Student Accommodations & Testing

What is a disability?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is defined as a person who: (1) has a physical or mental health diagnosis that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such impairment. Major life activities include but are not limited to walking, sleeping, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, writing, working, caring for oneself, processing, performing manual tasks, etc.

Tip: For more information, please refer to WSU's Policies and Procedures 8.10 / Students with Disabilities. Questions are welcomed; you can call or email the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing or contact the Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance directly.

What does substantially limit mean?

Substantially limits is defined as being unable to perform a major life activity (i.e. caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working), or significantly restricting as to the condition, manner or duration under which a major life activity can be performed, in comparison to the average person or most people.

What is an accommodation?

An accommodation is an adjustment made to a policy and/or academic environment to ensure students with temporary or permanent disabilities have equal access to course material, information, activities, programs, housing and other university facilities

Tip: For more information and to request accommodations, please refer to the OSAT Request Accommodations page.

What types of disabilities does the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing serve?

OSAT works with students with the following disabilities, but are not limited to: mental, health, physical disability, learning disability, Autism, blind/low vision, D(d)eaf/hard of hearing, traumatic brain injury, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, communication disorders, food-related disability, or multiple diagnoses.

How does a student get started with OSAT?

First, a student must complete the OSAT New Student Application and submit the necessary documentation. Then, OSAT engages the student in the interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations.

For more information, please refer to the OSAT Getting Started page.

Does a student need to provide medical documentation to be approved for accommodations?

Wichita State University requires students seeking services to provide documentation from a qualified healthcare professional that describes the disability/health condition as well as shares the functional impact on the student's academic experiences. OSAT has specific documentation guidelines to provide an outline of the information necessary to establish that a student has a disability and/or temporary health condition.

For more detailed information about required documentation, including guidelines for specific conditions, please refer to the Documentation Guidelines outlined on our website.

Do I need to apply for accommodations each semester?

Students do not need to apply for accommodations each semester. However, at the beginning of each semester, OSAT will need to initiate the process to send Faculty Notification Letters (Continued Services/Accommodation Letters) to your course instructors if accommodations are needed. This will be available through the AIM Student Portal.

What if I need additional accommodations?

Students can request changes to their accommodations at any time. To request changes or additional accommodations, student can reach out to their Access Coach (Primary Advisor in AIM). Access Coaches can discuss whether or not an accommodation can be added or if additional documentation is needed.

Who is responsible for paying for documentation to verify my disability?

The student is responsible. Please review the Documentation Guidelines. If you have questions about where to obtain the necessary documentation, please contact our office.

How will you determine if my condition meets the definition of a disability that is used in college?

Decisions about eligibility for accommodations are based on the Documentation Guidelines. The documentation on your condition must be current and specific. If you are having testing done for use in requesting accommodations at Wichita State University, please refer the assessor to this resource. Once we receive your documentation and application, we will review your materials and provide a determination of eligibility. Access Coaches are also available to answer questions if you have concerns about your documentation before applying for accommodations.

What accommodations are required if a student discloses a disability after the fact (e.g., after failing an exam or assignment)?

To use academic accommodations, students registered with OSAT are responsibility for having a conversation and providing their instructors with their accommodations notices. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.

Does OSAT adhere to any privacy laws?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. All information and documentation submitted to OSAT is kept separate from an academic record and is considered private under FERPA. It is an individual's choice whether to disclose the nature of their disability to faculty. Asking a student for more details regarding their disability is not permitted as the confidentiality of medical information must be maintained. OSAT can and will discuss student information with faculty related to the facilitation of accommodations.

Resources: Some resources about FERPA are founded at Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and FERPA Guidelines for Faculty & Staff. Students may also authorize OSAT to release information about their accommodations with a family member, healthcare provider, or other non-WSU staff. The student can work with OSAT regarding the release of this information.

Is my disability information shared with my professors?

Information related to a student's disability is not shared with instructors. It is the student's responsibility to share their accommodations notices with instructors. The notice only focuses on accommodations and does not share disability-specific information. It is up to the student to decide what information beyond accommodations they feel do or do not feel comfortable sharing. A student should never be required to share disability-specific information with their instructors.

If I register with the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing, will it show up on my academic record?

Registering with the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing services does not appear on your academic record because disability-specific information is confidential.

Should I tell my academic and/or specialized advisor about my disability?

Students can choose whether they would like to disclose their disability to their academic and/or specialized advisors, as well as other offices on campus. It is not required for students to share disability-specific information.

Are students required to identify their disability or provide copies of disability documentation to faculty and staff?

No. Students are not required nor should they be asked to disclose the nature of their disability. Additionally, students should not be asked to provide faculty and staff with copies of their disability documentation. Students requesting accommodations are only required to provide accommodations notices from OSAT stating they have a documented disability on file.

Whom do you talk with about receiving accommodations and/or services?

If you have any questions about receiving accommodations, services, or the process to apply through the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing, write them down and schedule an appointment with our office. During this meeting, you will be able to discuss your college plans and develop a plan for accommodations. Each student will develop an individualized plan for services with OSAT.

What is OSAT's design for delivering accommodations?

The Office of Student Accommodations & Testing promotes a philosophy of independence. We do not wish students to become dependent on our services, but to use services as a support to accomplish their academic goals. Auxiliary aids and accommodations are based on need, as supported by documentation of disability. Students are encouraged to communicate needs openly when they meet with the OSAT staff to ensure that proper accommodations are provided. Students are encouraged to experiment with accommodations and develop a package that allows them to remain as independent as possible on campus. Students should also be aware that services will be designed in a manner intended to remove barriers in the classroom which could hinder a student's ability to learn. These accommodations are not intended to give the student an advantage over other students in the class.

Is tutoring provided specifically for students with disabilities?

OSAT does not offer tutoring services for students with disabilities. The Shocker Learning Center (SLC) is an excellent resource for tutoring resources on campus. Our office partners with SLC to provide training on how tutors can support students with disabilities on campus.

What if I disagree with an accommodation decision that has been made by OSAT?

If you disagree with an accommodation decision made by OSAT, please make an appointment with the OSAT Director to discuss your concerns. Appeals beyond that point may be addressed with Wichita State University's ADA Coordinator.

What is JAWS, ZoomText & Fusion and how do I access it?

Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for individuals with any level of vision loss. Fusion provides robust screen magnification and visual enhancements for screen viewing ease of ZoomText, coupled with quick and responsive screen reading functionality of JAWS. A single installer and license grants access to both of these powerful tools to use individually or in a combined solution – Fusion.

These applications are available for use on Windows devices by all students, faculty, and staff at Wichita State University. It can be accessed here. If you have any issues with downloading the software, contact the ITS Helpdesk.

What is proctored testing?

OSAT provides a secure, quiet, accommodating and accessible environment for students who are requesting proctored testing. Students can use our services to take make-up exams, accommodated exams (for those who are registered with OSAT), distance exams, certification exams (such as CLEP, DANTES, etc.) and more. We also offer proctored services for exams required in distance courses and for certification and licensure examinations.

For more information and to request for these services, please refer to our Proctored Testing page.

How do I request for proctored testing through OSAT?

Regardless if a student is needing to take a make-up exam or they are receiving accommodations and would need to take an accommodated exam through OSAT, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor in advance that you would like to use Proctored Testing. Instructors will submit details through our Test Information Form (TIF) for their courses.

Students will be required to schedule an appointment by securing an appointment time through RegisterBlast.

How are exams proctored at OSAT?

N/A

How much does it cost to take an exam through OSAT?

There is a $20 charge for any make-up exam, but no fees will be charged for students registered with OSAT. Call our office at (316) 978-3309 for fee information on other exams being offered. Fees are subject to change without notice.

The structure of my class includes both quizzes and exams. For what tests will the student need to receive the exam accommodations?

Instructors should provide exam accommodations for all quizzes and exams.

I'm having issues with an exam accommodation being proctored by an instructor. What do I do?

If a student is having issues receiving accommodations from their instructor, they should contact their Access Coach. Access Coaches can work with students and instructors to ensure that accommodations are being provided.

Is there technology available to assist D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing students?

Yes, there are several different types of technology that Wichita State University uses to assist and support D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing students. One of the primary technology is known as speech-to-text services. Based on student request, we typically offer Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning which the provider can be utilized in the classroom on-site or remotely to provide real-time speech-to-text services. We also offer assistive listening devices.

To learn more about D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing accommodations, please refer to our D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing services webpage.

I want to take an ASL course. Can you assist?

The university has several American Sign Languages (ASL) classes available through the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Students can learn more about the American Sign Language program, which is housed in the Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures (MCLL) department.

Note: The department does not provide interpreters or interpreting services. WSU faculty/staff may contact Human Resources for accommodations. Students are encouraged to work with the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing for course accommodations.

I need a sign language interpreter for an academic advising or financial aid meeting. Where can I get one?

OSAT will provide interpreting services for fee-paying students who are registered to receive accommodations. Departments and organizations can request for interpreting services using the Interpreter Request Form.

Does OSAT have amplification or FM systems available for D(d)eaf and/or Hard of Hearing students?

Yes, the FM systems can be loaned out free-of-charge by registered students at OSAT on a day-by-day basis. Students can work with OSAT to submit their request.

I need a sign language interpreter or speech-to-text service for my courses. What do I do?

Once the student has registered with the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing, they will be assigned an Access Coach who will work with them to make sure they have speech-to-text and/or interpreting services for their courses. Upon approval for accommodations, students submit requests for specific services each semester through the AIM Student Portal.

What is the role of OSAT in providing D(d)eaf/Hard of Hearing services?

OSAT works with students who are D(d)eaf or Hard of Hearing on a case-by-case basis to ensure they receive all reasonable academic-related accommodations necessary. Certain accommodations may include class notes, sign language interpreters, speech-to-text service, or amplification systems.

What should I take into consideration when teaching a D(d)eaf or Hard of Hearing student?

Each student is different and there is a wide variety of accommodations they may need to be arranged, including sign language interpreting and note-taking services.

For more information, see our D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing Instructor Responsibilities and Best Practices webpage.

Is there anything special I need to do for D(d)eaf or Hard of Hearing students if I am showing a video or online video clip in class?

Instructors who have students who are D(d)eaf or Hard of Hearing in their classes need to consider the accessibility of the media they plan to use. These instructors will be notified in advance before the semester begins by the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing and throughout specific cases. Instructors who intend to use DVD, VHS, or web-based videos and/or podcasts in their course should be aware that they are responsible for offering captioned versions of course materials. Videos are accessible when they are captioned and podcasts are accessible when a written transcript accompanies the audio file.

If a video is not captioned or a podcast does not have a transcript, instructors will need to arrange for an accessible version to be produced. Instructors should plan ahead by allowing anywhere from three (3) days to two (2) weeks for transcription and captioning services. In some cases, transcripts or captions for last minute video clips requests may be granted. Inaccessible media must not be shown in class until accessible media is available for all students.

What is Wichita State University's Web Accessibility Policy?

Please refer to WSU's Policies and Procedures 8.11 / Accessible Content for more information.

How do sign language interpreters work in class with a D(d)eaf student?

Many D(d)eaf and Hard of Hearing students will utilize sign language interpreting or captioning services in the classroom. Depending on the course content, you may be asked for materials in advance so that the service providers may prepare for upcoming classes. For example, in a class where there is a large amount of new terminology, vocabulary, and readings, such as a literature class, it would be beneficial to provide as much of this information to the interpreters in advance. Additionally, interpreters may need to be given course materials such as a copy of the syllabus.

When there is a sign language interpreter present, should I speak to the interpreter or directly to the D(d)eaf student?

When needing to speak to the student, address the student rather than the interpreter and keep in mind that the student will need to be able to see the interpreter and the interpreter will need to be able to hear what you are saying.

Should I make arrangements for D(d)eaf/HOH Services if I have to meet with a D(d)eaf student during office hours?

Check with the student to see if they need communication assistance. While some students utilize services in the classroom, they may or may not need the same services one-on-one. Instructors who need to request sign language interpreters or speech-to-text services are encouraged to have the student contact OSAT promptly to ensure timely arrangement of services. Although we strive to respond to all service requests, we may be unable to meet requests made less than 48 hours in advance.

When students identify themselves as having a disability, what should instructors and staff do?

Interaction with students with disabilities is the same as with any other student. Listen to what they have to say. Ask questions only about how and if the disability will impact them in the class as well as about the accommodations they may be requesting. To have their requests for accommodations verified, students must be registered with OSAT. Ask students who are self-identifying with a disability about their OSAT registration status. Students who are registered should have been assigned to a professional staff member or Access Coach at OSAT who can facilitate the accommodation process. Accommodations should not be granted unless the student presents their accommodations notice from OSAT.

Do instructors have a legal responsibility to accommodate qualified students with disabilities?

Yes. Accessibility is essential and should be at the forefront of course planning. If you are concerned about accommodations for a class, please contact OSAT immediate at (316) 978-3309. The Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates students' rights to accommodations and their right to file complains (OCR) and/or lawsuits (ADA) against the university if these accommodations are not provided.

For more information and to learn more, refer to the university's Office of Civil Rights, Title IX, & ADA Compliance website.

What do I do about a student with a disability who is misbehaving, threatening, or rude?

All students are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and other related WSU Policies and Procedures. Poor behavior is not excused on the basis of disability. Respond to the behavior as you would with any other student.

I want to refer a student to OSAT because I think they might have a disability. How do I talk to the student about my concern?

If you believe a student may have a disability or if a student expresses concern that they may have a disability, please encourage them to contact OSAT for more information. OSAT works with several departments regarding referrals for evaluations. Student may obtain registration and documentation guidelines from OSAT.

What should I do when a student directly hands me documentation of a disability?

Refer to the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing or share the hyperlink to the Request Accommodations webpage. Our office will review the documentation to determine eligibility for accommodations. Once approved for services, the OSAT staff and student will discuss appropriate accommodations for each class and assist the student in communicating with the instructor about their accommodations.

Can my parents be involved in this process?

Family members or members of the student's support system can absolutely be part of the accommodations process if a student would like. Students will work with OSAT staff to grant permissions to those needing access.

If I have received accommodations at a different college or university, will I automatically receive the same accommodations at Wichita State University?

A student may not receive the same accommodation they had at a previous institution. Documentation is reviewed and decisions are made independently from other institutions because colleges and universities have different processes and accommodations they provide. It can be helpful for students to provide documentation of previous accommodations used with their application to OSAT. This allows OSAT to determine accommodations that may be similar if they are eligible based on WSU's policies.

I am a prospective student. May I meet with someone from your office during my campus tour?

OSAT would love to meet with you during your visit to Wichita State University! To arrange a visit with us, please work with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions team to develop a plan for your visit.