Disability - “A person with a disability” is “any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. A major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.” – Americans with Disabilities Act
Audio Text for Course Materials – Students are provided an audio version of the required book(s) and/or electronic copies of texts are provided in an appropriate format for use with screen reading technology.
Breaks as Needed – The student may need to leave class, or an exam for a short amount of time.
Testing in a Separate/Private Room – A separate area for the student to take an exam, quiz or timed essay alone.
Reduced Distraction Testing Area – An area which is separate from the rest of the class, but could contain a small group of students (typically no more than 3 - 4 students).
Electronic Copies – All handouts should be provided to the student in an electronic format which can be used with assistive technology.
Elevator Access – The classroom location should have access to an elevator if it is on any floor of a building other than the main floor.
Enlarged Font- All handouts (including tests, exams, and quizzes) should be provided in an enlarged font (font size determined by the faculty and student together).
Extended Time 2.0x (100%) - The student is allowed twice the amount of time given for any in-class exams, quizzes or timed essays. (Ex. The student receives two hours for a one hour exam)
Extended Time 1.5x (50%) - The student is allowed one and a half times the amount of time given for any in-class exams, quizzes or timed essays. (Ex. The student receives one and a half hours for a one hour exam)
Flexibility with Attendance - Some students qualify for reasonable flexibility regarding attendance. The student “may miss, be late for, or need to leave early from class, if necessitated by a medical condition.” Students with such an accommodation have medical conditions for which they cannot predict when flare-ups will occur, but such flare-ups render the student unable to participate in class.
Modification of an attendance policy is not automatically provided as an accommodation at Amherst College; Accessibility Services, faculty and the student work together to determine what is considered reasonable versus a fundamental alteration of the course. We welcome collectively meeting to identify an agreeable plan as early as possible for the implementation of this accommodation. Appropriate determinations are decided on a case-by-case basis and plans include how to address potentially missed lectures, discussions, and labs; as well as pop quizzes, tests, assignments and other graded work for the course. We encourage students to use the Flexibility with Attendance Planning Sheet to guide and document these conversations.
Food as Needed – The student needs flexibility to eat or drink in class (provided that does not pose a safety issue).
Handwritten Papers – The student is not required to type their work.
Peer Note Taker – The student utilizes notes from another student or notein the class who has been hired by Accessibility Services.
Reader – The student with this accommodation works with another student who reads material to them, either in person or in recorded form.
Staggered Exams** –This accommodation can be used to move an exam, (or major project/presentation) if 2 or more are scheduled for the same day. To use this accommodation students must notify faculty 2 weeks in advance to coordinate and agree upon a new arrangement. Students contact one of the professors and ask that the date be moved to another day.
**It is important to note, this accommodation cannot be used as an extension. If an extension is needed, please contact your professor and/or class dean for assistance.
Use of Calculator – The student is allowed the use of a calculator on an exam where simple math calculations are required, but are not an essential learning objective of the course. Faculty can determine the type of calculator which is appropriate.
Use of Laptop – The student is allowed to use a laptop to take notes during class, or to type answers to an exam or quiz.