Students must follow DSO procedures for obtaining accommodations and/or auxiliary aids as previously outlined in Section II of this guide. Documentation must be provided to establish the existence of a disability and the need for accommodation. Students must also fill out a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form. The request forms are available from the DSO or LD Specialist, and can be found on the Internet at http://web.mit.edu/dso/www/. Students must request accommodations so that the DSO is afforded a reasonable amount of time to review and evaluate the request and provide the necessary accommodations. This form cannot be completed electronically if the student has not met with a DSO Representative.

Following is an outline of academic accommodations that may be obtained by students with disabilities once it has been determined by the DSO that they are eligible for such services.

Please note that the accommodations named herein are not an exhaustive listing. The DSO staff is available to discuss any specific accommodations that are not on the list.

1. Extended Time: The standard practice in the field of Post-Secondary Education regarding extended exam time is the allocation of time-and-one-half as the extended period. It may be appropriate to increase the allotted amount of exam time in certain situations, such as in cases where the student's accommodation requires the use of technology aids, scribes or readers; or when the student's documentation clearly supports the need for an extraordinary amount of extended time. Following recent court rulings, the Institute has established that students do not have the right to an unlimited amount of time for exams. Further, students may be provided less than time-and-one-half as the extended time period if the documentation and circumstances warrant it.
   
   
2. Exams On Tape: The student is responsible for filling out the Exam Accommodation Form at least two weeks prior to the exam to request an exam recorded on tape so that the DSO staff, faculty member/instructor, or the academic department, has a reasonable amount of time to provide the necessary accommodation(s).
   
   
3. Readers: The student is responsible for completing the Exam Accommodation Form at least two weeks prior to the exam to request a reader, so that the DSO staff, faculty member or the academic department has a reasonable amount of time to provide the necessary accommodation(s). Readers will be identified by the faculty and/or DSO. Readers will be instructed to read only the material on the exam. No additional information may be provided by the reader unless the reader is instructed to do so by the faculty member. A reader must protect the integrity of the exam by not prompting the student or giving any indication of what the answer might be. Readers for exams will only be provided when the student's documentation clearly demonstrates such a need.
   
   
4. Scribes: The student is responsible for completing the Exam Accommodation Form at least two weeks prior to the exam to request a scribe, so that the DSO staff, faculty member or the academic department has a reasonable amount of time to provide the necessary accommodation(s). A scribe will be instructed to write verbatim as dictated to by the student with the disability. Scribes must protect the integrity of the exam: they must not use their own words, interpret, prompt, or suggest answers to the student.
   
   
5. Private Room: The student is responsible for filling out the Exam Accommodation Form at least two weeks prior to the exam, so that the faculty member/instructor, or the academic department, has a reasonable amount of time to provide the necessary location. The DSO is available to assist with logistical difficulties faculty or the department may encounter.
   
   
6. Clarification of Exam Question: When the student's documentation allows for the clarification of exam questions as an accommodation, the restating of exam questions by the faculty member (or designee) will only be allowed under the following conditions: 1) The faculty member, or the person to which this responsibility has been delegated, will be responsible for rephrasing exam questions in consultation with the DSO and, 2) The scheduling of the exam will be based on the exam time for the class and the availability of the faculty member or her/his representative. Due to the added time required for this accommodation, the student will be allowed extra time to complete the examination. The exam may be taped if the faculty member is not the person rephrasing the questions.

1. Textbooks on Tape: The DSO works in conjunction with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD) in Princeton, New Jersey, to provide the accommodation of text read onto a cassette tape. The student with a disability is responsible for applying to receive RFBD services, following RFBD procedures, and ordering course textbooks in a timely manner. If textbook material cannot be provided by RFBD within a sufficient time period, the DSO will employ student readers to record the materials on tape. In either case, the tapes must be returned to the DSO upon completion of the course.
   
   
2. Early Notification for Textbooks on Tape: Since textbooks on tape are a time sensitive accommodation, it is important to pre-register as early as possible and inform the DSO if any of the selected courses are subject to lottery or bidding systems. The DSO staff is also available to assist the student in obtaining required textbook information from faculty.
   
   The following information from the student is needed as early as possible to provide this accommodation:
       * course name/number/section
       * faculty/instructor name/phone number/e-mail address
   
   
3. ReadersIf textbooks cannot be provided in a timely manner by RFBD, or other course materials that need to be read, the DSO will hire and train readers. Readers may read materials in person or record them onto tape. It is especially important for students with disabilities to take responsibility for their readers. To assist students with disabilities in effective management and interaction with readers, a guideline entitled "Helpful Hints for Working With Readers is available at the DSO.
   
   
4. Enlarged Course Materials: When the student requires course materials in an enlarged format, it is his or her responsibility to acquire the materials which need enlargement. A recommendation must be obtained from the DSO regarding the source for enlargement (i.e., Graphic Arts or the DSO.)
   
   
5. Brailled Course Materials: The student will be assisted by a student employee in translating course materials assigned by instructors. The DSO is responsible for the hiring of the assistant, and the ATIC (Adaptive Technology Information and Computing) Lab on campus will provide the equipment and training. The student with the disability will be responsible for delegating assignments to the student employee.

1. Notetakers: If the student's documentation warrants, the student will be encouraged to obtain notetakers for their classes by directly asking students who are in their classes. If this approach is not successful, the student may request through their accommodation letter, that their faculty member/instructor announce in class the need for a notetaker. The faculty member/instructor should then refer interested parties to the DSO for instructions and payment information (dso-www@mit.edu or 3-1674.) The identity of the student with the disability should not be disclosed to the class unless requested by the student.
   
   
2. Tape Recorder in Class: If the student's documentation specifies the need for taping classes, it will be stated so in the Request for Accommodation Letter that is presented to faculty. If faculty have concerns about disclosure of privileged information beyond the classroom, the student may be required to sign a statement of confidentiality at the discretion of the faculty member.