A Helping Hand from the SSD
Photo by Mōhai Peloso
One Student to Another
In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, I would like to share some resources that are available through the Service for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Center. Those of us with disabilities often require accommodations in order for our college education to be accessible. This accessibility allows individuals to fully participate and feel included. Having a disability does not define college students as a burden, despite making life situations difficult to navigate sometimes. University of the Pacific acknowledges these needs and works together with students to find and put in place accommodations.
The SSD office sits in the McCaffrey center. Their office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The types of students the SSD works with include individuals that have learning disabilities, ADHD, chronic health conditions, traumatic brain injuries, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, psychological disorders, visual and other health impairments. The SSD seeks to provide accommodations for students with temporary or permanent disabilities to access their coursework. Through these efforts, the SSD ensures equitable access for all learners.
For example, some students may need additional time to work on a test in an environment where they can focus. The SSD offers learners to take tests at the center, in a private room that is relatively quiet and decreases the possibilities of distractions. If needed, the student will also have a longer amount of time to finish the test. Also, a recall sheet may be available, upon instructor approval. Such accommodations make testing a fair and comfortable experience.
Every student who has attended college, will know the majority of courses they will be taking consist of lectures. In order to master the subject matter, note-taking is required during lectures. It is challenging for everyone to take notes at the exact same pace. An accommodation that can assist with this is being given permission to record lectures. That way, the student can listen and take notes to the lecture at their own pace. An alternative support option is requesting a note-taking assistant. These supports make lectures more accessible to everyone.
Visual and physical disabilities are not forgotten about at the SSD either. Traveling around campus is made much more of a challenge with these specific disabilities. Fortunately, you are allowed to request campus transportation. When it comes to operating in a classroom setting, each situation depends on the student’s individual needs. That in mind, the SSD is willing to sort out the personal needs of the student one-on-one. For wheelchair users, the professor will modify the arrangement of the class to accommodate for moving around the class. Additionally, wheelchair users can be granted access to the elevators.
Courtney Dumas and Graciela Nunez, are the accommodation specialists. They are who you would go to arrange specific accommodations. Morgan Northcutt, is the Associate Director at Services for Students with Disabilities. If you are planning to take a trip to the office, Manager of the Testing Center Brandon Stevens, is the first person you will meet.
Arranging accommodations is not the only service offered. The SSD hosts events that occur every semester that students can attend. As a student diagnosed with Lv. 1 Autism and SLD (specific learning delay), I have found the SSD to be a greatly beneficial resource. If you are struggling with accessing your course material, speak with the staff at the center to learn more.