Accommodations Glossary

This accommodation allows the student to consume food or beverages during class due to impacts of their disability. It results in a modification to a classroom rule which may prohibit food and drinks.

Students with disabilities may need course materials that are displayed in class available for review.  Instructors can post the materials using online software or make copies of the materials and distribute these copies to students.

Instructor notes are also beneficial to provide to the student, if available.

Some students require course materials in alternate formats. Common alternate formats include recorded texts or electronic texts. The DRC recommends students purchase or rent textbooks in their preferred format.  When a preferred format is not available, students approved for this accommodation are able to request alternative format for required textbooks through the DRC's Student Portal.  Depending on the format, conversion can be a slow and time consuming process.  During the conversion process, DRC staff may reach out to instructors for additional textbook information such as, publisher information or with help comparing different editions. 

Instructors are responsible for making sure their content (e.g., articles, handouts, etc) are accessible for students with disabilities.  DRC staff will only convert required textbooks.

This accommodation allows the student to give a required in-class presentation in an alternative format (e.g., video record, 1:1 with faculty, small group, etc.) instead of directly to the entire class. This accommodation does not modify the content of the presentation or the requirement to present their materials. If a professor believes that this accommodation will result in a fundamental alteration to an essential element of their course, they should contact Disability Resource Center directly for consultation.

Some students may require the use of recording devices (e.g., cell phone, Smart Pen, laptop or other appropriate recording device) in class to capture class lectures and discussions. Recording class materials in audio format is allowed when the student provides notification of the accommodation to the instructor. The student may discuss with the instructor the best placement of the recording device.  Through the DRC, students with this accommodation formally acknowledge that they agree to abide by proper use of the recordings as a study aide.  A copy of this agreement can be obtained by emailing DRC@uncw.edu. 

Can I forbid a student with this accommodation from recording my lectures?

No. If it is an approved accommodation, it is meant to provide meaningful access to the educational experience and will appear on the student's Accommodation Letter. The recording of lectures is one of the accommodations specifically mentioned in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The issue of copyright as a concern is referenced in this Department of Education document on auxiliary aids.

What if I have a no laptop/cell phone policy?

If you have a no-laptop or no-cell-phone policy in your classroom, it’s important to recognize that disability accommodations take precedence over such policies. Students with approved accommodations, such as the ability to audio record lectures, have a legal right to do so under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These accommodations ensure equal access to course material for students who may have disabilities affecting their ability to take notes or process information in real time. You should honor these accommodations while maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of all students in the classroom.

For some students with disabilities, sitting for long periods of time and/or remaining in the same position for the duration of a class period can exacerbate symptoms of the disability. Similarly, some students may need to leave class for brief periods to attend to medications or other medical needs. DRC staff encourage these students to move around or leave class in the least disruptive manner possible. Students should discuss seating arrangements and the timing of breaks with their instructors.

The accommodation provides the student with a real-time transcript of the lecture. A transcriber, or “writer” listens to the lecture through a small lapel microphone that the professor wears. The student will provide the professor with the microphone. The writer transcribes everything the professor verbalizes, and this is displayed on the student’s computer screen. This enables the student to have access to the lecture content visually in real time. The professor is always expected to face the class while speaking. Instructors are asked not to turn their back on the class for any reason. If it is necessary to turn their back in order to write on the blackboard, professors are asked to wait to lecture on that content until they are facing the class again.

If you have a student with this accommodation, DRC staff will email the week prior to the start of the semester to coordinate information between you, the student, and the CART provider.

Any video or video clip that is part of the class or is on the course syllabus should be captioned.  Faculty should review videos prior to the start of the semester for accessibility and if not captioned, contact elearning@uncw.edu immediately for assistance.

Additionally, closed-captioning should be enabled for any Zoom, MS Teams or external video shown in class.

Some students may require larger font due to a visual disability.  Large print font is equivalent to 18 point font.  However, some students require larger that 18 point.  Font size will be indicated on their accommodation letter.

EA3 is designed to provide a limited amount of flexibility for students who experience legitimate, disability-related interruptions that can impact their ability to attend and participate on occasion. This accommodation is only for disability-related impacts and not for other reasons including health matters not on record with the DRC, seasonal cold or flu, or non-medical related reasons.   

Implementation of EA3 is an interactive process between the DRC, the student, and faculty member.  In addition to sending an accommodation letter, the student has an additional step that initiates the interactive process.

Once a student completes an EA3 Request Form, it will send an email for you to complete your step in the interactive process.

The DRC recognizes that faculty are the experts on their course and the only one able to set attendance policies and excuse absences in their courses. We know course learning objectives and experiences vary widely. This accommodation is not designed to fundamentally alter your course requirements and may not be possible in cases where adjustments would result in a fundamental alteration. The form is designed to guide faculty in determining what, if any, flexibility to course requirements can be provided without resulting in a fundamental alteration. 

Once you complete the Faculty Response Form, the DRC will review your responses and send the completed agreement to both you and the student via UNCW email.

There are several different forms of interpreting that may be provided to a student with hearing loss.  The specific type of service is identified during the meeting with the student and is based on the medical documentation.  Interpreters typically stand in the front of the class to the side of the instructor.  In higher level classes, interpreters may ask for a copy of the text so that they can ensure access to discipline specific vocabulary.

A personal FM system consists of a transmitter microphone worn by the instructor and a receiver used by the student who is deaf or hard of hearing. The receiver transmits the sound to the ears of the student or directly to the hearing aid. 

Some students may require an accommodation to refrain from group work due to disabilities that affect social interaction, communication, or sensory processing.  Students with this accommodation should be allowed to work independently rather than in groups, when not essential to course objectives or technical standards. 

Some students with disabilities may require having their content read to them rather than reading the information on the screen. The DRC employs a variety of computer software programs that utilize text-to-speech capability and can “read” the content aloud to a student. 

Additionally, some students may find it difficult to write or type longer assignments.  Therefore, students may be granted the accommodation to utilize speech-to-text. Students with this accommodation may use software programs that transcribe their speech into text.

A student's extended time accommodation is based on the documentation submitted to DRC. Unless efficiency or speed is the essential skill that is being assessed, students with this accommodation should be provided additional time for timed tests and quizzes.  The extended time accommodation does not apply to take-home exams.  Extended time ensures that a student’s performance is reflective of their mastery of the material rather than the speed at which a student performs.

If a student ONLY has the accommodation of Extended Time on tests and exams, we ask that the instructor assist us by providing this accommodation.

Students with disabilities may be approved for and request a “reduced distraction” or "separate setting" testing space. This space may be a conference room, unused classroom, instructor’s office or DRC Testing Center.

A reduced distraction environment is a quiet space where students have few distractions and are better able to maintain focus. 

Separate settings are reserved for students who may need to utilize certain assistive technologies to access their test or exam.