Access Your Accommodations

Access Your Accommodations

Overview

Each quarter, students need to activate their approved accommodations for each class. Students choose which of their approved accommodations they want to activate for each class.

How to activate approved accommodations for classes

  1. Login to MyDAC with your Western Universal Username and Password.
     
  2. Check the box next to each class for which you intend to activate accommodations. Some accommodations require you to read and complete e-form agreements.
     
  3. Click the button labeled “Step 2 button (Continue to Customize Your Accommodations).”
     
  4. Check the boxes of the accommodation services that you wish to activate for each given class.
     
  5. Click on the button labeled “Submit Your Accommodation Requests.”
     
  6. Talk to your instructor about your accommodation(s) and discuss how they will apply in each course.

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing: Communication Access

The DAC facilitates a variety of communication access accommodations including American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, real-time speech-to-text services via CART and/or TypeWell, closed captioning, and assistive listening devices.   

For more information, contact our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing services coordinator, Gretchen Rumsey-Richardson, 360-650-3083.

Communication Access is a Human Right

If you haven't yet met with an access manager, contact our office to make an appointment: email DRSFrontDesk@wwu.edu or call 360-650-3083.

Overview

It is each student’s responsibility to schedule quizzes and exams at a minimum of 5 business days in advance. Finals exams must be requested a minimum of 10 business days in advance.

How To Schedule Exams in MyDAC

  1. Log into MyDAC.
     
  2. Click on Alternative Testing under the My Accommodations menu in the left column.
     
  3. Select your class from the drop-down menu.
     
  4. Click on Schedule an Exam.
     
  5. Read the Terms and Conditions.
     
    • Complete the Exam Detail
       
    • If prompted, complete the Late Exam form as well.

What's a 'Testing Agreement'?

A testing agreement is the instructions on how your exam or quiz should be administered. It will contain the dates/times you will be able to schedule your test, as well as any allowances the instructor may be letting you have, for example a calculator or rock samples.

Review your testing agreement once your instructor has completed it. In the faculty notification letter automatically sent out with your accommodation request, your instructor is provided a link to complete the testing agreement.

The DAC testing agreement must be completed by your instructor before you can schedule an exam or quiz.

To view a testing agreement for a class:

  1. Log into MyDAC.
     
  2. Click on Alternative Testing under the My Accommodations menu in the left column.
     
  3. Click on View Alternative Testing Detail.

Overview

Alternative Text comes in several different formats. Our office has a license for all WWU students to use the program Read and Write. It offers multiple functions such as reading the text aloud and highlighting right on the device. Most alternative formats students receive will be compatible with this program. It’s important to note that due to copyright laws, the student must purchase their textbooks and let us know when that’s done before we can release the alternate version to them. Depending on the disability, it may be helpful for the student to purchase the book in paper format so that they can follow along as the software program reads to them.

Receiving alternative formats of texts may take several days to a few weeks. If you are in need of an alternative format, be sure to submit your requests as soon as you can. Even if you don't know what texts are going to be used in your class, you can contact our office and we may be able to assist you.

How To Request Alternative Text

To request alternative text:

  1. Log in to MyDAC with Username and Password.
     
  2. Request accommodations for each course.
     
  3. On the left hand side of MyDAC under “My Accommodations”, click “Alternative Formats”.
     
  4. Make sure you are on the correct quarter for the requested book on the Yellow Bar at the top of the screen. Adjust using “Next Term” as needed.
     
  5. Add books under Additional Book or Reading Material. Provide Class, Title, ISBN, Author, and Edition (as much info as available).
     
  6. If any articles are assigned throughout the quarter or for class related research, please email them to drsalttext@wwu.edu.
     
  7. If you have any questions or are enrolling in a class that is not listed on MyDAC, contact the AT Specialist at 360-650-3083 or drsalttext@wwu.edu.

Note-Taking Accommodation Overview

Note-taking accommodations are not a replacement for class attendance.  

Note-taking accommodations helps remove barriers to learning by augmenting student note-taking skills and ensuring access to information presented in class. Follow the instructions on this page to set up your note taking accommodation.

Are you a notetaker or are interested in becoming one? Learn more.

How to set up note taking

  1. Once you have been approved for a notetaking accommodation, come into the DAC to pick up Notetaker Referral Cards for each of your courses from the DAC front desk staff.
     
  2. Put your name and course information on each of the Notetaker Referral Cards.
     
  3. Student notetakers in your courses can be found in the following three ways:
     
    • Asking a fellow classmate in the course if they are willing to share their notes.
       
    • Contacting your professor and requesting assistance in making an anonymous announcement to the class. The following is a sample: "There is at least one student in our course who needs a copy of the class notes taken each day. The Disability Access Center is looking for at least one student notetaker that is willing to upload their notes online every day. This is an hourly paid student employment position. If you have an excellent attendance record and you take accurate and legible notes, please see me."

    • By contacting the DAC at drsnotes@wwu.edu and requesting assistance. If the class announcement that your professor makes does not yield any potential notetakers, please immediately contact us so that the DAC can proceed.

  4. After finding a classmate to take notes for you, give them a Notetaker Referral Card and tell them to fill it out and return the card to the DAC located in WL 170 so they can get paid.
     
  5. Notes are uploaded to myDAC within 24 hours of class finishing. They can be accessed and downloaded by looking under the “My Accommodations” menu and clicking on Notetaking Services.

 

Read&Write is free of charge  to all WWU students.

Read&Write offers many features that allow users to more effectively and efficiently glean information from digital texts they are reading. To install it on your PC or Mac, follow the instructions listed below.  You will need to login with your WWU email address to activate the full version.

Who Qualifies?

Students who have met with an access manager at the DAC and been approved for alternative furniture accommodations must use this form to submit their alternative furniture requests for a new quarter. 

If you haven't yet met with the DAC but want to request alternative furniture for disability-related reasons, please begin your accommodations application.  If you have questions, please contact the DAC at 360-650-3083 or DRSFrontDesk@wwu.edu. 

Click here to complete your Quarterly Alternative Furniture Request Form.