OSD works with students on an individual basis to determine what accommodations would be most effective to help them achieve academic success. Some, but not all, of our accommodations are described here. Remember that you must complete and submit the Documentation Guidelines for your disability and schedule an intake meeting with OSD.

During your intake meeting, you’ll complete the intake data form and your documentation will be reviewed. OSD will verify your eligibility and discuss what types of services and/or reasonable accommodations you may need at this time. You are responsible to fill out an Accommodation Request Form with OSD for each semester in which services are being requested.

• CCTV/ large print
• Extended time
• Reduced-distraction testing location
• Reader and/or scribe
• Interpreters
• Computer:
  • Word processor
  • Kurzweil
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking

• Your instructor can provide you with the proper exam accommodation(s) so you can take the exams in their office or in the classroom under his/her supervision.
• You can take exams at the OSD office (exams through OSD will be scheduled based on availability of testing space). Please refer to the Testing Procedures below.

• A scribe will write down verbatim what you have dictated. You have the opportunity to review what the scribe has written by either reading or having it read to you. If there are corrections, you need to let them know.
• If the scribe is unsure of spelling and punctuation, they will ask you for clarification.
• A scribe is not responsible for organizing or outlining students’ thoughts into final form.
• A scribe may stop the session at anytime and notify an OSD staff member if he/she feels that the student is requesting more assistance than is appropriate.

1. You can pick up a Testing Accommodation Request Form [PDF 58 KB] at the OSD office as soon as you know the date(s) of your exams.
2. All exams must be scheduled and all forms completed and returned to OSD at least two Business Days in advance for regular exams, and two weeks for finals. Note: No walk-ins for exams will be accepted.
3. OSD is responsible for proctoring exams per faculty's written instructions on the completed Testing Accommodation Request Form [PDF 58 KB]. Be sure to discuss with your professor specific instructions or materials he/she may be allowing the class to use.
4. Delivery and return of the exams should be clearly indicated on the Testing Accommodation Request Form [PDF 58 KB].
5. All exams should be at the OSD office 24 hours prior to the exam.
6. You should arrive at OSD 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time of the exam. The time scheduled for testing accommodation should not be used for anything other than taking exams. If you need to study or eat, please do so before the exam. Should you fail to make your testing appointment, you must notify your instructor. If the instructor allows you to take the exam later, you must reschedule an alternative date (rescheduling an exam with OSD depends on the availability of proctors and space). Rescheduled exams require two business days’ notice.
7. If at any point you have questions about your exam or concerns about the test environment, you need to stop the exam and notify the proctor.
8. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. If you are suspected of using tools or materials not indicated by your instructor on the Testing Accommodation Request Form [PDF 58 KB] during an exam, the proctor will remove these materials and make a note, which will then be forwarded to your instructor after you complete the exam. The instructor will determine the necessary course of action.
9. Final Exams: Testing Accommodation Request Form [PDF 58 KB] must be filled out and returned to OSD two weeks before the date of your final.

• Notetakers are recruited from the students in your classroom. You can attempt to find a classmate who might be willing to provide you copies of their notes. You may already know of someone who takes exemplary notes. If you are not comfortable making a choice, the instructor can be enlisted to help with the recruitment process.
• Notetakers receive a $50 stipend per class for which they are taking notes. Stipends will be paid once the semester is complete if the notes have been provided consistently and satisfactorily. Notetakers must come to OSD to complete appropriate paperwork in order to be paid.
• All notetakers have the option of either using carbon-less paper (provided by OSD) or use the copy machine in our office to duplicate notes. They are also eligible to fully participate in all activities and trainings offered to notetakers.
• Please Note: As notes are considered a supplement to the lecture, you will only receive notes for classes when you are in attendance.
• If you have concerns with the notes you are receiving in a class, or if you are not receiving the notes, you must immediately notify OSD of the problem. OSD may wish to look at the notes and possibly ask your professor to review the notes for content and legibility. If it is determined that the notes are not sufficient, you or your instructor should recruit another notetaker from the class.
• If no notetakers can be recruited from class, the OSD office will contact the faculty and/or director of the student’s program in order to recruit a graduate student or teaching assistant.

• Regarding textbooks, you should first contact the publishers to see if there is availability of the books in audio format or on disk. These formats are becoming common options. There are also websites where e-text is available for some publications. OSD staff can assist you in finding and contacting these resources.
• If you are unable to find an alternative format through the publisher and have a membership with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), you can make arrangements directly with RFB&D to secure textbooks that are available on tape or disk.
• OSD has a color CCTV, as well as a scanner that can be used to save reading materials to disk, for use with the Kurzweil 3000, as well as other screen reader and/or print enlarging software. All adaptive equipment is available for student use in OSD by appointment. Walk- ins can use equipment, based on availability. Appointments and scheduled exams take first priority.
• If you request assistance from OSD staff in scanning reading materials, you are responsible for the delivery and pickup of all reading materials. Please do not rely on your professors or OSD staff to make this arrangement. If you would like OSD staff assistance for scanning, you’ll need to make an appointment.

• You must make a request in writing for each semester you wish to receive services.
• Your request should be submitted at least four weeks in advance. The longer the delay in requesting services, the greater the chance that interpreters will not be available. OSD will make every effort to fulfill late requests for interpreter services, but can make no guarantees .
• Report any changes in your class schedule, such as withdrawal or leave of absence, as soon as possible to OSD.
• In the event interpreter services are not needed due to illness or class cancellation, you must inform OSD as soon as possible, so OSD can notify your interpreters. Interpreters will notify OSD if you do not attend a scheduled class. If you fail to notify OSD after three such instances, services will be suspended until you meet with the director to discuss reinstatement of interpreters.
• Lateness must be reported immediately to the OSD office so that interpreters can be informed. If OSD isn’t notified, the interpreter(s) will wait no longer than 20 minutes. If you are late on three or more occasions without prior notification to OSD, interpreting services will be suspended, pending a meeting with the director of OSD.
• In the event that interpreter services are needed to fulfill class requirements outside of the classroom, such as meetings with professors or advisors, etc., you must complete a separate Interpreter Request form. You cannot hire interpreters directly. Requests must be made in writing at least five business days in advance. Attempts will be made to honor requests made on shorter notice with the understanding that interpreters may not be available.

Housing arrangements can be made for students who need access, but Residence Life [link] must be contacted early, as there is limited space in the residence halls. Please contact Residence Life at 978-542-6416.

All incoming resident students are only guaranteed on-campus housing for two years. Students wishing to remain on campus after that are subject to a housing lottery based upon space availability. Additionally, current resident students will be permitted to reside on campus a maximum of ten (10) semesters, provided he/she is enrolled as a full time student.

Based upon the recommendation of the Student Government Association, students with documented mobility impairments may be exempt from the Housing Lottery. A mobility impairment, specifically, is defined as: the inability to move (or limited/restricted movement) and/or the inability to use one or more limbs effectively, due to paralysis, loss of limb(s) or arthritis. This disability may require the use of aids/appliances (wheelchairs, crutches, arm/hand splints) for independent movement in specific activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or arm/hand movement.

Students must provide current medical documentation of their mobility disability in order to verify accommodation eligibility.

It is important to note that OSD provides only academic accommodations and disability management. Personal counseling services are available through the Counseling and Health Services office, located in the Ellison Campus Center, Room 107. Students on campus who are experiencing emotional or psychological crisis should contact the Counseling Center in person, or at 978-542-6410/6413.

Other services through Counseling and Health Services include injections, physical exams, lab tests, personal counseling, alcohol and drug education, prevention and training, smoke cessation and consultations.