Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Terra College offers many accommodations for students with disabilities.  Testing accommodations may include but are not limited to:

• Assistive technology
• Audio Output
• Computer use with spell and grammar check activated
• Distraction reduced space
• Extended time
• Large Print
• Reader
• Scribe

Testing Locations

1. Students may take tests in class, if possible, using the prescribed accommodations coordinated by the instructor.
2. Students are also permitted to take tests in the Disability Services. See the policies and procedures outlined below. 
3. Students are only permitted to take tests in the testing center or other locations pending individual and instructor agreement on the time and place. Instructors must ensure that academic testing accommodations are provided.

Instructor Procedures for Test Administration 

1. Students needing test accommodations must present test routing forms to their instructors. Instructors need to fill out the required information and immediately return the yellow copy of the form to students. Instructors keep the white copy of the form as a reminder that tests need to be delivered to the Disability Services.
2. Instructors should deliver test copies with the attached test routing forms to the Disability Services as soon as possible, but a minimum of 4 hours prior to the scheduled exam time. This allows for the conversion of exams to alternative formats if necessary.

NOTE:  It is the student’s responsibility to return the yellow copy of the test routing request form to the Disability Services a minimum of 3 days before the scheduled testing date.  If this is not done, there is a possibility of a delay in test administration.

Policies for Test Administration 

Special faculty instructions will be reviewed with students prior to testing.  Students will be held responsible for following these instructions at all times.

• All communications devices must be turned off.
• Students are not permitted to leave the Disability Services once the test has begun except to use the restroom.
  • If a student leaves the Disability Services, he or she needs to give their test the attending proctor.
  • If a time limit is being implemented, any time that is spent outside of the Disability Services will be counted as testing time.
   

All tests must be completed on the same day that they are begun unless it is previously determined that the test will be administered in sections.

• Students are responsible for having all of personal exam materials readily available.
• Any suspected evidence of cheating will be documented and reported to the appropriate faculty and staff members.  

No Show, Cancellation, and Rescheduling Policies

No Show

• If a student fails to show up for a scheduled test, the Disability Services will make telephone contact with the student within 24 hours of the scheduled test time. The instructor will also receive a message indicating that the test was not completed because of a failure to show.
• The Disability Services will return the test materials to the instructor within 2 days of the originally scheduled test date if no response is received from the student.
• The student will be responsible for re-scheduling and submitting a rescheduling authorization form, which can be found in the Disability Services.

Canceling a Test

• If the student decides that the test will not be taken in the Disability Services after completing and returning a test routing request form, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the office of the change in plans.

Illness

• If a student is unable to take an exam due to an illness or emergency, the student should contact the Disability Services and instructor immediately.
• The student is responsible for coordinating any make-up tests with the instructor and submitting a rescheduling authorization form to the Disability Services.

Rescheduling a Test or Quiz

1. In order to reschedule tests, students need to obtain a rescheduling authorization form from the Disability Services.
2. The instructor will need to fill out the form and sign it.
3. Return the form to the Disability Services. 

Readers and Scribes

Readers

• Readers can be asked to repeat information.
• Readers will only read what is on the printed page and cannot be asked to clarify or reword statements.
• Readers need feedback to be effective.  The student should indicate what reading tone, rate, etc. works best.

Scribes

• Scribes will write down verbatim what is dictated by the student. The scribe is not responsible for organizing or paraphrasing thoughts into a final draft.
• Scribes are responsible for spelling and sentence ending punctuation.  The student may direct the scribe to adhere to any specific spelling or punctuation within sentences.

The student has the right to review, at any time, what the scribe has written either by reading it or having it read.  It is also the students right to make corrections by directing the scribe to do so.

Explore Testing Accommodations for Disabled Students

If you have questions regarding the disability services offered at Terra College or testing  accommodations with students, please contact the Disability Services at (419)559-2342 or 866-288-3772.You can also email Kimberly Williams, the

Coordinator of Disability Services & Academic Improvement at Kimberly Williams