UAC

What kind of help is available?    

A lot of assistance await you all around campus, from your professors to the equipment at the assistive technology room in the library. The University Accessibility Center (UAC) can point you in the right direction and help determine the accommodations for which you qualify. Your accommodations depend on the limitations you have as a result of the disability, what has helped you in the past, what your documentation suggests, and what you and your UAC advisor agree on. Possible accommodations are discussed throughout this packet

Do I get the same accommodations as my friend with a similar disability?

Again, it depends. Individuals with similar disabilities may have very different limitations. You will be accessed on an individual basis. By law, UAC attempts to minimize your individual limitations and thus provide equal academic access.

AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

American Sign Language Interpreters

ASL interpreters are available for those students who use ASL as their primary language or whose limitations suggest interpreters are necessary for communication. BYU employs only interpreters who are certified by the Utah State Interpreter Certification Board. The interpreters available can provide both ASL and transliterating skills. Oral interpreters also are available.

* Early Notification. To ensure that interpreters are available for you in your classrooms, please inform the coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program as soon as you have been accepted into BYU. Many students inform the University Accessibility Center (UAC) of their intention to come to BYU during the application processCbefore their initial acceptance. Our advisors are happy to answer any questions you may have about applying for admission to BYU.

* Service Request Form. Upon being accepted to BYU, you immediately should turn in a Service Request Form. Indicate your classes and the services you need (including interpreters) on this form. UAC (doing the utmost to provide you with competent and ethical services) will then assign suitable interpreters to you. You have the responsibility to submit your request for services as early as possible because ASL interpreters are a limited resource. For those of you who wait to request services during the semester you need them, UAC cannot guarantee interpreters. However, UAC will do it=s best to provide reasonable accommodations.

* Interpreter Sharing. In order for UAC to provide interpreters to you, we reserve the right to request that you change to a different section of the same class in which there is already an interpreter. It is possible that in some popular classes you will be sharing the interpreter with several other students.

* Early Registration. In order to assign interpreters in an efficient manner, UAC needs to know your schedule as soon as possible. If you are eligible for interpreters, you are eligible for early registration also. Please discuss this accommodation with your UAC advisor.

* Advanced Classes. You will find that there are interpreters who are skilled at providing services for a large array of subject areas. For the student who is in graduate school or advanced classes in a technical field where specialized knowledge of the field is needed to interpret, UAC will work with you in obtaining a qualified interpreter or an alternative reasonable accommodation. Please discuss these concerns with the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator.

* Responsibility. The interpreter's responsibility is to provide communication. He/She is not responsible for providing you with rides, tutoring, etc. If you need these things, UAC can suggest options available on campus or in the community.

Student Absences

UAC policy for interpreters and other service providers is that they do not enter the classroom without you. If you miss three classes (without an excused absence) your services will be discontinued until you visit with the coordinator of deaf and hard of hearing services.

Off-Campus Needs

If you require an interpreter for a visit to the doctor or dentist, this must be arranged through the doctor's or dentist's office. UAC does not recruit or fund interpreters for these private uses. UAC will furnish you with addresses of agencies that can provide you with an interpreter for use in the community. Your medical provider is obligated under law to provide you with those services. However, you need to inform your doctor's office of your needs. If you have any questions, please visit with your advisor in UAC.

Priority Registration

Priority registration permits you to register for classes early so that you can coordinate your schedule with that of the interpreter. It also enables you to choose a class which already has a sound system to use with your assistive listening device. If your disability does not demand these specialized accommodations, you may not be eligible for early registration. Review this with your advisor since all accommodations are discussed on an individual basis.

Note Takers

In addition to interpreters, UAC recruits and trains volunteer note takers. These individuals volunteer from the campus community, some staying in the program for more than one semester. Their job is to attend lectures with you and take legible, accurate notes. They do not attend the lecture without you being there. If you are unable to attend class, you need to make other arrangements to get notes for the missed lecture. UAC can give you some ideas. Please note that if you miss three class periods without notifying your note taker, your note-taking services will be discontinued until you visit with your UAC advisor.

The note takers, while being responsible for taking good notes, are not responsible for tutoring you or providing rides and other services. There is a Note Taker Policy Manual in UAC which you are encouraged to check out and read. Also, your advisor can familiarize you with the policies regarding using a note taker.

Procedures for Obtaining a Note Taker
Clear the note taker accommodation through your UAC advisor.
Fill in the pink Service Request Form, requesting note takers. You can do this at the same time you are requesting interpreters. You will need to provide information on your classes: the title, time, section number, etc.
UAC recruits note takers at the beginning of each semester. It usually takes one or two weeks to train and assign all the note takers. UAC will provide you with carbonless paper, which you may give to a classmate to take notes for you in your classes until your note taker is assigned. If you need help in finding a peer note taker, your UAC advisor and professor can assist you.
Come into the UAC office on a regular basis. Your note taker's name and phone number will be posted on the note-taker bulletin board, or UAC can give you this information over the phone. You are then responsible for contacting your note taker and arranging your first meeting. The note taker will be expecting your phone call.
The note takers are aware that they are not to enter the classroom without you being there. If you are to be absent from your classes, then please inform both UAC and your note taker. When your service providers don't attend class because you are absent, you can use the carbonless paper and a peer note taker. Remember, with three unexcused absences your service providers will be withdrawn until you meet with your advisor at UAC.

Peer Note Takers

Some students use a classmate or friend who is taking the same class. UAC can supply you with carbonless paper to give to your peer note taker. The note taker can take notes for you with no financial cost for either of you. Your UAC advisor can help you recruit your peer note takers if you need assistance.

Assistive Listening Devices(ALDs)

UAC has ALDs for students to use on a checkout basis. These units may be used in auditoriums which are wired with comparable sound systems, or with professors, inside or outside the traditional classroom. They may be used with a bud placed directly in the ear or with a loop to be used with hearing aids.

ALDs are available for checkout at the various entertainment facilities on campus, i.e., Varsity Theatre and theaters in the Harris Fine Art Center and the Marriott Center. Interested individuals should check with the management of these locations for assistance in obtaining the assistive listening devices. For a complete list of accessible rooms for persons who are hard of hearing, see your UAC advisor.

Tutors

UAC does not provide a tutoring service; however, BYU runs a free tutoring service through the Center for Service and Learning, located in 2010 WSC (422-1277), This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ). Most academic departments on campus have lists of tutors available for hire. These tutors cost a fee which would need to be worked out independently between you and the tutor. Many of the general education classes have labs with lab assistants who can help.

AVAILABLE HOUSING

There is a variety of accessible housing at BYU. The Housing Department in the past has been eager to work with students with disabilities. However, Housing (as with UAC) needs to know in advance of your arrival at BYU concerning your specific needs and accommodations. Disability law asks that reasonable notice be given. At most universities the budgets for departments are planned at least one year in advance. UAC suggests you place yourself on the on-campus housing waiting list as soon as possible. Once you have been accepted into BYU housing, you should alert Housing Services of your needs (100 SASB, [801] 422-2611). For persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, phone amplification devices, TTYs, (as well as strobe lights) are available.

How do I get a place to live (in on-campus housing)?

Apply as soon as possible. While you must be a full-time student at BYU to live in on-campus housing, you can apply for housing before you are admitted. Some of the waiting lists are up to a year long (e.g., Wymount Terrace). There is always a great demand for places in the residence halls at BYU. Not everyone who applies is able to find a place on campus. The places are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Students with disabilities compete for housing on the same basis as students without disabilities. UAC and Housing expect students who need accessible housing to apply for a place in the halls in plenty of time for consideration.

Can UAC help me get a place to live in on-campus housing?

Some students with disabilities have not been successful in the past in locating on-campus housing because they have applied late or have not submitted a complete housing application. In the past, UAC has been asked by concerned parents and students to ask Housing to make an exception and move a student with a disability into the residence halls even when they previously had not applied or met the Housing deadline. While we understand these concerns, UAC is not at liberty to meet these requests. UAC would be more than happy to suggest alternative off-campus accessible accommodations. The Department of Off-Campus Housing can help the student locate potential housing (801-422-5066). Please, if you are unsure how to fill out an application for housing or you want to ensure you have filled out the application correctly, ask the Housing Department to check on your status. You may think your name is on the list, but you may find that you have disqualified yourself by not filling out the form correctly. For example, if you overlooked checking the box which indicates you want accommodations in the fall, Housing will assume you do not and you will not be allotted a place for the fall.

Where will I eat if I live in the residence halls?

If you live in Deseret Towers or Helaman Halls you will eat at the cafeteria which is in the center of your residence halls. Part of your accommodation expenses in these halls includes a meal plan. If you are part of the Freshman Academy, you will eat some of your meals with your group and faculty members in your hall cafeteria.

If you will be living in Heritage Halls, the Foreign Language complex, or Wymount Terrace, there are no official cafeterias. These apartments come with a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. If you live in Heritage Halls and are beginning in the fall, you will be able to buy a limited meal plan to eat in the Morris Center (cafeteria at Deseret Towers).

Any student can eat in any cafeteria on campus. You do not have to live in campus residence halls to eat in any hall cafeteria. However, if you do not live in Deseret Towers or Helaman Halls (or you have the limited Heritage Halls plan) you will need to pay full price for cafeteria meals. Those students living in Deseret Towers or Helaman Halls have the option of purchasing a meal plan rather than paying cash for meals. For more information please call Housing (801-422-2611).

There are several other great places to eat around campus. No one has to go hungry. If you need help in carrying your trays, reading the menus, locating food, etc., in any of the eating establishments on campus, please ask an employee for assistance. This is part of the employee's jobCthey are usually happy to assist you. Sometimes it is hard to ask for help. For you it may be carrying your food; for the person assisting you it may be a math homework problem that you would find easy.

• TTY'S AND OTHER PHONE NEEDS ON-CAMPUS
• TTYs Have Been Installed Across Campus For Your Use at The Following Courtesy Phone Locations: ASB (near rm. C-027) JRCB (near rm. 250-C) SFLC (near rm. 1201)
• WSC (first floor) JSB (near rm. 163) SWKT (near rm. 201)
• HBLL (copy center) RB (near rm. 133)

  These courtesy phones are hearing-aid compatible. Please Utilize These Phones. All 911 calls are accessible. Utah Relay Services is available at 1-800-346-4128. If you will be living in on-campus housing and have need of phone amplification, strobe lighting or a TTY, you must meet with the UAC counselor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to receive an equipment accommodation card before placing your request with Housing

CHALLENGES AT BYU

Having a disability can impose challenges at the best of times. Attending a university for the first time can bring about its own special opportunities for both frustration and joy. The following concerns and challenges have been raised by many other students with and without disabilities.

How many classes should I take in a semester?

The answer depends on you and your circumstances. Do you have to work as well as go to school? How many hours will you work? How many classes have you taken at other colleges? How many hours does your advisement center or department of study suggest? You will have to develop an understanding of what you can handle and what is good for you. If you are a student who becomes involved in every possible club and activity, BEWARE of overloading yourself. In college time flies. By taking too many classes, students often find themselves "in over their heads." Learn what is "over" and "under" your head.

STRESS

Avoiding Overload and Procrastination

In school you have to contend with more than classes. Activities such as homework, studying, typing papers, cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, visiting with friends, dating, extracurricular activities, and religious activities are all a part of your life. Reading the list is enough to make you feel exhausted. Yet, if you are going to live away from home while you are attending college, you will have to take care of these chores for yourself.

According to most medical research, many of the common chronic illnesses are exacerbated by stress. University life is stressful! There are projects, papers, and exams. The main sources of stress in school come from overloading and procrastinating. Overloading with classes and activities makes it impossible to carry out all your assignments and do them well. Procrastination usually ensures that an inferior job is done. Many individuals may say "yeah, but I work best under pressure," but chances are that's all they know because of our two friends overload and procrastination. Just think, if at finals time all your projects were complete, you were up to date on your studies, you had one small review, and you knew more than you needed to for your final, you would feel well and have no last- minute pressure colds or overloaded muscle aches or procrastinator's migraine. In fact, since you wouldn't have to cram, you may even squeeze in a social activity or two and get a good night's sleep before your exam. People actually do get through college both of these ways. Doing the last-minute, staying-up-night-after-night, semester-after-semester idea is dumb, and leads to poor health and lots of anxiety. You choose; the choice is always yours! That is the freedom of college; you are responsible for your choices, good or bad. If you want to avoid our friends overload and procrastination, here are a few tried and proven ideas:

* Let asking for assistance be OK. Perhaps, as with many people, you are an independent "go-getter." When individuals with disabilities have to rely on someone else for assistance, it may be perceived by the individual with the disability as yielding control. In fact, the opposite is true. Knowing your limitations and when to ask for legitimate help is a way of taking control and conserving much-needed energy, so you can engage in the things you really want and need to do.

* Create a schedule. Begin each semester by planning a weekly schedule from Monday through Sunday at midnight. There are 168 hours in a week. Make each one of them count and work for you. Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish that week, and include your class, social, and religious time.

* Prioritize. It doesn't really matter how you prioritize, whether you use letters (ABC) or numbers (123). What really matters is that you do prioritize and write down the activities you need to accomplish in their order of importance. The reality is that you already have preferences for certain activities. The difficulty comes in being controlled enough to place necessities either equal to or ahead of pleasantries. If your goal is to gain a degree, then the activities you schedule on a weekly basis should reflect this.

* Know the rules. Find out what credit hours your school financial aid office requires you to take to be a full-time student or receive benefits. For example, On-Campus Housing requires the students who live on campus to be full-time students. If, due to health reasons or disability, you cannot take a full class load, then you may qualify to petition Housing. Please contact UAC; we can help you decide your eligibility and help you through the steps. Full time at BYU is 8.5 credit hours for a semester and 4.5 for a term, such as spring or summer. For a full Pell Grant you need to take 12 credit hours. (You can still receive some money for taking fewer than 12 hours.) For Pell Grants the hours are not negotiable, they are stipulated by the U.S. government. For enrolled credit-hour requirements for student scholarships, call the Financial Aid office (801-422-4104).

* Obtain academic help. In order to keep in good academic standing at BYU you need to obtain at least a 2.0 GPA each semester, and term, you are attending BYU. Failure to do so will place you on academic warning or probation and if not resolved may lead to suspension from the university. The Academic Support Office (422-2723) can help you avoid some of the academic problems you may encounter.

* Examine your course combinations. Some classes are more time consuming and demanding. Two very difficult classes may be more challenging to your energy level and stamina than three or four classes of varying difficulty. Academic counselors, advisors at UAC, and talking directly to the department or professor can all help you guesstimate your time commitment to each class. If all your classes will be extremely demanding, then choose a class or two each semester which will help you modify these demands.

* Plan for needed accommodations well in advance. Talk to your professors about the accommodations you may require and/or have an accommodative letter sent to them by UAC. You can reach your professor through the university departments. Staff there usually know who will be teaching prior to the beginning of a new semester. Be aware that unless you have an accommodative letter sent to your professors by UAC, by law professors are supposed to ask for documentation of your disability before accommodations are provided.

* Investigate your choice of classes. If you cannot decide which classes to enroll in and which to pass until another semester, attend all your choices the first week. For example, if you know from past experience you are able to take 12 to 14 hours of class but are interested in classes which would total 16 hours, then during the first week attend all 16 hours. Write all your required semester assignments for each class on a large calendar. Also, you can ask each professor how much time outside of class he/she expects you to spend studying. Evaluate with your advisor if you have the energy and time to keep all these commitments. Then drop the appropriate classes as necessary.

* Remember going to school is a full-time job. About three hours of outside study is required for one hour in class. A twelve-credit load would mean 36 hours of outside study! Do you have the time and energy? You may have the energy to attend all the classes, but what about assignments, papers, and studying? A carefully selected schedule will give you the opportunity of full participation in all class requirements. Remember, if your disability means that writing a paper, etc., will take extra time, then factor the extra time into your schedule. For example, if you are planning on using a volunteer typist, know that the typist will need your written paper in plenty of time BEFORE your assignment is due. You should not plan to give the paper to the typist the night before it is due. You are responsible for writing and editing the paper well before the due date.

* Record all of your other commitments on your schedule. This includes laundry, shopping, picking up the children from school, cooking meals, dating, talking to friends, and even going to church/synagogue/mosque. While taking 12 hours may seem small, combined with all the day-to-day tasks, your good health could be taxed severely.

* Learn your awake and sleepy times. If you really feel awake from noon onwards, then plan your classes and study time in the afternoon and early evening. If after 6 p.m. you need a nap, don't take a class or plan on studying during that time period. If you know you don't wake until 10 a.m., do not plan on taking an 8 a.m. class. Regardless of your good intentions, you probably will not attend it.

* Schedule sleep time and naps. When you are making your semester schedule, factor in sleep time (including naps if needed). Take into account the time you spend trying to fall asleep. Students seem to lose more sleep than any other group of people. There is always so much going on in the dorms, and then there are all those tests which get in the way of an active social life! For those of you who are married, there needs to be time for you and your spouseCnot to mention the kids! Plan all these needs into your semester schedule. Remember, if you rob yourself of sleep you will rob yourself of health.

* Consider school financing. Many students need to work while attending school. Campus Employment, located in C-40 ASB (801-422-3561), has a number of job listings each day for both on- and off-campus opportunities. Also, you can check with the Financial Aid office (801-422-4104), A-41 ASB. Often there are scholarships for individuals with disabilities. In addition, you may wish to apply to your local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for possible sources of funding.

* Attend lectures. Remember part of being a student is attending lectures. Plan accordingly and prepare from the beginning of the semester so your professors are aware of your needs (UAC can help with this). Plan for peers to either tape-record, video, or take notes for you if you are absent. Even under disability law you are responsible for in-class information if you are absent.

* Avoid competition. Learn how to avoid competing with your friends and roommates. Everyone is different, disability or not. Some of your friends can "burn the candle at both ends." Some will cram and study all night. You need to find your own scheduleCwhat works for you. Sure, plan some fun activities in your schedule. Plan ahead if there is a big activity coming that you know will wipe you out. Maybe you can attend part of an activity rather than the whole thing.

* Don't expect others to know your needs. You may need to teach your friends how to plan activities that you can engage in and have fun. No matter how much your family or friends love and care about you, they do not know exactly how you feel or what limits you may have on any given day. You will have to be patient as they learn to adjust to your needs and frustrations. You probably will have to teach your family home evening group how they can accommodate you. There are so many activities going on in and around campus. By working with your friends and church groups, you should be able to participate in as many activities as you want. For those of you who have not had the opportunity but want to learn to ski or participate in other outdoor sports, contact the National Ability Center located in Park City (801-649-3991). They have a staff who would love to teach you to enjoy the slopes safely.

* Think about having a peer mentor. Who will understand your struggles and concerns? UAC runs the Peer Mentoring Program for those students who are interested. UAC teams incoming students with students with similar disabilities who already are at the university and working through UAC. You swap phone numbers with your peer mentor and get together whenever you want. Some students meet for lunch, others call each other to exchange ideas. If you are interested in this program, ask your UAC advisor.

POLICY AWARENESS

Add/Drop Policy

Learn what the university add/drop/discontinuance policy is in case you should need to drop a class later. At BYU you are permitted to add and drop classes from September 2 through September 15 without any record on your transcript. If you drop a class between September 15 and October 6, a "W" goes on your transcript. A "W" does not affect your GPA; however, an abundance of them may affect your financial aid status. If you have concerns, check with the Financial Aid office. From October 6 to November 25, to drop a class or withdraw from the university, you need to be facing a legitimate emergency. During this time period, you go through the Petitions Committee (speak to Mary Whipple, B-150 ASB, 422-6570). You will need to have official verification of the emergency. You also will need to obtain your teacher's signature to drop a class. If you are not passing the class (D- or below), then you will receive a AWE which counts into your GPA as an AE.

Discontinuance

If you decide to discontinue school during the semester, confer with your advisor at UAC. Also, you must work through the Discontinuance Office (Alice Harrison) B-150 ASB, 422-7705. If you are discontinuing during a major semester (fall and winter), it would also be advisable to talk to an Admissions counselor, B-238 ASB, 422-3641. The admissions counselor will inform you concerning your chances of being reaccepted at BYU.

Career Counseling

Research indicates that you will get through college more efficiently if you are studying toward a major. By all means, explore career alternatives. Career Counselors are located in the Counseling and Career Center. You may take interest inventories and discuss your dreams and ideas with one of the counselors. If you are concerned that your disability may impact a specific occupation, both counselors from UAC and Career Services can help you examine your options. College Advisement Centers (CACs) can help you specify a major and inform you of the course requirements.

Available Parking

There are disabled parking stalls located in every parking lot on campus. In order to use these stalls you must have a state-approved Disabled Parking Placard or plate. If you do not qualify for a state permit but still have need for special consideration with parking privileges and think you are entitled, then go to the BYU Traffic Office (PTSB 422-3906). There you will be given an application to fill out and a questionnaire for your physician. If your request is accepted, you most likely will be given an "A" Lot sticker which will give you permission to park in faculty lots for up to six months. If your condition necessitates an extension of this pass, you are required to meet with an advisor/counselor in UAC. Your request for an extension will depend on documentation from your physician and the UAC case consultation team's decision.

FINDING A PHYSICIAN

It is really important that you find a local physician. Even if your primary care giver is your family physician in your home state, it is sensible to find a doctor nearby. You may want to have your home physician recommend a local physician for you to see while you are at college.

The McDonald Health Center (MHC) at BYU provides outpatient care including physiotherapy. The Health Center also has specialist physicians who visit campus. Call the Health Center (801-422-5156) for information about student services. If you will have need of an interpreter while at the MHC, call the center 24 hours in advance to make your requestCor call UAC. There is no charge for this service; however, the 24 hour advance notice must be observed.

There are many private physicians in the Utah Valley. The University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City offers specialized clinics such as the Spina Bifida clinic. For further information regarding the U of U Medical Center, call (801-581-2121).

Health organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation or the CIFIDS foundation, both national and state, may be able to refer you to physicians in the area who are familiar with a specific illness. These organizations also may inform you of local support groups and current information about your illness.

• CIFIDS: 1-800-422-3437 (National)
• CIFIDS: 801-461-3378 (State)
• American Cancer Society: 1-800-234-0533 ( National)
• American Cancer Society: 801-373-5886 (State)
• Arthritis Foundation: 801-486-4993 (State)
• MS Society: 1-800-FIGHT MS
• 1-800-527-8116 (State)
• Lupus: 1-800-657-6398 (National)

Depression and Other Emotional Concerns

No matter how mentally healthy we think we are, experiencing life carries its own emotional legacy. A student may encounter depression and anxiety as a result of leaving home, breaking up of relationships, or simply feeling overwhelmed by school work. Besides support/therapy groups, individual counseling may provide you with an opportunity to relieve your concerns and anxiety. For full-time students, the Counseling and Career Center at BYU (422-3035) is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The after-hours number is 422-2222, which is the number of the University Police, who will contact the counselor on duty. For non-students, there are several local community resources which provide counseling. One source is the Comprehensive Clinic at BYU (422-7759).

Remember, through it all, school is FUN. You will learn more about the world and yourself than ever before. What an opportunity! There are oodles of people, including those of us at UAC, who want you to succeed!