Students will be provided extended time for all exams and quizzes. Unlimited time is not an available accommodation.

A distraction-reduced testing environment is a setting outside the usual classroom that limits interruptions and other environmental influences. For example, a room that minimizes both the auditory (e.g. copy machines, talking) and visual distractions (e.g. people moving in and out of the testing space.)

Student will need to dictate the answers for short answer and essay questions.

Student allowed to answer exams using alternative to scantron forms.

A computer may be needed to:

• Type instead of hand-write answers,
• Use a screen-reader program such as Read & Write GOLD or JAWS,
• Use a Voice-to-Text program to write answers such as Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Use a screen magnifier such as ZoomText or CCTV

A memory aid is a testing accommodation that is used to support students who have documented challenges with memory. Examples of documentation may include psychoeducational or neuropsychological testing or be directly observed and substantiated through the clinicians' assessment process.

Memory aid is a tool used to trigger information that a student has studied but may have difficulty recalling due to processing deficits with memory and recall.  These are cues to a larger body of information and would not be useful to a student unless they know and understand how to use the information the memory aid contains.  If the student does not know the course material, the memory aid would not be beneficial. 

A memory aid or cue sheet gives students an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of course material on a quiz/exam without taxing already compromised memory function. This accommodation is not intended to reduce academic requirements or alter the standards by which academic performance is assessed.

Memory aids may contain cues such as: acronyms, short phrases, pictures, schematic diagrams, formulas, names, definitions, tables, or key terms.  A memory aid is not meant to record all the facts, concepts or processes being tested. While the use of a memory aid is an accommodation, the contents of a memory aid are at the instructor’s discretion and should not run contrary to the essential requirements of the course.Only the instructor or department can determine whether a memory aid compromises the integrity of the course. If remembering the information on the memory aid is deemed to be an essential learning objective or outcome of the course, it should not be allowed. For example, if the learning objective or outcome of the course is to know the formula, it should not be allowed on the cue sheet; however, if the learning objective or outcome of the course is to demonstrate the ability to apply the formula, then it could be allowed on the memory aid. 

There are several options that could be used to create a memory aid. For each of these options, it is important that the student knows what will be on the memory aid before the exam. 

• Student shares Letter of Accommodation with professor  
• Student creates the memory aid and instructor reviews for approval
• Instructor creates the memory aid to share with student
• Student and instructor work collaboratively to create the memory aid

While the memory aid may be created at any point, the instructor may require the final version of the memory aid as many as 5 days before the exam.  For exams proctored by SDS, it is required that the memory aid be provided with the exam at least 2 business days before the scheduled exam. We recommend the student and instructor have a clear agreement on deadlines and expectations for this accommodation. SDS is available at any point of the process for consultation.

Student may audio record lectures and discussions. The student is responsible for providing their own recording device. Video recording classes is not permitted.

• Please visit this page for more information on the Class Notes accommodation.

• Best Practices for Volunteer Student Notetakers

Note Taking Express is a service that provides notes from lecture recordings.

Learn more about Note Taking Express here.

Accommodations are available for students who require alternative media formats such as enlarged text or OCR-compliant PDF documents for required textbooks. 

Students may refer to Media Services for more information.

The material should be available with enlarged text such as 18 point with bold font.

Read&Write Gold is a literacy software with support tools for reading, writing, research, and studying. Students may install this software for free by using the following link along with their HawkID and password: Download Read & Write Gold. If you have any issues with downloading the software, contact the ITS Help Desk.

Read&Write Gold Training and User Resources

Students are expected to adhere to all deadlines as per the syllabus. Occasionally, a student eligible for Deadline Modification may need 24-48 hours flexibility for a specific assignment.  

Deadline flexibility should be discussed by the instructor and the student at the beginning of the semester. Conversations with the professor need to take place prior to the deadline passing. 

This accommodation requires the student to speak with each instructor about how the accommodation will be implemented in each course. The accommodation becomes active at the point the student has a conversation with the instructor. Even if a student doesn’t think that they will need a plan for the semester, it is a good idea to be prepared and get an agreement in place because accommodations are not retroactive.   

For complete details visit this page: Deadline Modification

All disability-related accommodations are designed to provide equal access to the student.  A reasonable accommodation preserves both the integrity of the course and the student’s right to participate in classroom activities.  Appropriate accommodations do not change or lower the essential elements of the course. 

There are a number of ways for the student to meet essential course requirements while using this accommodation.  Flexibility may be accomplished by adjusting course policies on attendance, work deadlines, or exam or quiz schedules. It is an expectation that a student be able to show progress toward completing the assignment when flexibility is requested.     

Because courses have specific syllabus requirements regarding attendance, exam schedules, and assignment deadlines, this accommodation requires a course-by-course assessment to determine what is reasonable and appropriate.  Not every class can or will be flexed in the same way.  There may be reasonable limits to flexibility based on the design and structure of each course and the specific course learning objectives. This accommodation should not result in a fundamental alteration of the course.  

SDS recommends using the DRADM Agreement Form.  Developing a Disability-Related Absence and Deadline Modification (DRADM) Agreement is an interactive process between the student and instructor. Instructors are responsible for analyzing course requirements and determining essential course standards. Once developed, a DRADM Agreement should be shared in writing between the instructor and the student. It is important not to rely only on an oral understanding of this agreement. This protects both the student and the instructor from any misunderstandings and ensures that the details of the agreement are clear to both parties.  

The Disability-Related Absence and Deadline Modification accommodation is not retroactive. Once the DRADM Agreement is in place, SDS students receiving this accommodation should not also be required to submit Absence Forms for Disability-Related Absences.

For more information visit: Disability-Related Absence and Deadline Modification (DRADM)

Students should be provided alternative assignments to making in-class presentations unless such presentations are part of the goals or learning outcomes for the course.

Student may require a classroom modification such as table and/or chair coordinated with the Registrar and SDS.

The student may require a short break during class or exams. The nature of the break will depend on the individual student's needs. For an online course, this could mean turning off the camera. The student may not leave a proctored area unless otherwise arranged with the instructor.

Student has a disability that may impact their ability to produce in-class writing assignments or exams that are correct in terms of grammar and/or spelling. Please do not subtract points for this unless it is a fundamental component of the class to produce writing samples on demand.

In some cases, students with very Specific Learning Disabilities in math (Dyscalculia) may be approved to use a basic 4 function calculator in class and on exams.  Instructors can determine if this fundamentally alters course objectives.

Student may require preferential seating in the classroom. The actual location will depend on the individual student's needs.

Some students have a disability that may prevent them from meeting the world language requirement. SDS has an agreement with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tippie College of Business, and the College of Education to consider providing substitution courses for this requirement based on a recommendation from our office.

For most disabilities a measured impact of the disability specifically on learning a foreign language must be established.  A letter recommending substitution classes is typically not sufficient.  The documentation must measure why learning a foreign language is more difficult than other academic tasks that are less impacted by the disability. Typically, this requires a complete Psychoeducational or Neuropsychological testing battery, current within the last five years or completed using adult testing norms. Anxiety about taking a foreign language class or speaking a foreign language in class is not considered a disability in this regard, nor is lack of preparation or recent exposure to a language.  Please contact sds-info@uiowa.edu for additional information or before having any testing done in support of this request.

Students are encouraged to begin the process of requesting substitution courses for the World Language requirement early in their academic career.  It may take time to obtain the necessary documentation for this accommodation and to make the arrangements to complete the substitution courses with the help of an academic advisor.