1. New Student Orientation
Disability Center
New Student Orientation

2. New Student Orientation (NSO)?
What is covered in the
New Student Orientation (NSO)?
This NSO will provide you with instructions on how to start using accommodations, including:
Information to discuss with instructors when requesting accommodations
How to implement exam and notetaking assistance accommodations
And, the process to renew accommodations for future semesters
Also covered in this NSO:
How to apply for tutoring by appointment
Help sessions offered by the Disability Center to answer your questions about accommodations

3. Initiating your accommodations

4. Step One: Generate your Accommodation Notification Letters
Log into myAccess and generate your Accommodation Notification Letters for the class(es) in which you are requiring accommodations
A separate tutorial is available for you to assist in this process
Save a copy of your Accommodation Notification Letter(s) to your desktop for your reference and print a copy for your instructor(s)
NOTE: Once you have requested your accommodations via myAccess, your instructor will be able to see your requests when they log in. However, you must proceed to step two to initiate your accommodations.

5. Step Two: Meet With Your Instructors
Schedule an appointment or go to their office hours so that you can talk privately
Give them your Accommodation Notification Letter
Do not give the letter to instructors before or after class
Discuss details and make plans for each accommodation you wish to use in their class
A thorough conversation is important
The following slides provide some suggested talking points for exam and notetaking accommodations…

6. Discussing Exam Accommodations

7. Discussing Exam Accommodations with Instructors…
Ask instructors:
Are you providing me the exam accommodations?
Or do I need to schedule my exams at the Disability Center?
If the instructor will be providing your exam accommodations, discuss details on how your instructor will implement.
If the instructor will not be providing your exam accommodations, you will submit an exam request online using myAccess. (There will be more on this later in the presentation.)

8. Discussing Exam Accommodations with Instructors (cont’d)…
Discuss potential time conflicts due to extended time accommodations.
Back-to-back classes
Example: You have a class at 9am and a class at 10am.
You have a 9am exam and your instructor says you will have 50 minutes for your exam.
If you have “time and a half extended time” as an accommodation, this means you have 1 hour and 15 minutes for your exam.
If you start your exam at 9am, that means your exam will run potentially to 10:15am, causing you to miss part of your class.
This means you will need to discuss with your instructor a different start time for your exam.

9. Discuss Scheduling Exams with Your Instructors …
You will take your exam at the same date and time as your class, except for a time conflict as explained in the previous slide.
If you have scheduling conflicts, ask your instructor:
Can I start my exam earlier in the day? Later in the day?
Come up with an agreeable time.
Discuss all exams for the semester, including your final.
It is important that you resolve any exam schedule conflicts before you submit an exam request with the Disability Center.
Need some help with the Exam Access portal? Visit the myAccess Guides webpage for a tutorial.

10. Discussing Notetaking Assistance

11. If you have Notetaking Assistance as an accommodation…
Meet and discuss with your instructors the need for the Notetaking Assistance accommodation.
If you have more than one method option for Notetaking Assistance, let your instructor know your preferred method (i.e. peer notetaker or copies of slides/PowerPoints).
You and your instructor will decide together which notetaking method(s) will work best for the class
If you’ll be using a Peer Notetaker, here’s a few details on that accommodation…

12. Using your Peer Notetaker Accommodation
Confirm the need for a Notetaker within the Notetaking Assistance portal in myAccess.
Please only confirm those classes where a Notetaker is necessary. Some course structures do not have notes to be taken in (i.e. lab sections, online self-paced, discussion sections)
The Accommodations Coordinator will work with you and your instructors to recruit a Notetaker.
You will receive notifications once a Notetaker has been assigned as well as when notes have been uploaded.
You can then login and download the notes that are available.
Need some help with the Notetaking Assistance portal? Visit the myAccess Guides webpage for a tutorial.

13. A few last notes on peer notetaking…
Notetaking is intended as assistance with notes on days you are present in class
It is NOT a substitute for attending class
You should still take your own notes (if you are able) use the Notetaker's notes as a supplement
Remember to communicate with the Accommodations Coordinator if there are issues with your notes and/or the Notetaker.

14. How do I get accommodations for next semester?
If you are requesting the same accommodations for next semester, you will simply renew using myAccess.
You will not need to meet with your Access Advisor to renew, unless you are requesting to change/add accommodations.

15. New Student Orientation Summary Link
Congratulations, you’re finished!
A summary of this orientation is provided to you on at the following link as a reminder of the information you learned in the NSO. Please feel free to use this and adapt it to your individual needs.
New Student Orientation Summary Link
Additionally, remember to use the Help Sessions and/or contact your Access Advisor if you have questions or want more assistance.