Classroom Accommodations

Common classroom accommodations include:

Audiobooks

  • CIA has an institutional membership with Learning Ally, an audiobook service.  Eligible students can get audiobooks for free through Learning Ally. Students can access audiobooks through their phones (iPhones or Androids), iPads, or computers (Mac, Windows and Chromebook). 
  • Please note: Not all classes have a textbook, some will have handouts and/or digital materials. We can connect students with assistive technology (i.e. scanner, browser plugins, operating system options, apps, etc.) to access an audio version of the materials.

Notetaking assistance

  • Disability Services uses JamWorks to provide students with notetaking support.

Preferred seating

  • Students typically will either request a specific area of the classroom (i.e. closer to the faculty) or will discuss the specifics with each professor regarding where it is best to seat in each classroom.

Breaks as needed to address immediate concerns

  • These breaks are typically short in nature (i.e. 5-10 minutes). Students are responsible for any course content or activities missed during their breaks.

Exam Accommodations

Common Exam accommodations include:

Extended time on exams

  • Increments commonly requested are an additional 50% or 100%.

Separate test location for on campus exams

  • This is a distraction reduced setting, which typically takes place in the Writing Center.

Read aloud

  • This is not an oral exam, Disability Services staff can read test questions and answer options to students.

Scribe or use of a word processor

  • Disability Services staff can scribe or write down answers for the student and/or the student may be approved to use a word processor to type their answers.

The following procedures govern an exam accommodation:

  • Students will determine which accommodations they want to use at least 7 days prior to the exam
    • Students will notify faculty if they intend to use extended time only.
    • Students will notify Accessibility & Disability Services (disabilityservices@cia.edu) if they intend to use any of the following: separate test location, separate test location with extended time, read aloud, and/or scribe.
  • If testing with Disability Services, they will arrange an exam time that takes into account the student’s schedule. Every effort will be made to give the exam at the regularly scheduled time.
  • Disability Services will secure the exam from the professor and will conduct the exam. There may be more than one student taking the exam in a given location at the same time. Academic integrity will be enforced as outlined in the CIA Student Handbook.
  • Students who are late to an exam are not able to make up the time lost.
  • Students who fail to show up for the exam will be considered absent, and the professor will determine the grade for the exam.