The University Library Lab is located on the lower level of the University Library. Hours of the lab are the same as library hours. Assistive technology provided in the lab includes text scanning, screen magnifiers and text magnifiers. Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 is available on all 42 computers in the lab to listen to PDF files. Students should bring their own headphones or check out a pair at the circulation desk of the library. Students who are registered with Accessibility and Accommodations are strongly encouraged to use this lab. Students who need access to assistive technology not listed above are encouraged to contact Accessibility and Accommodations.

Assistive Technology is all around us! Many of the tools available are free or cost very little to use. On the following pages are lists of Assistive Technology tools you may find useful when completing various tasks both in or out of school. Many of these tools may help you complete tasks more quickly, easily, or independently. Tools are broken down into sub-categories such as Reading, Writing, or Notetaking, for example. All apps and programs on the following pages are free or cost less than $25.

We do our best to stay updated on the latest information about the apps on the following pages along with adding the latest and greatest apps as soon as they come out. If you find an error in our listing or want to share a program, software, website or app that we should add, please contact: access@samford.edu

Free or Low Cost Assistive Technology

• Academic Success Center
• Career Development Center
• Counseling
• Health Services
• Public Safety
• Transportation
• University Library
• Writing Center

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is the agency that enforces federal civil rights law, including ADA and Section 504 of the Rehab Act. Their website contains helpful information regarding the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities. The links below may be helpful to address frequent questions, concerns, and misunderstandings about accommodations in postsecondary settings

• Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
• Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
• Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators
• “Dear Parent” Letter from the Office of Civil Rights

• Overview of Accommodations Process. The Office of Accessibility receives an accommodation request form and documentation of a student’s disability and engages in the interactive process with each student to determine reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Faculty are notified of approved accommodations by an accommodations letter sent through Samford email. The purpose of providing accommodations is to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of the course / program. Faculty are responsible for providing the accommodations listed and should contact OAA with all questions and concerns. This letter is valid only for the academic term and course listed. If you have not received an accommodations letter, you can assume the student is either not eligible for accommodations at that time or has elected not to use accommodations in your course.
• Faculty Notification and Student Meetings. It is the student's responsibility to notify faculty of their eligibility for accommodations each semester. This is done via the student’s OAA portal and notification will go to the faculty member’s email. Some accommodations may require a conversation to confirm how they will be applied in a given class, in which case you may ask the student to meet with you to discuss. However, please respect the student's right to confidentiality and limit your discussion to one that is private and confidential, focused only on approved accommodations and not on the student’s disability. It is the student's right to choose whether to share any details about their disability, and if disclosed, faculty should never share this information with others unless there is a legitimate educational interest in doing so. It is inappropriate for faculty to ask for a diagnosis or symptoms related to a condition. It is also inappropriate for faculty to provide guidance or counsel regarding a disability or medical condition. Students should be referred to the relevant campus experts. It is only appropriate to ask what barriers the student experiences during the course and to discuss logistics regarding the approved accommodations. Further questions can be directed to the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations.
• Fundamental Alterations. Accommodations in higher education cannot alter any fundamental requirement of the course. It is important to articulate fundamental requirements in the syllabus clearly. If an instructor has concern that an approved accommodation may alter a fundamental requirement of the course, they should immediately contact OAA. OAA will oversee a review of the accommodation and fundamental course requirement. Oftentimes a creative solution is possible that satisfies both the learning objective and the purpose of the accommodation. A decision in writing will be provided to the student by OAA should it be determined the accommodation cannot be used in the course or for a particular assignment. An instructor should NEVER notify a student that an approved accommodation cannot be used in a course without direct consultation and guidance from OAA. Common fundamental requirement reviews relate to “consideration for spelling and grammar,” “oral presentation adaptation,” and “access to a calculator.”
• Disability Related Attendance Modifications. This accommodation may be given to a student who has a disability or chronic health condition that may occasionally impact class attendance. Typically, this is related to a condition that “flares” or behaves in an unpredictable way. It is generally not intended to allow extended or indefinite absences related to injuries, surgical recovery, or hospitalization. Students should be “otherwise qualified” to fulfill their responsibilities as a student enrolled in an in-person class. Before this accommodation can be used, an “Agreement with Instructor” form must be completed by the student during a meeting with the professor. The form is available to students in their OAA portal. Details regarding the attendance agreement (including any additional absences that can be permitted) are determined based on the percentage of in-person attendance that is considered fundamental to the course and NOT based on the disability. Questions regarding the student’s disability should not be asked in order to complete this agreement. Instructors are advised to create one attendance policy per course in advance that can be applied to all students approved for this accommodation. Please contact OAA with questions or concerns regarding the attendance agreement. To utilize the accommodation, the student should email the professor as soon as possible on the day of a disability-related absence and copy access@samford.edu. A disability-related absence is considered a day when disability-related symptoms are preventing class attendance. Absences for any other reason are governed by course policy. The student should be permitted to make-up work and/or exams due to disability-related absences, if possible, and arrangements for how to do so should be noted in the agreement. Once additional approved absences are exceeded, the student is subject to course policy and the same penalty would apply even if the subsequent absences are disability-related. Please note: medical notes and/or information related to the symptoms or diagnosis of the disability are NOT required to use a disability-related absence. The professor should contact OAA directly regarding any further inquiries.
• Proctoring Service – The OAA Testing Center proctors exams Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm. Students are expected to reserve a testing room at least one-week in advance of tests. An earlier deadline is applicable for students requesting final exam testing space. When a room reservation is approved, professors will receive an email confirming the details. To use the proctoring service, professors must provide a copy of the test at least 24-hours in advance for regular tests and at least one-week in advance for final exams. Please Note: OAA provides computers, software, and/or technology ONLY to meet accommodation needs. All technology required for the test by the instructor must be provided by the instructor or student.
• Testing Contracts – Faculty are responsible for providing approved testing accommodations and should contact OAA with any questions or concerns. All approved testing accommodations will be sent to the professor by email. For students with testing accommodations, a link will be included with a Testing Contract. Faculty complete this contract to indicate whether they agree to provide the student's testing accommodations independently, or whether they would like to utilize the OAA Testing Center proctoring service. If utilizing the OAA Testing Center, professors will identify testing dates, permitted materials, and preferences on the contract.