Reasonable Accommodations for College Students

Once out of high school, students may continue to need their assistive technology devices in college.  "Under Section 504 and the ADA, colleges must provide--at no cost to the student--reasonable accommodations to make their programs accessible to students with disabilities" (Dell, Newton, Petroff, 2012).  The following accommodations should be provided for students throughout their time at a college or university.

Task	Typical Non-technology Accommodations	Technology-Based Accommodations
Note taking	Student note takers using carbonless paper	Use of a portable note taker Smart pen to record lectures and sync to notes Whiteboard capturing devices
Understanding lectures	Sign language interpreters	C-print captioning Assistive listening system
Taking tests	Extended time on tests Distraction free environment for testing	Word processing application for essay exams Use of spell-check feature or handheld speller Use of calculator Text-to-speech software for reading support
Accessing course materials	Sign-language interpreted videos Arranging for materials to be translated into Braille	Captioned videos Providing handouts in electronic format Making course web sites accessible
Reading	Providing readers	Books in alternate formats Scan/read systems with highlighting and text-to speech Text readers, Audio books, Video magnifiers
Completing papers and assignments		Screen magnification applications Screen-reading applications Text-to-speech and word prediction Voice recognition Graphic organizer
Accessing the Internet		Providing screen magnification, screen reading, or text to speech applications
Registering for Classes	Priority registration	Making college web based systems accessible
Telecommunicating		Providing telecommunications device for the deaf E-mail, text messaging, instant messaging Video relay system

References:

Dell, A.G., Newton, D.A., Petroff, J.G. (2012).  Assistive Technology in the Classroom; Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities.  2nd Edition.