Office of Accessibility and Disability Support

Northwestern State University and the Office of Accessibility and Disability Support (OADS) are committed to making students with disabilities full participants in university programs, services, and activities through its compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The OADS coordinates services and accommodations for students with disabilities and also serves as an information center concerning disability-related issues. The OADS is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to students by minimizing the impact of functional limitations upon their academic and non-academic lives through providing reasonable accommodations to students registered with OADS.

Reasonable accommodations are modifications to a course, program, service, or employment that do not fundamentally alter the course or program. Appropriate accommodations are determined through the individual intake appointment by reviewing documentation submitted by a qualified and licensed professional, discussion with the student, and evaluating the essential requirements of a course or program. After the intake appointment, a student will have approved accommodations available for use at their discretion.

To Register for OADS Services:

You must first complete an application related to your disability. Once completed you may begin the intake process in which you will complete the form and attach your application as support documentation. If you have an IEP or 504 plan from high school you may complete the intake form and attach your plan as support documentation.

  1. Please complete the form associated with your diagnosis below.
    If you are not currently registered with OADS, please go to the following page to start the intake process.
  2. Once the intake application is completed and submitted, Mrs. Crissey Smith will contact you to schedule your consultation.
  3. Finally, the OADS Director will prepare Accommodation Letters for qualified students. ALL students enrolled in faced to face and online courses Accommodation Letters will be emailed to their assigned instructors.
  4. Please be aware that OADS may take up to 2 weeks to process new accommodation requests.

Crissey Smith
Director
Watson Memorial Library Room 108C
318-357-5460
smithcr@nsula.edu

Victoria Dettinger
Testing Coordinator
Watson Memorial Library, Rm. 108D
318-357-4460
dettingerv@nsula.edu

Requesting Accommodations for the Upcoming Semester?

If you are registered with OADS and want to continue using current accommodations, please submit the Continued Services Form. This form should be completed at the beginning of each semester.

Services and Equipment: OADS provides services in cooperation with other departments on campus and may make referrals for specialized services and equipment. Below is a list of services and equipment available to OADS registered students.

  • Extended Time for Testing
  • Readers for Exams
  • Scribes for Exams (including assistance with scantrons)
  • Reduced Distraction Location for Test Taking
  • Flexibility with Spelling or Grammar Errors
  • Materials in Alternate Format
  • Use of Word Processor for Essay Exams
  • Assistance with Note Taking
  • Magnifying Equipment
  • Laptops and Computers with Visual Enlargement
  • Large Screens/Monitors in all Student Computer Labs
  • Some Textbooks in Alternative Formats
  • Open Book Scanning and Copying (available at Watson Library)
  • Modified Table and Chair Classroom Seating Accommodations
  • Digital Recording Software
  • Microsoft Stream (captioning)

Priority Registration:
Priority registration is a service that assigns an early registration date for students with disabilities. It does not entitle students to a seat in classes with full enrollment, but priority registration is provided so that arrangements for services and auxiliary aids (such as preparing textbooks in alternate formats and scheduling real time captioning) must be made in advance and that courses may likely be scheduled around any medical needs. Priority registration will not override holds on student records that block registration such as outstanding fines or unpaid bills and do not guarantee registration in a course that is already full.
http://registrar.nsula.edu/

Housing:
Accessible housing is available at each Campus Living Village. In addition, many disability needs can be accommodated by making modifications to standard student housing. OADS will provide advice about housing options that best suit your disability needs and facilitate accommodations with properties are managed by the University’s housing partner, Campus Living Villages. The Campus Living Village staff and OADS office will confer and then follow up regarding specific placement.
http://www.nsula.edu/campushousing/

Transportation:
The OADS and campus police schedule shuttle service for persons with permanent or temporary disabilities. Students registered with OADS who have need for transportation will be approved as riders for this service. In order to maintain eligibility for this service, riders must follow the policy and procedures of OADS. Contact the OADS at (318) 357-4460 or campus police (318) 357-5431 for more information.

Parking:
Accessible parking is available on campus and is managed by Campus Police in consultation with OADS. All parking on campus requires the purchase of an appropriate NSU permit. Accessible parking requires a valid State-issued Parking Placard to be registered with Campus Policy. For full information on purchasing your permit and registering your vehicle, please go to:
http://universitypolice.nsula.edu/

Service Animals:
Seeing-eye dogs or other trained, assisting animals are allowed on campus for OADS registered students. Although these animals are permitted within the buildings and facilities, said animals must remain under the control of the owner at all times. The care or supervision of an animal is solely the responsibility of its owner. NSU reserves the right to exclude animals whose behavior poses a threat to the health or safety of others. NSU is not obligated to provide personal aids and services, such as trained assisting animals.

Lecture Recording:
Recorders in classrooms are allowed for OADS registered students. The OADS will notify instructors of this accommodation. If an instructor necessitates, the institution may require the student to sign an agreement so as not to infringe on a potential copyright or limit freedom of speech.

Note Takers:
Based on the OADS registered student’s individual needs and the nature of the classes being taken, OADS provides volunteer peer note-takers who provide copies of class notes to students with visual disabilities. OADS will assist in coordinating the use of note takers, but the faculty members in the classes in which notes are needed are usually the primary recruiters of volunteer note-takers. When recruiting volunteers, it is important for the faculty member to keep in mind that permission must be obtained from the student with a disability before that student’s identity can be disclosed to a note-taker.

Academic Testing:
The OADS office provides for testing environments accessible to all people, while working toward the goal of full inclusion. Accommodations are provided on an individual basis. The OADS office works with instructors to determine ways to developed alternatives for students in order to guarantee that access and equality are achieved during testing, while academic rigor is preserved. OADS offers extended time, distraction free environments, modifies and alternate format-converting from computerized test to pen and paper, calculators, access to spellcheck, scribes and readers, and oral exams.

Student Responsibility and Procedures for Testing Accommodations:

  1. OADS registered students must deliver the Accommodation Letter to all face-to-face instructors before testing begins. For online classes, an email from the OADS director is sent to the instructor.
  2. Notify the instructor and OADS office 48 hours, at least two business days, before the test. OADS registered students should complete this form Request OADS Exam. Completion and submission of the form will inform OADS staff and your instructor of your request. Final exams request forms MUST be submitted at least 5 business days prior to your exam.
  3. The instructor will deliver the test to the OADS office. If the test will be taken on Moodle, the instructor will contact an Electronic Learning’s Support Specialist to make accommodation arrangements.
  4. Students must arrive on time, which is strictly during your actual class testing period, at the OADS office in order to take the test.
  5. Please call (318) 357-4460 or email obannont@nsula.edu if you have questions about the test taking procedures.

*When you schedule an exam please remember OADS hours of operation are:

Monday – Thursday 8am – 5pm and Friday 8 am – 12pm

Keep in mind when you schedule your exams you must be able to complete it before OADS is scheduled to close for the day. Therefore, if you are allowed 2 hours for an exam you should schedule the exam no later than 3pm. The exception for this is Finals week.

Other Important Information

You can register to vote through the Louisiana Secretary of State website: HERE.

Interim Director Facilities Services: Dale Wohletz, Facilities Services Complex, 318-357-5066, wohletz@nsula.edu