Welcome to UA Little Rock! At the Disability Resource Center, our number one goal is to identify and remove barriers to full inclusion in the classroom, on the UA Little Rock website, in online classes, and everywhere students interact with the university. We value disability as an aspect of diversity, and are here to partner with you to move us all closer to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable UA Little Rock.
Table of Contents
- Utilizing Campus Resources
- Disability Resource Center
- Assistive or Adaptive Technology
- Academic Adjustment Policies and Course Substitutions
- Steps for Requesting Accommodations
- Related Departments
- Your Rights and Responsibilities
- In Conclusion
- Student Affairs Philosophy
- DRC Mission
You can find many answers to your questions by reading these publications: the Student Handbook (PDF), Undergraduate Catalog and Graduate Catalog.
DRC consults with faculty, staff and administrators, providing them with resources, training, and other tools related to teaching, accommodating students with disabilities, and designing barrier-free environments. So not only do DRC staff work with you individually, we spend part of every day behind the scenes to make UA Little Rock as accessible as possible, which reduces the need for individual accommodations.
When disability-related accommodations are necessary, we are here to collaborate with you to develop a plan that works for you. No matter the disability, no matter if it’s a disability you’ve had for years, or just recently acquired, we are here to partner with you. If you suspect that you may have a disability, but you are not sure, come talk with us. Many disabilities are not apparent, and there are many students with hidden disabilities attending UA Little Rock. In fact the vast majority of students registered with the DRC have disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder, learning disability, or psychiatric disabilities – all non-apparent disabilities.
Students should come to DRC or call for an appointment to inquire about the following:
- Textbooks in alternate formats. Usually these are provided in digital format to be read using screen reader software or electronic readers. We ask for ten (10) weeks advance notice. Make your request for digital books.
- Alternate formats for other written materials. These include digital, large print, and Braille. Advance notice is necessary.
- Lab assistants. DRC will hire someone to work with students who have visual or physical disabilities in laboratories.
- Interpreters. Sign language and oral interpreters are provided with advance notice.
- Speech-to-text transcription. With advance notice, DRC provides speech-to-text services for students for communication access. This involves in-class transcribing of lectures as the student follows along on a laptop computer.
- Note-takers. DRC, faculty, and students who receive notetaking services work together to recruit skilled notetakers from their classes. Self-carboning paper for you to provide to your note-takers is available in the DRC office. More information on notetakers
- Assistive or adaptive technology. This is available to use in many campus locations, and some can be checked out from the DRC. Here is a complete list of adaptive technology and locations.
- Accessible online classes. DRC works with faculty to ensure all information in web-based or web-enhanced classes is fully accessible.
- Faculty Notification letter. DRC provides letters upon request by students for their professors listing their accommodations.
- Faculty and staff consultation. DRC works with faculty, staff and administrators to facilitate classroom and testing accommodations. We also provide information on good teaching strategies that work for all students, and that lessen the need for individual accommodations.
- Faculty and staff training. Model demonstration grants funded by the U.S. Department of Education have enabled UA Little Rock to become a leader in training of faculty and administrators, and enabled our faculty to gain knowledge about how best to teach students with disabilities, as well as how to create usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable learning environments.
- Faculty Handbook. The Faculty Handbook provides detailed information about how to design usable, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments for all students, and how to implement accommodations.
Assistive or Adaptive Technology
If you are interested in assistive technology evaluations and possible purchase of your own equipment through Arkansas Rehabilitation Services or other funding sources, contact DRC. Some equipment is kept in the DRC office and may be available for students to check out. An example is an assistive listening device for a student who is hard of hearing. These amplify sound using a microphone worn by the professor, utilizing a transmitter, receiver, and FM technology. Electronic note-takers designed for people with visual disabilities may also be available for you to use. Various campus labs may include computers with screen readers (output is voiced), voice recognition (you dictate verbally to the computer), Braille printers, video magnifiers (magnify the printed page onto a monitor), refreshable Braille display device, and adapted keyboards. Here is a list of adaptive equipment and where it is located on campus.
Academic Adjustment Policy & Course Substitutions
The Academic Adjustment Policy (PDF) outlines the steps students take to request accommodations or academic adjustments, including the appeals process.
In some cases an academic adjustment may take the form of a course substitution or waiver. For example, students with learning disabilities in the specific areas of math or language may not need to take the math or foreign language requirements. Substitutions or waivers are only made if the course in question is not considered essential to the student’s major or minor. If you are considering requesting a substitution or waiver, please come see us.
Steps for Requesting Accommodations
The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create usable, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments. However, there may be times when there are aspects of the instruction or design of your courses that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement. When that is the case, the DRC staff will work with you to arrange for accommodations.
We encourage students to contact us to engage in a discussion to identify and remove barriers in their academic experience.
- Contact the Disability Resource Center to make an appointment with a member of the DRC staff to discuss the barriers you have experienced and/or anticipate.
- Complete the online student application.
- Work with the staff member to determine accommodations that will reduce or remove those barriers. The process for determining accommodations is a collaborative one that may or may not require third-party documentation.
- Complete the online request for faculty notifications each semester.
- Collaborate with your professor to determine how the accommodations will be worked out.
- Complete any other requests each semester as discussed in the initial meeting (i.e. books in alternate format, submitting schedule for interpreters or Typewell services, etc.)
- Follow up with the DRC if there are any questions or concerns about the services.
A note about documentation:
These guidelines apply to students taking UA Little Rock classes. Please be aware that other universities and testing agencies (which administer standardized tests such as the GRE and LSAT) may require more extensive documentation, and you should check out their requirements well in advance.
Online Students
Students who reside outside the central Little Rock area and are taking only online courses will follow a somewhat different process. The DRC application process can be conducted entirely by phone, or part online and part by phone. Instead of meeting personally with your professors to discuss the logistics and accommodations, you will contact them by phone or e-mail. Request your Faculty Notifications. It is still necessary for you to contact your professors to work out accommodation logistics for exams and to follow up to be sure they received your Faculty Notification.
Law Students
A week or two before exams begin, meet with the Associate Dean to work out the logistics of your accommodations. Unless otherwise indicated, extended time for exams is time and a half. Grading of your exams will be handled anonymously as is the policy at the law school.
Tutoring, Academic Support, Test Preparation
Student Support Services (SSS) provides services to a limited number of eligible UA Little Rock students. SSS seeks to motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. The goal of the program is to increase participants’ college persistence, support them through graduation, and facilitate the transition from one level of higher education to the next.
Standardized Test Accommodations
Standardized tests, such as the LSAT and NCLEX, have their own disability documentation requirements. Don’t assume that the documentation that you provide to the DRC will suffice for external testing agencies. There is generally a separate application form for accommodations in addition to the application to take the test.
Tests that are administered with accommodations are often administered on a day that is different from the published test date. The date for your test will be arranged through the Testing Services office once accommodations have been approved.
Chancellor’s Committee on the Americans with Disabilities Act (CADA)
This committee includes students, faculty, and staff members who each year determine how funds established for improving accessibility will be spent. In addition, this group develops and recommends policy changes related to encouraging inclusive learning environments. Students who have good ideas on how to make the campus more accessible are urged to contact the DRC Director to ask about serving on this committee. Learn more about CADA.
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) and Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)
ARS and DSB is a state agency whose goal is employment of adults with disabilities. As part of the process they will conduct an evaluation to determine your eligibility for their programs. Services are designed to prepare individuals for employment, and may include financial assistance in college, usually payment of tuition. Another service for some students is an individual technology evaluation and purchase of adaptive equipment. Your ARS counselor may also facilitate job search activities. Learn more about Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and learn more about Division of Services for the Blind.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
Eligibility Under the Law and Accessing DRC Services
If you have a disability, you are entitled by law to equal access to university programs and facilities. The most relevant laws are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Under these laws you cannot be discriminated against on the basis of your disability. In the university setting, this often means that in order to achieve equal access, accommodations must be made in the classroom or in testing procedures.
The legal definition of a person with a disability includes people who have a history of or who are perceived as having a disability. This might mean, for example, that someone with HIV, who has no symptoms or illness, could still experience discrimination under the law due to false perceptions about the condition.
Some disabilities that are not visible or obvious are also be covered under the law. Examples are learning disabilities, medical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and a history of addiction (rehabilitated or recovering substance abusers). If you want more information about the accommodation process, make an appointment at the DRC.
Complaints and Grievance Procedures
If you would like to pursue a complaint, please see the DRC grievance policy.
We at UA Little Rock are pleased that you chose to pursue your education and your career goals here. We look forward to collaborating with you on a personal level as well as within the UA Little Rock and wider communities in creating usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable environments.
- The most important people on the campus. Without them there would be no need for the institution.
- Not cold enrollment statistics, but flesh and blood human beings with feelings and emotions like our own.
- Not people to be tolerated so we can do our thing. They are our thing.
- Not dependent on us. Rather we are dependent on them.
- Not an interruption of our work, but the purpose of it. We are not doing them a favor by serving them. They are doing us a favor by giving us the opportunity to do so.
This is the DRC Core Values, Mission Statement, and Vision Statement that was revised in Spring, 2013.
