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Mobility

Mobility Impairments

Welcome to the BYU University Accessibility Center (UAC) Website! The UAC is happy you have decided on BYU. The University is a fairly big place with lots of people and buildings. This packet is to help you navigate through the issues you may face while at BYU.

COMMONLY-ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of help is available?

There is a variety of assistance all around campus, from your professors to the equipment at the assistive technology room in the library. University Accessibility Center (UAC) can point you in the right direction and help you determine your qualifications for accommodations. 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 assessed on an individual basis. By law, UAC attempts to minimize your individual limitations and thus provide equal academic access.

AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Priority Registration

Priority Registration permits you to register for classes early so you can coordinate your classes to accommodate your travel time and classroom seating arrangements. If your particular mobility impairment does not demand specialized accommodations, you may not be eligible for early registration. Review this with your advisor since all accommodations are discussed on an individual basis.

Accessible Classrooms

The majority of buildings at BYU are accessible. Generally speaking, all class-rooms also are accessible on campus. If there is a concern as to whether a classroom is accessible, contact UAC. If there is a required course in a classroom that is not accessible, call UAC no less than one month prior to the beginning of the semester, and an effort will be made to move the class to an accessible location. UAC recommends that students who use wheelchairs not schedule classes in the Maeser Building(MSRB) without first checking to see if accommodations in that building fulfill individual needs.

Adaptive Equipment

The accommodative lab is housed in the Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL). There are several accessible computers for use by qualified students. The equipment housed in the accommodative lab for students with mobility impairments includes:

Dragon Dictate: voice-activated dictation software for use with Word- Perfect.
Adaptive Key Boards: reduced size keyboard, six-button key board (one- handed keyboard).
Adaptive Mouse: joy stick, head mouse.
Scanners: scan information into a document.

Scheduling Classes

BYU is a fairly large campus. Careful planning and priority registration give you the opportunity to register for classes held in close proximity to each other. There is a map of campus at the back of every class schedule. Also, UAC can provide a mobility tour of campus and give you recommendations. If you are unable to navigate long flights of stairs, do not schedule classes back to back which make you travel from upper to lower campusCthis probably will cause you to be late for your next class. BYU usually has major construction and renovations underway. UAC is excited because the new additions will provide more opportunities for students and more accessibility when the renovations are complete. Sometimes, there are detours around campus, and many pathways between buildings are rerouted. UAC is happy to work with you on planning and exploring your accessibility routes.

Note Takers

UAC recruits and trains volunteer note takers. These individuals volunteer from the campus community; some stay 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 any 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. If you miss three class periods without notifying your note taker, your note-taking services will be discontinued until you visit with your advisor in UAC.

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 advisor in UAC.
Fill in the pink Service Request Form requesting note takers. You will need to provide information on your classes: 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 until your note taker is assigned. If you need help in finding a peer note taker, your UAC advisor and your professor can assist you.
Come into the UAC office on a regular basis. Your note takers' names and phone numbers will be posted on the note-taker board. UAC also can give you this information over the phone. You are then responsible to contact your note taker and arrange your first meeting. The note taker already will have accepted the responsibility to take notes for your specific section and will be expecting your phone call.
Note takers are aware that they are not to enter the classroom without you being there. So if you are going to be absent from your classes, please inform both UAC and your note taker. Your service providers will not be in class when you are not there; at these times you can use the carbonless paper and a peer note taker. Remember that with three unexcused absences, your service providers will be discontinued until you meet with your advisor at UAC.

Peer Note Takers

Some students use a fellow 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 to either of you. Your UAC advisor can help you recruit your peer note takers should you need assistance.

Tutors

UAC does not provide a tutoring service. However, BYU provides a free tutoring service through Campus Involvement Services located at 2010 WSC (422-4793; 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 and the fee depends on the tutor. This would be worked out independently between you and the tutor. Finally, many of the general education classes have labs with lab assistants who will answer questions at no cost.

Personal Care Attendants

UAC does not recruit personal care attendants for students. There are many nursing agencies around the Provo area which would be happy to fill your needs. Students in the past have been successful at recruiting their own personal care attendants. UAC can help you with ideas on how to recruit a PCA. If you require a personal care attendant, please arrive at BYU with one in place or plans to hire such an individual. By law you cannot expect to rely on roommates, housing officials, or classmates to act as your personal care attendant. If your roommate is also your personal care attendant, that is great. However, please ensure that the roommate understands he/she is hired for that purpose.

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 usually one year in advance. Once you have been accepted into BYU housing, you should alert Housing Services of your needs (100 SASB, [801] 422-2611).

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.

Deseret Towers are located on east campus, a few minutes away from the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and the Provo Temple. There is a small grocery store and the BYU dairy close by. Usually there are two persons to a room. Private rooms are available through special arrangement. For individuals in wheelchairs, S and T Halls for women are accessible, and for men, R and V Halls. Food is served at the Morris Center cafeteria where you can eat meals from the main menu or get food to go. If you require assistance with selecting or carrying your food, please talk to Housing Services, your head resident, resident assistant (RA), or cafeteria supervisor/workerCany of these people will be helpful. You should be aware that although these dormitories are just a five- to ten-minute walk from the main campus, there is quite a steep hill between them and the main classroom buildings.

Helaman Halls are located west of campus, within walking distance of the football stadium. Like Deseret Towers, two students share a dormitory room. Private rooms can be available through special arrangement. There are small convenience stores within easy reach of these residence halls. The Cannon Center cafeteria is located in the central building. If you require help in the cafeteria, please ask your head resident, resident assistant (RA), or one of the cafeteria employees. The two state-of-the-art, accessible dormitories are Budge Hall for men and Hinckley Hall for women. Helaman Halls is a five- to ten-minute walk to the main campus. For those of you in wheelchairs, be aware that there is a fairly steep hill from these dorms to the main body of campus.

Wymount Terrace is married student housing and is located northeast of campus next to the Provo Temple and across the road from the newly-planned McDonald Health Center. Wymount is a 20- to 25-minute walk to the main campus. This complex has a small convenience store. Also, some apartments are equipped with roll-in showers. If you are interested in living at Wymount, you are advised to put your name on the housing list as soon as possible. This is a very popular place to live. Currently the waiting list is one year. You do not have to be accepted to BYU to be put on the list, but you must be a student in order to live there. If you have a disability, you do not need to be married to apply to Wymount Terrace. AgainC students with disabilities cannot be moved to the top of the waiting list because of their disabilities.

Off-Campus Housing. Both UAC and the Off-Campus Housing Department at BYU (422- 5066) would be happy to recommend possibilities for accessible off-campus housing. Please be aware that there are still too few options in the local area. Some students with mobility impairments have been able to find accessible housing in the community. Many students choose to stay on campus because the housing is more accessible. Please be sure to personally check apartments for accessibility before you sign a contract or come to school. This is particularly true for off-campus apartments. Even if the off-campus apartment is advertized as accessible and other students with mobility impairments have lived there, it may not be accessible for your personal needs. If you cannot come to Provo personally to check out the housing, have a close friend or relative who knows your needs look at apartments for you.

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 will include 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. The apartments come with a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. If you live in Heritage Halls, you may choose to buy a limited meal plan to eat in the Morris Center (cafeteria at Deseret Towers). Please note that kitchens in the apartments may or may not fit your needs.

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 the meals. Those 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 for anyone 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.

WINTER IN UTAH

Snow, snow, and more snow. It can be a little overwhelming and intimidating for those students with mobility impairments who were raised in sunny climates and may not be experienced with snow. BYU has an excellent snow removal staff and equipment. Generally the snow is removed from the sidewalks as soon as it falls, and the walks are sanded or treated with a snow-melting compound. Often the snow removal staff works around the clock to have the walks cleared. However, if the snow fall is especially heavy and continues to fall for a day or more, there may be an accumulation of snow on some of the sidewalks. Packed snow occurs in high traffic areas where students frequently walk. The snow removal staff will continue to work on those areas. If there is an accumulation of snow, do not be afraid to venture out. The main walkways will be plowed. If you are still apprehensive, there are a few options open to you. Your roommates or other dorm members can offer you assistance until you are more comfortable. UAC sponsors the Campus Travel Assistance program where volunteers work with students who need mobility assistance on campus. Students in the past have used these volunteers to provide some assistance during winter weather conditions. If this program interests you, ask your UAC advisor about it.

If you run into severe problems with the snow removal, call UAC and explain the problem. UAC will contact the Grounds department. Students can call the Grounds department themselves; however, this has caused confusion and problems in the past. UAC and Grounds strongly recommend that you call UAC.

Emergencies

This depends on what emergency you have. After 5 p.m., campus police handle most emergencies on campus and would be available to answer any concerns you have. Campus police can be reached at 422-2222.

Wheelchair Repairs

There are two places on campus where minor wheelchair repairs may be made. Trent in the welding shop (422-5429) does some work on chairs. Also Outdoors Unlimited in the Ernest L. Wilkinson Center (WSC) (422-2708) will fix flats and fill tires for a nominal fee.

Transportation

Local Transportation: The Utah Transit Authority (375-4636) and the United Way both provide accessible transport for a nominal fee. The United Way (374-9306) will provide transportation right onto campus. Be warnedC United Way requires a time period to process your request. Please contact United Way for more details.

Transportation for University Field Trips: The BYU Motor Pool houses an accessible van for use on University field trips. The department of the class participating in the field trip will need to order the van for you. Please inform your professor of the procedure as soon as you are aware of the need to order the van.

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 3 months. As part of your application 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.

CHALLENGES AT BYU

Having a disability can impose challenges at the best of times. Attending a university/college 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 do I get from lower to upper campus and vice versa?

The most accessible way is to enter the Tanner (Business) Building on the fourth floor and take the elevator to the first floor. You will find the exit on the middle of the south side of the building (there are automatic door openers). When you have exited through this door, follow the sidewalk which takes you over the foot bridge into the second floor of the Richards (P.E.) Building. The elevator for the Richards Building is located on the north end of the building.
The second route is the footpath to Helaman Halls, which goes from the Tanner Building to the residence halls. Once down the path, turn left on the service road and go through the tunnel which leads to the north entrance of the Richards Building.

CAUTION: This route is long and VERY steep (it is not designated as a disability ramp and as such should be used at your own risk). During bad weather, especially snow, plan to go through the Tanner Building.

The final route is a paved pathway on the south side of campus. You can access the path from campus by going between the Joseph Smith Building and the Heber J. Grant Testing Center. This route goes from Campus Drive, just south of the Joseph Smith Building (Religion building) to 800 North (street on the southern-most side of campus). Once off the path, head north to get to the Smith Field House.

How many classes should I take in a semester?

The answer really depends on you and your circumstances. Do you have to work as well as go to school? How many hours do 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. In college, time flies. By taking too many classes, some students find themselves "in over their heads." Learn what is "over" and "under" your head.

STRESS

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're going to live away from home while you are attending college, you will have to take care of these chores for yourself.

Overcoming Overload and Procrastination

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 procrastination. Overloading on classes and activities makes it impossible to carry out all your assignments or do them well. Procrastination almost always ensures that a shoddy job is done. Many individuals say "yeah, but I work well 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 don't want to become dependent on 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.

Plan a schedule . Begin each semester by planning a weekly schedule from Monday through Sunday 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 each week 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 to 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 12 credit hours for a semester or 6 for a term, such as spring or summer. For a full Pell Grant you need to take 12 credit hours. However, 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, check with 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. Academic Support Office (422-2723) can help you to 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 than three or four classes of varying difficulty. Academic counselors, UAC advisors, and the department/professor can help you estimate your time commitment to each class. If your classes are all extremely demanding, choose a class or two each semester which will ease the demand.

Plan for needed accommodations well in advance. Talk to your professors about the accommodations you require and have UAC send them an accommodative letter. You can reach your professor through the university department. They usually know who will be teaching prior to the beginning of a new semester. 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 really 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 12-14 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. You can also 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 every 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 with plenty of time before your assignment is due. You should not plan on giving 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, with all the other day-to-day tasks, your good health could be severely taxed.

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 to nap, don't take a class or plan to study during that time period. If you know you don't wake until 10 a.m., do not plan to take an 8 a.m. class. Regardless of your good intentions, you probably would not attend this early class.

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 too much going on in the dorms, and all those tests which get in the way of an active social life! For those of you who are married, there must be time for you and your spouse, not to mention the kids! Plug your needs into your semester schedule. Remember, if you rob yourself of sleep you will rob yourself of health.

Plan for school financing. Many students need to work while attending school. Student Employment located in 2024 WSC (801-422-3561) has a number of job listings each day for both on- and off-campus opportunities. For funding you can check with the Financial Aid office (801-422-4104, A-41 ASB). Often there are scholarships for individuals with disabilities. You also may want to apply to your local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation,(801-374-7724, 150E. Center St. Provo, UT, 84601) for any 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. There may be a big activity which you know will wipe you out. Plan ahead. 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. You will probably have to teach your family home evening group how they can accommodate you. There are so many activities 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 to. 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.

Consider having a peer mentor. So who will understand your struggles and your particular concerns? The UAC office coordinates the SHOE for those students who are interested. UAC teams incoming students of UAC with students with similar disabilities who have been at the university and are already working through UAC. You swap phone numbers with your peer mentors and basically 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.

Obtain 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 declare a major and inform you of the course requirements.

POLICY AWARENESS

Add/Drop Policy

Learn what the university add/drop/discontinuance policy is in case you should need to drop a class later. Dropping classes may affect your financial aid status. If you have concerns, check with the Financial Aid office. (8-4104) If you need to drop a class after an add/drop deadline, this must go through the Petitions Committee B-150 ASB, 422-6572). You will need official verification of your emergency. You also will need to obtain your teacher's s