Accommodations

MHC Accommodations
Five College Accommodations

MHC LD & ADD Accommodations

It is the philosophy of Mount Holyoke College that the student should learn academic skills, use technologies, and incorporate other supportive structures in her life to become as independent as possible in reaching her potential. In this regard, the staff at the Office of Learning Skills is available to work with the student to understand the testing results of their documentation and develop a knowledge of their strengths and challenges. The student is then supported in trying out different study skills strategies and time management tools. These may include training in the assistive technology lab.

Once the documentation is submitted and the student registers under the Americans with Disabilities Act (both the student's Disability Registration Form-Request for Accommodations and the Clinician's Disability Certification Form are on file), the student must meet with the associate dean to discuss her learning profile and how her strengths and challenges may play out at Mount Holyoke. Appropriate accommodations are based on each student's particular needs in relationship to accommodations deemed reasonable by the associate dean. If an accommodation is denied, the student can appeal the decision to the Accommodations Review Board. Also, requests for accommodations must be timely in order to give faculty and staff lead time to put the accommodations into place. In other words, it is best to register with the associate dean and provide the documentation when you enter MHC, even if you do not need any accommodations at present. Then if you find you need support, the paperwork and documentation are already set and the associate dean is aware of your situation.

There are accommodations which can be put into place relatively easily. These may include extended time on examinations (it is the policy to provide twice the usual amount of time), taking tests in a quiet room, the use of a computer for an exam, and training and access to the assistive technology lab. There are other accommodations which require more extensive documentation and more lead time. These may include such things as substitution of the foreign language distribution requirement (two cultural courses instead of a year of the foreign language), a note taker, an alternative formatted examination, and quiet floor housing. Accommodations are explained more fully below:

1. Extended Time on Tests
   It is Mount Holyoke's policy to grant twice the usual amount of time for examinations (100% extra time). Instead of testing how fast a student can process information, extended time provides a more representative outcome of the student,s knowledge, thinking ability, and expression.
   
2. Quiet Room for Testing
   Many students may need a quiet room, free of distractions, in which to take their examinations.
   
3. Access to a Computer
   It is reasonable for some students to be granted access to a computer on which to take their examinations. This is usually the case where students have challenges in spelling, grammar, graphic-motor integration (dysgraphia), and other issues where writing essays or short answers would be helped through technology.
   
4. Use of the Assistive Technology Lab
   Once trained, the student has access to the lab 24 hours a day. This lab includes reading, voice recognition, and organizational software. If appropriate, the student may be allowed to use the assistive software on examinations.

Accommodations needing more documentation and time to put into place:

1. Foreign Language Substitution
   Mount Holyoke College requires a full year of study in a foreign language as a graduation requirement. A student can request to take the language courses with an ungraded option (pass/fail) or a foreign language substitution. Since this accommodation is changing the graduation requirements of the student, the substitution is not granted without appropriate assessment in this area of learning. The student will need to have a documented learning disability which significantly interferes with foreign language learning. She will also be required to take the Modern Language Aptitude Test through the Office of Learning Skills. A foreign language substitution must be requested through the Office of Learning Skills.
   
   The goal of a foreign language requirement in a liberal arts education is twofold: a linguistic study and an immersion in a foreign culture. We do believe that most students can learn a foreign language; however, it may be unreasonable to expect a student to take a foreign language in a traditional setting while taking a full load of courses. Therefore, if appropriate, a student can request and be permitted to take two courses in a specific cultural area (ie, two courses in Asian studies, or a Russian history and a Russian literature in translation course, etc.). About half of the students documented with a learning disability request the foreign language substitution. So far, all have been granted the change.
   
   
2. In a very small number of cases, material to be read cannot be scanned onto the computer that is used with the reading software. In this case, some students may require books on tape or readers. The College encourages students to join the federal agency Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. When appropriate, books or handouts not accessible through this agency will be read onto cassette tapes by readers supplied by the College.
   
   
3. Note takers are also supplied by the College when students need supplemental notes in a lecture because of their learning disability. Scribes for taking tests can also be requested.
   
   
4. When appropriate, a different format of a test may be granted. Documentation is essential in changing the test formats, which include multiple choice, short answer, essay, and oral exams. The change in format must not compromise the curriculum of the course and the academic goals of the professor.
   
   
5. Because tutors are available to all students free of charge in many of the departments on campus, students requiring a tutor may speak to the professor of the class first. If the student has concerns about the professor, has anxiety about speaking with a professor, or was denied a tutor, she should speak with the Office of Learning Skills. If appropriate, the office will advocate for the student in obtaining a tutor. The campus Writing Center is an excellent resource to support students in improving their writing process and writing skills; however, if a student needs extensive editing, she must request this accommodation through the Office of Learning Skills.

Five College LD & ADD Accommodations

Students are encouraged to take courses at the four other colleges in the valley. It is an important academic experience that has enriched many students' studies here at Mount Holyoke College. When a student chooses to take courses through the Five Colleges and needs reasonable accommodations, the Office of Learning Skills will advocate for her through the other college's disabilities office. Students needing accommodations for courses being taken at other colleges must contact the Office of Learning Skills and fill out a form to be taken to the other college's support office. The support office at each college makes the request for specific accommodations to their faculty.