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Disability Support Services
Marvin Center Suite 242
800 21st St., NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-8250 (V/TDD)
(202) 994-7610 (fax)
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Services Guide
Students with disabilities are encouraged to participate as fully as
possible in campus life. Toward this end, DSS will work with students
to ensure access to every opportunity for learning and personal growth.
Staff are available to discuss a range of disability management issues
such as course load, learning strategies, academic accommodations,
petitions for course substitutions, housing needs, funding, and
referral to campus and community resources. Students may be referred
for additional services including diagnostic testing, tutors, and
specialized assistance available on a fee basis.
DSS provides the following services to students without charge:
Accommodation Letters
Assistive Technology
Interpreting Services
Lab Assistance
Learning Disability Screening
Learning Specialist Services
Notetaking Assistance
Priority Registration
Reading Services
Test Accommodations
Writing Specialist Services
Additional and/or customized acommodations may be arranged. Please consult with our staff for inquiry about our services.
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
Accommodation Letters
At a
student's request, DSS prepares an individualized letter to professors
which verifies the nature of the student's disability and documents the
need for auxiliary aids and services and/or academic adjustments. The
student is responsible for delivering the letter to the professor and
formally requesting accommodations.
If you have established a file at DSS and have been approved for this service, you may now print out a copy of the Accommodation Letter Request Form, sign it, and return it to the office for processing.
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Assistive Technology
Assistive technologies are facilitated by the Executive Coordinator. The Gelman Library (Room B04D) houses our AT laboratory and contains three computer workstations with the following equipment and software.
If you have established a file at DSS and
have been approved for this service, you may wish to consult with our
Executive Coordinator.
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Interpreting Services
DSS
provides sign language and oral interpreting services by qualified
staff or freelance interpreters for classes and special events by
request. Real-time captioning services and assisted listening devices
may also be made available.
If you have established a file at
DSS and you have been approved for this service, you may now print out
a copy of the Classroom Interpreter Request Form or a Special Events Interpreter Request Form, sign it, and return it to the office for processing.
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Lab Assistance
DSS provides an assistant to those students who have physical limitations in the laboratory or library setting.
If you have established a file at DSS and have been approved for this service, please consult with our lab coordinator.
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Learning Disability Screening
DSS
conducts screening interviews of students referred to assess the
possibility of a learning disability. When appropriate, students are
referred to community resources for formal diagnostic evaluation, which
would be at student expense.
Screenings generally take a
minimum of one hour. To give each student uninterrupted and full
attention, advance appointments are requested.
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Learning Specialist Services
DSS
has a full-time learning specialist to discuss a range of disability
management issues such as course load, learning strategies,
self-advocacy, academic accommodations, petitions for course
adjustment, and referral to campus and community resources.
For adaptive equipment locations, please see the Assistive Technology section.
If
you have established a file at DSS and have been approved for these
services, you are welcome to come in during our office hours. However,
to give each student uninterrupted and full attention, advance
appointments are appreciated.
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Notetaking Assistance
DSS
requests faculty assistance in locating a notetaker from the class in
which the student is enrolled. A GW Bookstore gift certificate is given
to the notetaker at the end of the term in appreciation for his or her
assistance.
If you have established a file at DSS and have
been approved for this service, you will need to meet with the Director
to intitate the process. Please verify that this need is noted in your
accommodation letter.
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Priority Registration
DSS
offers priority registration for certain students whose disabilities
are complex in nature and require lead time to arrange for the
services, instruction, and schedule that best meets their needs. DSS
staff determine who is eligible for this accommodation and base the
decision on supporting disability documentation.
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Reading Services
DSS provides
in-person reading or reading onto tape for students who are blind or
have print disabilities such as dyslexia. DSS has an institutional
membership with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). DSS
will record or scan texts not available through RFB&D.
For adaptive equipment locations, please see the Assistive Technology section.
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Test Accommodations
DSS
administers exams for students whose disabilities prevent regular
classroom administration. Accommodations may include extended time,
readers, scribes, and/or use of adaptive equipment. Standard practice
is time and a half for exams. Students with more severe or multiple
disabilities may be granted additional time as determined by DSS.
If you have established a file at DSS and have been approved for this service, you may complete the online Test Accommodation Request Form.
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Writing Specialist Services
DSS
has two part-time specialists to help students develop the independent
writing skills necessary for academic success. The writing specialists
can discuss writing assignments, research plans, and paper
organization; review initial drafts; and assist with final editing of
papers, including the assessment of content, style, and grammar. These
services augment those available from the University Writing Center. If
you have established a file at DSS and have been approved for this
service, you may schedule an appointment with our writing specialist by
calling (202) 994-8250.
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