We offer many services for students with disabilities including:

• CLAST Waiver Rule

• Testing Services

• Substitution Rule

• Interpreting Services

• Access Technology

• Note Taking Services

• Tutorial Assistance

Other Assistance includes:

• Admissions Assistance

• Specialized Campus Orientation

• Academic and Vocational Counseling

• Use of Specialized Equipment

• Special Curriculum for Access Technology for the Visually Impaired

We specialize in offering individual technological solutions for students who need special equipment to access computers.

Services that the Access Services Department DOES NOT OFFER include Attendant Care, Transportation , Housing Assistance Financial Assistance or ongoing assistance getting around campus.

A Florida statute authorizes the college to waive certain sub-tests of the CLAST based on a specific learning disability and on other special circumstances. In order to qualify for a CLAST waiver request the student must have:

● A documented disability which directly relates to the student's inability to pass a section of the exam
● A CLAST waiver will not be entered on a student's  degree audit until all other graduation requirements have been met.

One of the accommodations to which you may be entitled is extra time in taking tests. If you and your instructor can work out how this will be handled, Access Services does not need to be involved. If you plan to use the testing services available through this department, remember that it is your responsibility to give the testing form to your instructor several days before your class is due to take the test and to remind the instructor that the form and the test must be received in room 6112 at least one day before you are to take your test. (Test forms are available in room 6112). If the test is not received in a timely manner this department may not be able to arrange your test.

Be sure to ask your instructor to write any special instructions on the form. In particular, be sure to have him/her specify whether you will be permitted to use notes, your text book or specialized equipment such as spellers or calculators.

When you make arrangements to take a test, be sure to allow enough time so that you can complete the test in one sitting.

Do not schedule testing time that will interfere with other classes.

The Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook includes a complete explanation of procedures covering dishonesty during test taking. If you cheat on an examination you risk losing the services of this department. In addition, you may be expelled from the college.

The Florida statute authorizes any person who has a qualifying disability that makes it impossible for him or her to complete a course to apply for a substitution of another class instead. for admission to or graduation from a college or university where documentation can be provided that that person's failure to meet the requirement is related to the disability, and where the substitution does not constitute a fundamental alteration in the nature of the program.

To qualify for a course substitution you must have:

• a grade point average of 2.0 or better,

• completed at least 12 transferable  college credits

tried to pass the course you seek to substitute with whatever assistance our department believes you need to help you pass

In general, you will need a letter from your professor indicating that, in his or her opinion, you have made every reasonable effort to pass the course. Whether we approve your request for course substitution or not, you have the right to make it and send it forward to a committee which will meet to discuss whether it should be approved. Your advisor can give you the forms to use.

How do I get an interpreter? The first thing you must do to get an interpreter is to make an appointment to bring documentation of your disability to a deaf specialist advisor in room 6116. Once you have met with an advisor, you need to register for classes and get three (3) copies of your schedule, one for yourself, one for the advisor who arranges interpreters, and one for the technical assistance specialist in charge of note takers. All interpreting services are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, so the earlier you register, the better.

Interpreting services may be suspended for missing two consecutive class days for a student who has made no effort to contact the Access Services Department. Services will remain suspended until Access Services is contacted by the student.

For more information on what other services are provided on the North Campus for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing review the Access Services Access brochure.

Many students can benefit from using the range of access technology available in our department. Computers that talk, large print texts, special software that makes computer access easier for students with limited range of motion in their arms and a whole host of other adaptive solutions can be arranged in our department. If you feel that you can benefit from some of this technology, ask the advisor in our department with whom you are working to help you figure out what might help you the most.

Once you have documented your disability with a advisor at Access Services the advisor will identify your accommodation needs. If those needs include a note taker an extra copy of your schedule will be given to the technical assistance specialist in charge of note taking and reading services. Remember that note takers and readers are assigned on a first come, first served basis, so register early!! It is your responsibility to provide your note taker with paper. It is also up to you to have the scantron sheets on which the answers to tests get placed. If there are two or more students in a class, each student will take his/her turn providing the note taker with paper. We encourage students to exchange telephone numbers with their note taker(s). If you are unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to contact the note taker, or the technical Assistance specialist in charge of note takers, to indicate you will be absent. Please remember that your note taker will not take notes for you if you are not present in class. If you are not present in the classroom within 15 minutes after class starts, the note taker will leave the classroom.

When there are a substantial number of students using a note taker in a class, the note taker will bring the notes to the Access Services Department to be duplicated. The copies of the notes will be available in office 6112 for one (1) week after the class. Notes that are not picked up after that week will be discarded.

Note taking services may be discontinued for a class after three (3) absences/tardies (after the 15 minutes) without notification to either the note taker, technical assistance specialist or your advisor. So it is very important that you keep in touch with our office.

he quality of note taking is very important to us. If you are having any problems with your note taker or their notes it is vital that you inform our office. REMEMBER, we cannot solve a problem that we do not know about. In addition, every semester each student receiving note taking services is expected to complete an evaluation form on each note taker providing   services. It is important that you provide complete and honest information on these evaluations. We modify our hiring and training procedures based on the information you provide.

In the Learning Center, a student can receive tutoring by a trained professional for any class in which he/she is enrolled at Miami Dade College. In addition to tutoring, the Learning Center has various learning resources available such as computers and software, word processing, spell checkers, and instructional materials. To receive tutoring, the student should do one of the following:

• Meet with his/her advisor in Access Services and request tutoring or Meet with the supervisor of the Learning Center.

A specific time and day to attend tutoring classes will be assigned. Tutoring classes are available during the day and some evenings. For specific information about available times call 237-1272.

Attendance and grading procedures will be explained on the first day of class. If the student does not follow the policies of the Learning Center, he/she may be asked to withdraw.