Listed below are descriptions of some of the most common accommodations assigned through the SDS office. This is not an all-inclusive list. Accommodations and services are assigned on a case-by-case basis. Their inclusion in this list does not constitute individual verification.

Alternate Format Reading Materials
Alternate Testing Environment
Assistive Computer Lab
Extended Time On Exams
Equipment Loans
Priority Registration
Other Accommodations

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Alternate Testing Environment

An alternate testing environment is defined as a quiet room with as little auditory and visual distraction as possible. The University of Mississippi does not have a centralized testing site for students who require an alternate environment for test taking. Faculty and instructors are responsible for providing an alternate testing environment to verified students.

Students should work closely with faculty and instructors to arrange this accommodation. As with all accommodations, students should give faculty/instructors timely notice of the need for this accommodation. Students should not wait until the day of an exam to notify instructors of the need for an alternate environment. Without enough notice, we cannot guarantee that instructors will have the time to locate and/or arrange an appropriate alternate testing site. As stated, it is important for students to discuss this aspect of their accommodations with instructors well in advance of test time.

SDS will provide a limited testing site for students who are approved for the following testing accommodations: scribe, reader, ASL signer, assistive/adaptive technologies. Students will be required to contact this office in advance of any test date in order to reserve a room and request a service provider. Students approved for these accommodations should contact the Director of Student Disability Services for additional information. (top)

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Alternate Format Reading Material

1. Books on Tape
The University of Mississippi has an institutional membership to Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD). Students are required to complete a form to request that we order books on tape. This form is available from the Program Assistant at the Office of Student Disability Services. We will need the full book title, the edition, and the author/s of each requested book. Please remember that there may be times when RFBD does not have a requested book on tape. It may take as long as three weeks for this office to receive the tapes from RFBD. Because of this delay, it is important that we receive your request as early as possible.

2. Audio Studio for the Reading Impaired
This company is located in Kentucky and can provide tape recordings of reading material. The University of Mississippi will absorb the cost for recording class-related materials. As with RFBD, it may take several weeks for this office to receive completed tapes so it is essential that we receive your requests as early as possible.

3. Kurzweil 1000 Scanner/Software
The SDS office has a scanner/software combination that allows students to scan books and other reading material into a format that the computer will then "read" aloud to the student.

Please call and make an appointment with the Technical Coordinator for training. It will be necessary to schedule time to use the Kurzweil because of its popularity. There is also a Kurzweil located in the computer lab in Weir Hall.

4. Manual Reading

When the three options listed above are found to be unavailable, the SDS office will hire readers to read and tape record required text. Students must furnish this office with a copy of the material to be taped in a timely manner to assure reading is completed by any existing deadlines the student may have. (top)

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Assistive Computer Technology

The Student Disability Services computer lab is outfitted with several different adaptive technologies to assist our students in the completion of their academic tasks. In addition to the standard word processing and internet capabilities found in most computer labs on campus, we also offer the following.

Kurzweil 1000 - This program is a highly specialized OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program that allows students with any sort of reading impairment, such as LD or visual impairments, to scan their printed materials into the computer. The program will then convert the image into a form that can be manipulated as a text document which will be read aloud by the program. Students can bring books into the lab, scan them, then sit and listen to the text. There is no need for an independent reader.

In addition, the texts can be taped so that the student can take the text(s) with him/her to review outside the lab.

For more information on Kurzweil 1000, visit their link by clicking here.

Dragon Naturally Speaking- This program allows the user to speak into the computer in order to put text into a word processing program. In other words, the computer will type what you say. This program is particularly useful for those who have mobility impairments, as it eliminates the need for manual typing. After training the program to the nuances of the student's voice, the student will be able to edit his/her work without having to touch the keyboard at all. This program will also read aloud what has been typed on the screen.

For more information on Dragon, click here.

We also plan to install JAWS, a screen reader, and ZoomText in the near future. For information about these products, click the individual name of the product in question.

The Office of Student Disability Services' computer lab is located in 234 Martindale Center. All students registered with our office may use the computer lab. The lab is available Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm.

In addition to the assistive computer technology available at SDS, there are also machines with the Kurzweil reader located in the computer lab on the first floor of Weir Hall. Please call the lab at (662) 915-7004 for more information. (top)

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Extended/Relaxed Time on Exams

The University of Mississippi does not provide "unlimited" time on exams as an accommodation. Time and a half is the standard amount of time allowed on exams for students who are verified for this accommodation. For example, if a class is allowed an hour to take an exam, the student verified for extended time will be allowed an hour and a half.

If a student believes that additional time, in excess of the time and a half, would be helpful, the student should discuss this with the instructor.

If extended time on an exam will cause a conflict with another class, students should speak with both instructors in an attempt to resolve the conflict. Instructors are not required to change the date or time of an exam. Students are encouraged to use priority registration each semester in order to schedule classes so that such conflicts can be avoided. (top)

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Equipment

The Office of Student Disability Services will loan students certain kinds of equipment, such as tape recorders and 4-track tape players. Equipment is loaned based on need, assigned accommodations and availability. The student must come by the office and complete a loan form before any equipment will be provided. This equipment must be returned to the SDS office by the date specified on the loan form. If equipment is not returned, is damaged, or lost, the cost of the equipment will be charged to the student's bursar account. It is important that the student keeps his/her copy of the loan form for future reference. Equipment loans are subject to availability. (top)

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Priority Registration

Students who are verified with this office as eligible to receive accommodations are given the opportunity to register for classes during the first few days of priority registration each semester. This benefit becomes effective during the student's second semester as a student at the University. Incoming freshman and transfer students are required to participate in New Student Orientation, during which time all incoming students register for their first semester of classes.

We strongly encourage our students to take advantage of Priority Registration each semester. We cannot assign accommodations until the student has registered for classes. To make sure that accommodations are put into place as early as possible, it is advisable to register for classes early. It is the student's responsibility to request all accommodations and services in a timely manner. Remember, it may take several weeks for this office to implement certain accommodations and services. Dates for Priority Registration are available from the Registrar's Office. It is necessary for all students to meet with academic advisors so that the registration hold can be lifted from their accounts before registering. Without this meeting, students will not be able to register, and SDS cannot do anything to circumvent this necessary step in the registration process.

A word about Academic Advising: This office does not provide academic advising to students with disabilities. Click here for more information about academic advising. (top)

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Other Accommodations

In addition to the above, the University also has the capability to provide the following accommodations to those verified as eligible. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive.

*Subject to availability of service providers.

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