom
Allow students to use the restroom or take a break during class/lab.
Advanced Access to Syllabus, Assignments, and Deadlines
Students should meet with their instructors during office hours to obtain advance access to the syllabus, assignments, and deadlines. In online learning, students can work with their instructors to open online modules in advance when reasonable.
Alternate Format Textbook/Course Materials
Student should meet with their instructors to discuss obtaining a different format of the course materials than its original format; size, audio to text, text to audio, etc. Please contact the DRC by emailing accommodations@ufsa.ufl.edu if you need assistance providing an alternate format of your course materials.
Arriving Late to Class/Leaving Early
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Arriving Late to Class or Leaving Early Guidelines to determine a reasonable time frame with individual course instructors. For synchronous Zoom meetings, students are expected to arrive on time to their lecture. Unlike attending class in person, students may not experience the same barriers that may cause them to be a few minutes late.
Audio Recording of Lectures
Students may record a class lecture in the state of Florida as specified in House Bill 233/Section 1004.097. Here is an informational page to learn more about this: aa.ufl.edu/policies/in-class-recording/
Students should reach out to their Accessibility Specialist if they have any questions.
Eat/Drink in Class
Students may eat or drink during class and labs.
Health-Related Class Absences
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Health Related Absence Guidelines to discuss with their faculty to determine how this accommodation will be facilitated within their courses.
In Class/Lab Utilization of FM System
Faculty should wear the FM System’s microphone and receiver while lecturing class to provide access to spoken words in the classroom/lab. Faculty should repeat questions and comments provided by students during lectures to allow the student utilizing the FM system to equally access the information shared. If the course is discussion-based, please contact the DRC by emailing accommodations@ufsa.ufl.edu for additional instructions on facilitating this accommodation.
Out of Class Time Extension
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Out-of-Class Assignment Extension Guidelines to discuss with their faculty to determine how this accommodation will be facilitated within their courses.
Participation Plan
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Participation Plan Guidelines to discuss with their faculty to determine how this accommodation will be facilitated within their courses. In online classes, participation may be measured by camera use and engagement in the chat. Please review the expectations set forth by the course syllabus and the department on camera usage, small group break-outs, and discussion posts. For example, a core component of a lab may require assessment and monitoring of engagement by: examining students’ performing lab skills and viewing students’ active involvement in presentations and discussions. Therefore, cameras must be on and students must be visible as a requirement for attendance and participation.
Presentation Plan
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Presentation Plan Guidelines to discuss with their faculty to determine how this accommodation will be facilitated within their courses.
Print Copies of Oral Instructions
Students should meet with their instructors during office hours to obtain print copies of oral instructions.
Take Medication/Monitor Glucose (Possible Use of Cellphone)
Ability to monitor glucose or take medication during class/labs.
Use of Laptop for Note Taking Purposes
Permits a student to use a laptop in class to take notes.
Use of Live Scribe Pen
Permits a student to use a Live Scribe in class.
Closed Captioning
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Closed Captioning Guide sheet which include submitting separate a Closed Captioning Request Form for each course in which closed captioning is needed within the online learning environment. If a student’s accommodation letter lists closed captioning as an approved accommodation, and the DRC has not communicated with you directly, please encourage the student to complete the form and contact the DRC to notify them of the student’s name, UFID, and course information to expedite the request.
Educational Assistant
Students should submit their course code, section number, and class days/times to their Accessibility Specialist to request a student worker hired to assist another student in/out of the classroom. If a student’s accommodation letter lists Educational Assistant as an approved accommodation, and the DRC has not communicated with your directly, please encourage the to email their Accessibility Specialist and contact the DRC to notify them of the student’s name, UFID, and course information to expedite the request.
Interpreting Services
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Interpreting Guide sheet which include submitting separate a Interpreting Request Form for each course in which interpreted is needed within the in-person, hybrid, and/or online learning environment. If a student’s accommodation letter lists interpreting services as an approved accommodation, and the DRC has not communicated with your directly, please encourage the student to complete the form above and contact the DRC to notify them of the student’s name, UFID, and course information to expedite the request.
Live Captioning
Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Live Captioning Guide sheet which include submitting separate a Live Captioning Request Form for each course in which converting live audio into real-time text is needed within the in-person, hybrid, and/or online learning environment. If a student’s accommodation letter lists live captioning as an approved accommodation, and the DRC has not communicated with your directly, please encourage the student to complete the form above and contact the DRC to notify them of the student’s name, UFID, and course information to expedite the request.
Note Services
Students should request a note-taker and/or note-taking technology on the Direct Note Services webpage.
ADA Table
If a student’s accommodation letter lists ADA Table and an accessible table is not located within your classroom, please contact the DRC with the course name, section number, and classroom location to request an accessible table be added to the room.
Additional Table for Educational Assistant
If a student’s accommodation letter lists Additional Table for Educational Assistant and an additional table is not located within your classroom for the EA to sit next to the student they are working with, please contact the DRC with the course name, section number, and classroom location to request an table be added to the room.
Preferential Seating
Student and instructor will work together for specific seating needs based on a student’s barriers.
Student Use of Chair
Access to sit on a chair during class/labs due to barriers.
If a student has a service animal, it will not be listed on their accommodation letter. Animals are prohibited in buildings. For more information and exceptions, check out the regulation and policy hub and guidance on Service Animals in Labs.
Testing Accommodations
- Braille Contracted: Braille consisting of shortened versions of words (“c” represents the word “can”).
- Braille Uncontracted: Braille consisting of no shortened words (shows letters A-Z in each word).
- Large Print: Student’s exam should be modified to have an appropriate font size for them. Depending upon the format of your exams, instructors could: increase the font size, print the exam on legal or tabloid sized paper, or allow for the screen to be magnified for online testing.
- No scantron: Ability to write on the test rather than bubble their answers on a scantron.
- Paper/pencil test instead of computer-based: for technical support with providing a paper-based exam through Canvas, Honorlock, or Proctor U, please consult the DRC or contact eLearning Support. Please visit our Accommodated Testing: Instructors page for more information.
- Written Responses on Exam: Ability to write directly on the exam to show answer choices and work out problems.
Accommodations Specific to Online Exams
The accommodations listed below only apply to online exams administered via Honorlock or Proctor U. These accommodations must be entered in the proctoring instructions/accommodations settings for Honorlock/Proctor U. Students with these accommodations will need to contact Honorlock support before beginning their exam so that Honorlock can make the necessary adjustments.
- Ability to Look Away from Computer Screen: Ability to look off camera as needed.
- Ability to Lean into Computer: Ability to move in and out from computer as needed.
In-Person and Online Testing Accommodations
- Ability to Move While Seated: Student can adjust in their seat while taking their exam.
- Additional Breaks/Use of Restroom: Ability to take breaks or use the restroom during any timed assessment.
- Additional Time for Take Home Exams: Ability to have additional time on take-home exams – determined between student and instructor.
- Flexible Scheduling of Exams: Ability to reschedule an exam if needed OR to determine specific times in which a student should or should not test.
- Food/Drink: Ability to have food/drink during timed assessments.
- No More Than 1 Exam Per Day: Only 1 exam a day.
- No More Than 2 Exams Per Day: Only 2 exams a day.
- Reader: Student is provided with someone who can read the exam and answer choices allowed.
- Scribe: Student is provided with someone who acts as their writer.
- Speak Out Loud During Exams / Read Questions: Ability to speak out loud during exam – including the reading of questions.
- Use of Movement Item (fidget, stress ball, etc.)
For assistance setting up online exams for students who will utilize assistive technology, please visit our Accommodated Testing: Instructors page. If students are testing in-person at the DRC, please provide our office with the exam materials at least 3 business days in advance of the exam.
- CCTV: In-person desktop equipment that captures printed material and translates the material into audio format.
- Dragon: Ability to utilize Dragon to dictate essays and computer commands during exams.
- Jaws: Ability to utilize JAWS to read the computer screen during exams.
- Kurzweil: Ability to utilize Kurzweil to read the student’s exams aloud.
- MAGic: Ability to utilize MAGic to magnify the computer screen while reading the screen aloud during exams.
- (1.5) Time and One-half Time
- (2.0) Double Time
- (2.5) Double and One-Half
- (3.0) Triple Time
- (3.5) Triple and One-half Time
- (4.0) Quadruple Time
- Low Distraction: Defined as a space with less distractions. Recommended to be <20 students in the testing space.
- Separate: Student tests individually.
- Standard: Student needs no change to the environment.
- Basic 4-Function Calculator: Ability to utilize a 4-function calculator on math related exams.
- Computer for Essay Part of Exams: Ability to use a computer to type responses instead of hand-written responses.
- Headphones/Earplugs: The ability to wear these items during an exam. These items should not be Bluetooth or wired.
- Memory Aid: Ability to create a resource that aids in recalling or memorizing information and to bring this into an exam. Students should follow the procedures outlined on the Memory Aid Guidelines and discuss with their faculty to determine how this accommodation will be facilitated on exams.
- Multiple Choice Scratch Paper: Ability to use scratch paper during an exam.
- Spell-checking Device: Ability to check spelling during an exam.
- Take Medication/Monitor Glucose (Possible Use of Cellphone): Ability to take medication or monitor glucose in an exam.
If you have any questions or concerns about facilitating these testing accommodations, please contact the Testing Office at DRCTesting@ufsa.ufl.edu or visit our Accommodated Testing: Instructors page.
Assistive Technology
Request access to Kurzweil through UF Software Licensing Services – Kurzweil 3000.
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a computer screen reading program that allows individuals who are blind or have low vision to read text on a computer monitor using a combination of Microsoft keyboard commands and JAWS keyboard commands.
MAGic is a computer magnification program with a speech output option designed to help individuals with visual impairments access the computer monitor. The software uses a combination of Microsoft keyboard commands and MAGic commands to navigate the computer screen and documents. For more information on MAGic, watch their video.
Request access to JAWS and/or MAGic through UF Software Licensing Services – JAWS/MAGic.
Request access to Dragon by emailing the Assistive Technology liaison at accommodations@ufsa.ufl.edu.