Common Accommodations

Manhattan Area Technical College is committed to providing accessible programs, services, and activities, as well as reasonable accommodations to individuals registered with the Student Services Office (DSO). Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process with the designated staff. Additional resources are available for all students within our campus-wide support system. 

COMMON ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS

Academic accommodations are meant to provide the student with equal access to courses without fundamentally altering the essential elements of a course or degree program. Below you will find examples of common academic accommodations.

Test Accommodations

Test accommodations are modifications to the testing conditions for students with hearing, visual, and motor limitations or those who have learning, cognitive, or psychological disabilities that significantly affect the ability to demonstrate their mastery of course material under normal testing conditions. Test accommodations may include: 

• Extended Test Time
• Distraction Reduced Testing Environment
• No Scantrons
• Use of a Computer for Tests

In consultation with the student, faculty members will assist in arranging testing accommodations with the Teaching and Learning Center where students may test in individual or small room format.

Note Taking Assistance

Note-taking assistance is an accommodation for students with hearing, visual, or motor limitations or those with learning or cognitive disabilities that significantly affect the ability to take notes in class. The note-taking accommodation is designed to enhance the student's learning process by having another set of notes.  This accommodation is not to be used as a substitute for attending class or taking one's own notes if physically able.

Audio-Recording Lecture

Audio-recording class lectures are sometimes accommodations for students with memory impairments, visual impairments, attention deficits or distractibility, impaired auditory processing, or limited manual dexterity.  The audio recording supplements the student's or a note taker's written notes. Students must sign an agreement during their accommodation plan meeting agreeing not to share, copy, or release any material from a recording made in class and that the recording may be used for the student's personal educational needs only.  

Alternate Textbook Materials

Alternative textbooks accommodate students with visual limitations, learning disabilities, or other cognitive or physical limitations that significantly affect the ability to read and/or comprehend print material. This accommodation provides adequate access to textbooks in a format compatible with the student's limitations.  

ASL Interpreters/Captioning

ASL Interpreters and captioning are accommodations provided to students who are deaf or hard of hearing in order to provide equal access to lecture content.  

Accessible Classroom Materials

For students with physical, sensory, and/or cognitive disabilities, instructional materials may be requested in alternative/accessible formats that are compatible with the student's limitations.   

Electronic or Enlarged Font Classroom Materials (such as handouts and presentations)
Captioned Videos, Movies, and Internet Clips (captions, subtitles, or transcript)
Audio or Print Descriptions of Other Visual Materials (such as artwork, graphics, drawings, diagrams, flow charts)   

Preferential Seating

Preferential seating is an accommodation for students with disabilities that affect their ability to see, hear, sustain attention, or participate in activities in the same ways as other students.  Preferential seating allows the student to sit in a location that is most beneficial for their learning. For example, if the student has a visual or hearing impairment seating closer to the front of the room may be most appropriate, but a student who experiences anxiety in the classroom may need seating in an aisle seat, back row, or near the door.  

Use of Technology in the Classroom (Computer, iPad, Calculator, Braille Note)

This accommodation is for students with hearing or visual impairments or those with motor limitations to have equal access to the lecture or course materials.  Depending on the disability/need the student may use the technology to take notes, read electronic documents, or access other applications.

Physical Access, Mobility Training, and Orientation

It is important that mobility-impaired students disclose their disability and notify the Student Services Office of any problems with access at least four weeks before the first day of instruction to ensure access.