The Office of Disability and Support Services coordinates a variety services to help students meet the academic demands of college. Services are designed with to aim of helping students develop strong self-advocacy skills. To this end, students are expected to be actively engaged in the coordination and delivery of their accommodations, take responsibility for identifying their needs, and to use on and off-campus support services proactively. Support services include, but are not limited to, pre-registration advisement, campus accessibility information and mobility orientation assistance, financial aid and scholarship information for students with disabilities, learning specialist services, academic coaching, career consultation, information regarding reasonable accommodations in the workplace, peer support groups for students with disabilities, and a Peer Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities.
Co-facilitated by the Learning Specialist and a counselor from Vassar Counseling Services, a peer support group is offered each semester to provide an opportunity for students to discuss issues relating to their disability in a supportive atmosphere. The goals of the group are to help students become more self-aware, to help them learn about their disability, and to provide an environment for them discuss and share effective strategies for success at Vassar. The Counseling Services offers a variety of support groups for students. For more information, please contact Counseling Service
The Office of Disability and Support Services offers a Peer Mentor Program for first year and transfer students with students with disabilities. While there is no universal experience for students at Vassar, being able to connect with a peer student who understands some of the complexities of navigating the system of accommodations, as well as receiving advice on how to make the most of the resources available through the Disability and Support Services and the college can be very helpful. Peer Mentors are sophomores, juniors, and seniors with many different interests and experiences, and they have volunteered to share their experiences and be a resource to other students with disabilities. The Director of Disability Support Services, will connect interested freshmen or transfer students with disabilities with a mentor and arrange for them to meet by phone, email or in person. Participants in the mentor program will also have the opportunity to attend a welcome dinner in the fall and other events during the academic year (lots of good food will be served!)
Please contact the Office of Disability and Support Services if you would like to participate in the mentor program or apply for a mentor position.
Special thanks to Emily Bosk from the Class of 2003 for her support and guidance in developing the Peer Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities.
The Office of Disability and Support Services coordinates a notetaker service for students, who due to a disability or disabilities, are either unable to take notes or need class notes to supplement their own notes and class attendance. Students who receive this accommodation typically have a visual or hearing impairment, a physical disability, a traumatic brain injury, a learning disability or attention deficit disorder. The notetaker service is free to qualifying students with disabilities, and it is a paid position through the Office of Student Employment.
The director of Disability and Support Services approves Notetaker accommodations, and like all disability accommodations, are based on the student & rsquo;s disability documentation, the current nature of their disorder, and the specific requirements of the course or program. The service is meant to supplement class attendance and not replace it, therefore, the notetaker service is not considered an appropriate accommodation for those students who are unable to attend class due to a disability-related need.
Students eligible for this accommodation should request notetaker services each semester by completing an Academic Accommodation and Service Request Form. Students are encouraged to attend the first two classes to determine which classes are appropriate for the notetaker service. The director of DSS will then contact instructors and inform them of the need for a notetaker. Students must still meet with each instructor individually to discuss their academic accommodations and provide them with a copy of your accommodation letter. An announcement will be made in class advertising the notetaker position, and/or an email will be sent out to all students registered in the class. Students are also encouraged to recommend classmates who they know take good notes and attend class reliably. Notetakers drop off their notes at Metcalf at the end of each week, and the student will receive a photocopy of their notes. It is the student's responsibility to pick up their notes at Metcalf House on a regular basis, and let DSS know if they have any concerns about the quality of the notetaking service.
Student information shared with the Office of Disability and Support Services is handled as confidential. Therefore, notetakers will not know the identity of the person for whom they are taking notes. However, there may be instances where the student will want to share their identity in order to collaborate with the notetaker. In this case, the notetaker is expected to keep shared information confidential. Regardless of whether or not a student decides to self-identify to the notetaker(s), the relationship between the student and the notetaker is very important! The notetaker is providing a service and is being paid for this service. Comments either directly to the notetaker or through the Office of Disability and Support Services is important. This information will help the notetaker know how to improve the notes they take. Likewise, if a student feels that the notes are excellent and no improvements are needed, please convey that information as well.
The notetaker service is only effective if you attend class regularly, are actively engaged in the class, and use the notes in a proactive manner. There are some simple steps that you can take to make the most out of the notetaker service.
Three Ring Binders Using a 3-ring binder is an effective way of keeping your notes organized. The weekly notes can be hole-punched and organized as they are received. You can also insert your own notes into the binder.
Reviewing the Notes Read your notes within two hours or less of receiving them. Once you have reviewed the notes, try to paraphrase important points that the instructor made in the lecture, fill in gaps as you remember points heard but not recorded, and find answers to any questions remaining unanswered. Answer the following questions:
The Office of Disability and Support Services (DSS) coordinates a notetaker service for students, who due to a disability or disabilities, are either unable to take notes or need notes to supplement their own notes and class attendance. Students who receive this accommodation typically have a visual or hearing impairment, a physical disability, a learning disability, traumatic brain injury, or AD/HD.
The notetaker service is only effective for the student with a disability if the notetaker attends class regularly, and is actively engaged in the class. Students interested in being a notetaker should:
If you are providing notes in an electronic format, please send as Word attachment to Suzanne Kiss
Contact Disability and Support Services to apply for a notetaker position that has been announced in one or more of your classes. The office is located in Metcalf House and is open Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Please call ext. 7584 to set up an appointment with the administrative assistant. If hired, you will complete a brief orientation session, and complete necessary paperwork for the Student Employment Office. Students who wish to apply and have not previously worked on campus will need to provide Student Employment with a license and/or two of the following:
We are able to offer a stipend of $75 per class. Students who are currently employed on campus are also eligible for employment as a notetaker. Likewise, students who are not eligible for work-study are eligible for this position.
You will need to drop off your notes once a week at Metcalf for every week that class is in session. For example, students taking a MW class should drop off their notes on Thursday, TR class on Friday, and so on. Your notes will be ready for you to pick up 24 hours later. Notes delivered on Friday will be ready the following Monday. Failure to turn in notes on a regular basis will result in job termination. If you are ill and unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to provide us with a copy of one of your classmates' notes for the day(s) missed. Likewise, if you are ill and can not pick up or deliver your notes, special arrangements can be made through this office to assist you.
Student disability information is confidential. Therefore, notetakers will not always know the identity of the person for whom they are taking notes. However, there may be instances where the student with the disability will share his/her identity in order to collaborate with the notetaker. In this case, the notetaker is expected to keep information confidential.
The Office of Disability and Support Services and Vassar Library Services provide support services to students with disabilities. Student library assistants are hired each academic year to help students with disabilities who are in need of library services. The library assistants are available to help with the on-line catalogs and CD-ROM workstations, assist with retrieving books from the stacks, and help students with disabilities get oriented using the library. Other services include, photocopying of reserve materials and delivery and pick up of library materials to and from a residence hall, the main circulation desk at the library or other convenient locations on campus. Students are eligible for these services if they are registered with the Office of Disability and Support Services, and if they have completed a yellow library support service request form.
To request materials, please email the library assistants at least 3 days before you need the material. For larger orders, please provide at least a week's notice.
No. This service is provided to help eligible students with disabilities manage required reading assignments. The photocopy service is used by a large number of students. Please use the service when there is a need but do not abuse the service by requesting materials that you do not need or will not use.
YES:
Journal articles & other short reading assignments, and specific chapters in textbooks
NO:
Entire books, art plates and slides, library materials that are not required by the instructor or directly related to your academic courses
Pick up the material at the Library Circulation Desk. The material will be held under your name. If you are unable to get to the library due to disability-related reasons, please request that the material be sent to you through the unstamped mail or delivered to the front desk of your residential hall.