Accommodations + Me = Besties

By Jennifer Magno, Nevada H&V

Year three of my undergraduate college education was my most challenging year yet. I am a kinesiology major, and I plan to become a physical therapist (PT). To do that, I have to go through graduate school, which means that on top of my degree requirements, I also have to take the prerequisite courses for PT school. In addition to my kinesiology courses, I took general biology and chemistry last fall and general physics this past spring. The curriculum for those classes is tough, and it definitely was overwhelming, but my accommodations and my university’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) made me feel more at ease.

The DRC is one of my favorite places on campus! It is a friendly, welcoming environment, and all the staff (front office and specialists) care about the well-being of the students. Bonus: their air conditioning is always working. Trust me, sweltering classrooms in Las Vegas, especially during the hot days call for fully functional air conditioning.

Since my first meeting with the DRC in August of 2021, staff have been nothing but supportive towards my accommodations. I remember preparing myself for this meeting, having my documents from high school, and my parents were with me because I am the oldest of three. That makes me the “guinea pig” for all major life milestones, especially the DHH-related ones. Since I had to fill out an application beforehand, they already had a sense of who I was and what accommodations I had in high school. I was still a nervous wreck because I have heard stories of people struggling to get the proper accommodations. To my surprise, the DRC added all the accommodations on my high school 504 Plan, plus more that they recommended. I use the following accommodations: speech-to-text services, preferential seating, extra testing time, note taking services, closed captioning, having my own copies of presentations beforehand, and my professors all use a lapel external microphone. 

My favorite is the speech-to-text Typewell services, and they are amazing! I never had this in high school, and looking back, I wish I had, because it makes my learning experience so much easier. For Typewell, I have a transcriber joining the class on Google Meets. My microphone is on, and they transcribe everything my professor and classmates say in real-time. It is very helpful, especially in group work. I don’t need to worry about writing my notes down because the transcript is emailed to me after class. Plus, it becomes a great study tool for exams since lectures are transcribed nearly word-for-word.

I guess you could say that accommodations have become my best friend for the past three years.

For high school students, don’t be afraid of these accommodations, and don’t be afraid to ask about them! Not only that, but they are well within your rights under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Utilize resources such as your school counselor/advisor, professionals in your community, and even fellow DHH individuals who have been through this process. You can even reach out to your state’s Hands & Voices team because they are also a wonderful resource, especially the ASTra program. I know this seems like a lot, especially in high school, but trust me: building these self-advocacy skills will help as you go through high school. For high school juniors and seniors, as you research and apply for colleges remember to look at each school’s DRC and schedule a meeting with them to see if they are the best fit for you. Each school is different, and everyone has their own unique set of accommodations. Remember that accommodations exist to work alongside you, hence why they become your best friend in the long run.

Now that I’m going into my last year of undergrad, I’ve had a better understanding of never being afraid to ask questions, especially when it comes to accommodations I need. They make me stronger as a student and as a person as I continue to use them in life. Here’s a special thank you to all the college and university DRCs. Your work is much appreciated!  ~

H&V Communicator – Fall 2024