Accommodations
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Accommodations
Services/Accommodations for Students with a Hearing Loss or Deafness
Reasonable accommodations and services are available to assist students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Accommodations are individualized and flexible, based on the nature of the disability and the academic environment. Here is a partial list of common academic accommodations that have been used by students who are deaf or hard of hearing:
- Sign Language Interpreting
- Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)
- C-Print - Transcription Services
- Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)
- Note taking
- Captioning
- Preferred seating
The University of South Florida provides sign language interpreting, CART, or C-Print services for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students. CART and C-Print are transcription services that provide access to the spoken word.
Notify your coordinator as soon as possible if any class syllabus mentions the use
of movies, films, or audio streaming on Canvas. This will enable the coordinator time
to research the media for captioning or transcribing before the first day of class
Once students are registered, they may request these and other services by meeting
with their coordinator.
To request interpreting or transcribing services for classroom purposes:
1. Inform the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of preference for interpreting and interpreting needs (oral, ASL, or PSE) or transcribing. Within reasonable limits, we will strive to accommodate your request for a preferred type of service.
2. Provide the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services with requested class schedule as soon as you register for classes.
3. Report any changes in daily or weekly class schedule to the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services as soon as possible.
4. Inform the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services when interpreting/transcribing services will not be needed or if you will be arriving late to class or a scheduled appointment. An interpreter/transcriber will wait 20 minutes before leaving a class or an appointment.
5. Request services at least five (5) working days in advance for interpreter/transcribing services that are needed to fulfill any requests for advising, meetings with instructors, or any other university meeting.
FM Systems- Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)
FM systems are available for students who are in need of amplification in the classroom. Students with hearing impairments and sometimes Central Auditory Processing Disorder often benefit from the use of FM systems. The instructor will need to wear a small wireless FM microphone which transmits their amplified voice to the student's receiver. The student must return the borrowed ALD to SAS by the end of the semester. It will be reissued to the student for the following semester if requested.
To request an FM system:
1. Contact the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
2. Sign a contract with the coordinator to check out FM equipment for the semester.
3. Return equipment at the end of each semester.
4. Contact us immediately if you have any difficulty or the equipment is in need of
repair.