Accommodated Testing: Test administration may be modified or adapted for students with disabilities when appropriate. Such accommodations may include extended time, alternate location, a scribe for test questions, use of a word processor, large print, or oral administration of test questions. Recommendations for accommodations are made by the DSD Director and listed in a letter of accommodation. 

Students with disabilities are entitled by law to alternative testing arrangements that offer optimum testing conditions. The university's responsibility is to respond to a request for a test accommodation and to assure the measurement of a student's academic achievement, not the functional limitation caused by a student's disability. Faculty members may wish to handle their own accommodated testing. Primary consideration should be given to arranging a test so as to measure the student's acquired knowledge of the subject matter. To create a fair testing situation for students with disabilities you may need to consider supplying some or all of the following:

1. an accessible test site
2. special equipment (word processor, VisualTek)
3. readers
4. scribes
5. large-print or Braille copies of tests
6. sufficient uninterrupted time
7. quiet test environment (hallways and reception rooms are unacceptable for tests)

Students and teachers may make any arrangements for testing accommodations which are fair to the student and to the class requirements. Most students and professors agree to have accommodated tests administered by the staff at the Study Strategies Desk at the Learning Center, which is located in North Quad, room 323.

If the student and professor agree, accommodated tests may be taken at the Learning Center.  Students are expected to do the following relative to taking tests at the Learning Center:

Students must schedule an appointment to take the test as soon as the test is announced, or at least two days in advance. Students may do this in person in NQ 323 or by calling 5-3779.

1. Students should remind the professor once before each test to send the test to the Learning Center.
2. Students should take their test when the rest of the class is scheduled to take it.
3. If an exception to this rule needs to be made, students should ask their instructor to call the Learning Center to make other arrangements. Otherwise, the test will be returned to the instructor.
4. It is the responsibility of the student to clarify what services are needed so that appropriate accommodations can be arranged. 
5. Students are expected to be on time. If the student is late for the exam, the amount of time that was missed will be subtracted from the time allotted for the test taking session.
6. Book bags, coats, and other belongings must be left behind the Study Strategies desk prior to receiving the test.
7. Unauthorized aids, notes, books and the like will be reported to the professor, and cheating of any kind will result in the termination of the test.
8. Time and a half to double the class testing period will be allotted time for the test.
9. Test proctors may not explain or express opinions concerning material on the test; however, clarifications for specific purposes (directions, procedures, etc) may be given.
10. Testing will be discontinued if the student becomes ill or engages in inappropriate behavior such as verbal/physical abuse or any form of sexual harassment.
11. All other university guidelines for test taking apply to the Learning Center.

Adapted Physical Education: BSU has a physical education requirement for all students, regardless of disability.  Students with disabilities are expected to complete this requirement as well. SWDs work closely with the Adapted Physical Education coordinator to plan a physical education class that is appropriate for their level of ability.  For information, contact staff in the School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science.

Assistive Technology and Access to Print Documents

Adaptive Computer Technology
The Adaptive Computer Technology lab is located in the Robert Bell building (RB 134G).  This lab is specifically designed for users with disabilities and is part of University Computing Services. The ACT lab specialist is available to help students learn any of the computer programs available in the lab.  The ACT lab is open 24 hours a day, and staff is available most of the day.  The ACT lab has many different types of programs and computer software for use by students with disabilities including speech-to-text programs, text-to-speech programs, screen magnification, textbook scanning, Braille transcription, and tactile graphics.

One important service of the ACT lab is textbook scanning. For students who have difficulty reading print textbooks, the staff in the ACT lab scans textbooks into an electronic format.  The ACT lab is equipped with high speed scanners that can scan whole textbooks relatively quickly.

Readers
DSD arranges readers for students who are blind or visually impaired through our prospective employee email list.  Readers are either paid through VR or BSU.  Payment is usually dependent upon the situation and whether or not the student is a VR client.  Contact the DSD office staff if you wish to arrange a reader.

Books on CD
For students who require their books in an accessible format, DSD has a subscription with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD), which records textbooks and other books in an accessible CD format for students with disabilities.  For students who wish to have their books on CD, DSD has RFBD CD players available for checkout.  Computer software for accessing RFBD books is also available in the Adaptive Computer Technology lab in the Robert Bell Building, room 134G.

Adjusted Height Tables in Classrooms: These tables are provided for those who cannot use the conventional seating in a classroom because of a wheelchair or other mobility impairment. Arrangements to have these tables put in the classroom should be made as soon as the schedule is completed. Contact the Disabled Student Development office with a list of classrooms for which you will need tables and the height (in inches from the floor) to which you would like the table adjusted.

Attendant Care Referral List: For students who require attendant care, DSD can provide you with information regarding this service.  DSD does not hire, train, supervise, or pay people who provide attendant care services.  Managing attendant care is the responsibility of the student.  DSD assists in this process by maintaining a referral list of students who are interested in providing attendant care to students with disabilities.  DSD provides this list to SWDs at their request. For additional information about attendant care, please see the article on the right-hand side of the page.

Captioning:  Instructors can work with Educational Resources (5-5334) and the University Teleplex (5- 2766) to possibly arrange for a captioned or transcript format of a video. To that end, students must ensure that their professors are aware of their captioning needs early in the semester.

Clubs and Organizations: In addition to an organization for students with disabilities (Disabled Students in Action - DSIA), Ball State encourages participation in extracurricular activity for all students. If you have need of an accommodation related to disability in order to more fully enjoy or participate in an organization, club, activity, or event, please contact the organization or sponsoring department.

Course Substitutions: Ball State works with its students with disabilities to identify reasonable and appropriate accommodations and auxiliary aids so that students can have the opportunity to be successful in their academic work.  Such accommodations must be balanced against not changing the essential elements of a course in a substantial manner.

In the very rare cases where there are no reasonable accommodations within the framework of a course, students with disabilities may request a course substitution. The important considerations in making this determination would be:

• documentation prepared by an appropriately licensed professional that is clear, comprehensive, age-appropriate, and indicates how the disability interacts with the course requirements;
• demonstration that accommodations within the framework of the course had been appropriately considered; and
• the availability of a substitute course that would provide an experience that would meaningfully approximate the original requirement.
  

A preliminary request must be made to the Disabled Student Development office which would then work collaboratively with the proper academic unit to determine how essential the course is to the major or degree and if the request is reasonable.

Elevator Keys: A few buildings on campus require a key to operate the wheelchair lift.  These buildings are Carmichael Hall, University Theatre, and the Arts and Communications Building.  If your disability requires access to these lifts, you may get keys and maps of the buildings from the Disabled Student Development office. Keys for elevators in residence halls are acquired from the residence hall director of the particular hall in question.

FM Infrared Audio Systems: The Disabled Student Development office works with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology to introduce students to hearing enhancement systems. Contact the Disabled Student Development office for further information.

Housing and Residence Life: Accommodation needs related to disability should be discussed with housing personnel as early as possible and your requests should be made in writing when submitting a housing contract.  Various residence halls throughout campus have been modified for students with disabilities. Additionally, residence hall personnel will work with you on individual room modifications as feasible. University Apartment Housing has modified units and may be an option for older students with disabilities.

Interpreter Services: Interpreters are available upon request. Disabled Student Development does not train or evaluate the interpreters who provide this service. Requests for interpreter services must be made well in advance due to the limited number of interpreters in this area of the state.

Large Print/Braille Maps: These are available for people with visual impairments to familiarize them with the campus. The tactile maps show features such as sidewalks, intersections, etc. as well as the names of buildings and streets.

Letters of Accommodation: Disabled Student Development staff will discuss your classroom needs with you and then, upon your request, provide you with letter(s) of introduction and a general description of your disability for your teachers. These letters will also include recommendations for appropriate classroom and testing accommodations.

Some examples of accommodations include: alternate testing location, extended time for tests, use of a tape recorder to record lectures, a note taker, scribe, or oral administration of test questions.  Accommodations depend on the student's disability and how the disability affects the student in an academic setting.

Loaner Wheelchairs: Manual wheelchairs are available for loan on a short term basis. Contact the Disabled Student Development office for more information.

Mobility Orientation: Proper orientation and mobility training for students with visual impairments is very important. In addition to the large print and tactile maps, many students find it useful to "work" the campus for a day or two before classes begin with the aid of a professional orientation and mobility instructor. Arrangements are made through your Vocational Rehabilitation Office.

Note Takers: For those students with disabilities for whom note taker services are appropriate, the DSD Office will assist in the recruitment, matching, and/or referral of notetakers. Note takers take lecture notes and review these notes for clarification, when requested. Note takers are either from outside the class or recruited by the student and teacher from within the class. Requests for note taker services may be made to DSD staff.  Ample lead time is necessary.  Note takers for Vocational Rehabilitation clients are paid for by VR; for others, by Ball State. Supervision of note takers is the primary responsibility of the student. Please notify the DSD office if you are experiencing problems, and we can assist you.  For additional information about note taking services, please read the article called "Note Taking Services Overview" on the table of contents to the right.

Priority Class Scheduling: All students with a documented disability verified by DSD receive priority class scheduling.  This means that if the student with a disability submits all of his or her course requests by the specified deadline, those course requests will be granted. 

Push Sticks for Elevators: Elevator button-control sticks are available in the Disabled Student Development Office for those with hand or arm dexterity problems.

Service Animals: Ball State recognizes the value and need of service animals to assist some students with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as "... any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sound, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items."

The university reserves the right to ask for verification of the training that has been provided as well as the nature of the services being performed. These services must be more than providing emotional well being. Ball State reserves the right to ask that the animal undergo additional training or be removed if it does not fit this description or if it has become disruptive. For example, a properly trained service animal will remain at its owner's feet. It does not run freely around, bark or growl repeatedly at other persons or animals, bite or jump on people, or urinate or defecate inside buildings. An animal that engages in such disruptive behavior shows that it has not been successfully trained to function as a service animal in public settings.

The good health of the animal is the responsibility of the owner. If the animal is in ill health (bowel/bladder control problems, fleas, etc.), the owner may be asked to remove it from the university.

Shuttle Services:  BSU Campus Shuttle Bus operates daily during the academic school year (August - May) from 7:15 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, from 7:15 a.m. - 7:00 p.m on Friday, and 3:00-11:30 p.m. on Sundays. It is available free of charge to students, faculty, staff and visitors. The current plan provides transit availability every 6 to 10 minutes along McKinley Avenue. The Shuttle bus stops only at designated points.

Accessible Shuttle for Students with Disabilities: A lift-equipped campus shuttle runs Monday through Thursday 7:15 a.m. to 12:00 midnight and Friday 7:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the regular academic year for those with mobility impairments. ON Sundays the shuttle runs from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.  Call the Transportation Office (285-9045) to request a pick-up and to designate a location. The shuttle does not go off campus. Please call at least one hour prior to the desired pick-up time and please be patient, particularly in times of heavy use and inclement weather. This service is also very useful, particularly in bad weather, for students who are blind or have visual impairments. The DSD Office establishes the eligibility list for this service.

Snow Removal: During the winter months, routes used by students with disabilities are given first priority for snow removal. If you find inaccessible areas, report them to the Office of Disabled Student Development (285-5293) or Work Control (285-5081) for immediate attention.

Tape Recorders: Students with disabilities who are unable to take or read notes have the right to tape record class lectures for their personal study only. Lectures taped for this purpose may not be shared with other people without the consent of the lecturer. Should questions arise concerning the use of a tape recorder in the classroom please contact DSD for a copy of the Tape Recorded Lecture Policy Agreement.

TTY Numbers: Some key administrative offices on campus have TTY's. Additionally, there is a TTY located at one of the entrances to each residence hall complex on campus. A list of TTY phone numbers can be found here: Campus TTY Numbers.  Or, call the DSD TTY number (765) 285-2206 to request a list of TTY phone numbers.

Videophone: The DSD office has a Sorenson videophone available for use by BSU students who are deaf or hard of hearing.  The phone is available for use during regular office hours.  The videophone connects to Sorenson Video Relay Service so that deaf and hard of hearing users may call hearing users or people with other videophones. 

Wheelchair Repair: While every effort should be made to do preventative maintenance while at home on break, minor repairs such as fixing a flat tire or changing batteries and/or belts can be done through the Physical Plant by calling 285- 5815. No structural welding or repair of electronic systems will be done. Brand Sheet Metal of Muncie (284-5594) will do welding. They will also pick up and deliver the wheelchair. Grainger Industrial Supply of Muncie (741-8100) sells battery chargers. For major repairs, contact one of the following:

-- Adaptive Mobility, Inc.
Indianapolis, 800-969-1154

-- Dela-Lift
Muncie, 760-4437

-- McCrocklin Ford & Mobility
Middletown, 765-354-2261
*In addition to wheelchair repairs,
McCrocklin Ford also sells and rents accessible vans.

-- Saint John's Medical Supplies
Anderson, 646-8366

-- The Scooter Shop
Anderson, 641-9818

-- VitalMed
Muncie, 288-8119

*Also, Batteries Plus has a good supply of medical related batteries and the ability to deliver the batteries during normal business hours. If you mention Disabled Student Development you will be offered a discount on batteries for wheelchairs and hearing aids. Batteries Plus is located at 4101 North Wheeling. The phone number is 282-2288. If your repairs are being paid for by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), prior arrangements will need to be made with your VR counselor.