Disabled students can find on-campus help

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Student Disability Services urges incoming CMU freshmen and current students
to take advantage of the federally mandated accommodations for students with
disabilities.

“Our job and our goal is to provide accommodations for students with
disabilities. If someone needs a sign language interrupter, we will provide
that. If someone needs a test reader, we will provide that,” said Carol
Wojcik, Student Disability Services director.

Once students receive admission to the university, they have an opportunity
to register as a student with a disability by filling out a card distributed
to all students. CMU then determines what kind of accommodations are appropriate
based on documentation and conversations with the individuals.

Such accommodations could include a note taker, extended time, quiet areas
for test taking, a scribe for a test or a sign language interpreter.

The service also prepares letters given to the student’s professors that
state what accommodation they can receive.

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that universities must give students
with disabilities accommodations so they can learn.

“(The service) allows students to get an education. If a hearing- impaired
student can’t hear the professor, they are going to need some kind of
accommodations to allow them to participate in the class and that’s were
the sign language interpreter comes in,” Wojcik said.

The disability service aids students with visual and hearing impairments,
learning disabilities, orthopedic and psychiatric impairments and head injuries.

“Most (students) have already contacted us prior to when they have started
school, but if there are some out there who haven’t seen the registration
card, we urge everyone to come see us. We will be at all the orientation sessions,”
Wojcik said.

Anyone who has a documented disability that impedes one of his or her daily
life activities should register in Charles V. Park Library room 120 or contact
Wojcik at 774-3018.