images of the DRC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are answers to questions that are asked in our office on a daily basis. We have tried to provide precise answers, but if you need further information, please contact this office for more individualized concerns and answers.

General Questions

  1. What type of financial aid is available for students with disabilities?
  2. Can I have assistive equipment installed in my home or residence hall room?
  3. Can I get a "sign language interpreter" to interpret university functions?
  4. Do I have to take 12 hours each semester to qualify as a full-time student?
  5. How do I communicate my accommodation needs to my instructors?
  6. When should I give my accommodation letter to my instructors?
  7. What if I need modifications in the accommodations arranged through the Disability Resource Center?
  8. Are class substitutions or waivers available?
  9. What is the process for petitions?
  10. What are the categories of disability?
  11. Who should use the Disability Resource Center?

Accommodated Exams

  1. Is there anything the Disability Resource Center can do to help with problems taking examinations?
  2. What is the best way to handle examination accommodations?
  3. How does a student arrange for an examination accommodation?
  4. Where can I read the Accommodated Test Agreement?

Learning Strategies

  1. Is there a learning specialist available to assist students with learning disabilities?
  2. About how long does each strategy session last?
  3. What is covered in these strategy sessions?
  4. Can students with any type of disability participate in these strategy sessions?
  5. How do students schedule these sessions?
  6. When is the best time to start learning strategy sessions?

Answers

General Questions

1. What type of financial aid is available for students with disabilities?

The Disability Resource Center collects information on various financial scholarships specifically for students with disabilities who are registered with this office. Also, one-time scholarships are often sent to the Disability Resource Center, so please contact the office and inquire about any new scholarships that have come available.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Office located EHS Building Rm 179 located on Newell Drive also has information available on scholarships specific to the University of Florida and Students with Disabilities.

Student Financial Affairs, located on the bottom floor of Criser Hall, offers a special section in the Gator Aid Handbook of resources for students with disabilities. This is the main office for all financial aid issues for all students.

2. Can I have assistive equipment installed in my home or residence hall room?

Yes, if that equipment is essential to meet your individual disability related needs. If you currently live in or are planning to move into the residence halls, you may also contact the Division of Housing at (352) 392-2161 to make accommodation requests. Upon request, flashing light alarms and door signaling lights may be installed in those residence halls which are not currently equipped with these devices.

3. Can I get a "sign-language interpreter" to interpret university functions?

Yes, Student Government sponsored organizations can receive ADA Compliance Office funds to appropriately accommodate students with disabilities. Therefore, please contact the Disability Resource Center to learn more about to whom and when to make accommodation requests.

4. Do I have to take 12 semester credits to qualify as a full-time student?

Depending on the specific needs of the individual student, taking fewer than 12 semester hours may be determined as an appropriate and reasonable accommodation. However, by taking fewer than 12 semester hours the student may jeopardize their financial aid and personal health insurance coverage. Therefore, the student should contact our staff for a reduced course load request.

5. How do I communicate my accommodation needs to my instructors?

For those students who require in-class accommodations, they will communicate their accommodation needs through a accommodation letter which is generated by the Disability Resource Center staff. This letter will be developed and prepared through a collaborative effort involving the Support Services Coordinator and the student with a disability.

6. When should I give my accommodation letter to my instructors?

It is suggested that all students who have accommodation letters to give to their instructors do so within the first week of classes each semester. When this is done, both the student and the instructor are aware of the necessary accommodations and the process of providing the accommodations is much more efficient.

7. What if I need modifications in my accommodations arranged through the Disability?

If you find that the accommodations are not effective or they need to be modified in order to meet the unique demands of individualized courses, please contact a Support Services Coordinator and request those revisions. It is essential that the student and the Support Services Coordinator collaboratively develop and modify any accommodations.

8. Are class substitutions or waivers available?

Yes, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) processes petitions for foreign language and math class substitutions for students with diagnosed disabilities that directly impact their ability to be successful in these classes. Petitions for waiving all or part of the CLAST test are processed through this office, also.

9. What is the process for petitions?

The student must provide documentation that their disability specifically impacts the class or test for which the substitution or waiver is requested as well as a letter of petition and a copy of their current transcript to the DRC office. The petition is then forwarded to a committee for consideration. It is recommended that the student make an appointment with our Learning Specialist to review their documentation and discuss the petition process prior to submitting their petition.

10. What are the categories of disability?

A disability can be any variety of documented challenges that students face that somehow inhibits their academic performance. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) serves students who meet the following criteria:

Some common types of disabilities we are accustomed to working with include but are not limited to:

The DRC encourages students who are unsure if they qualify for services to call or visit the office to speak to the Assistant Dean or one of our Support Services Coordinators. Some disabilities do not cause difficulties for students until they reach college. We are willing to provide guidance for students that have questions about getting evaluated.

11. Who should use Disability Resource Center?

Accommodated Examinations

1. Is there anything the Disability Resource Center can do to help with existing problems taking examinations?

Students with disabilities that interfere with their performance on examinations may benefit from accommodations directly related to their examination issues. If this is the case, students can request accommodated testing as an accommodation supported by the Disability Resource Center.

2. What is the best way to handle examination accommodations?

Each semester meet with the learning specialist or support services coordinator to determine your specific examination accommodations in each course. During this meeting, the specifics of your individual examination accommodations will be discussed and when appropriate, you will complete an accommodated examination contract and review the process identified in question three below.

3. How does a student arrange for an examination accommodation?

If examination accommodations are appropriate, the student simply follows this procedure:

4. Where can I read the Accommodated Testing Agreement?

You can review the contract and other information sheets by coming to the Disability Resource Center at 0020 Reid Hall.

Learning Strategies

1. Is there a learning specialist available to assist students with learning disabilities?

Yes, the Disability Resource Center employs a learning specialist to provide individual learning strategy sessions for students who are registered with this office.

2. About how long does each strategy session last?

Each strategy session is scheduled for one hour. Early in the process of learning strategies these session may last the full hour. However, once a student has been applying these strategies, the sessions may be shorter in duration.

3. What is covered during these strategy sessions?

During the strategy sessions, the focus is on the specific educational intervention appropriate to the student's needs. Some of the topics include:

4. Can students with any type of disability participate in these strategy sessions?

Yes, any student who has registered with the Disability Resource Center can schedule and benefit from these learning strategy sessions.

5. How do students schedule these strategy sessions?

Call (352) 392-8565 x200 and schedule an appointment with the learning specialist.

6. When is the best time to start learning strategy sessions?

The best time to begin learning strategy sessions is at the beginning of each semester. At the initial session, you will be asked to bring the syllabus from each course. This is critical so the learning strategies can be tailored to help with your classes right from the start.

7. For More Information

For more information, please drop by or otherwise contact our office at:

The Disability Resource Center
0020 Reid Hall
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-4075
Email: accessuf@dso.ufl.edu
Voice: 352-392-8565 x200
Fax: 352-392-8570