Posted 4:36 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2014
Disability Resource Services on campus not only helps those with physical disabilities, but also sensory, learning and psychological disabilities as well.
[caption id="attachment_33350" align="alignleft" width="339"]
Work study student Aaron Walker uses Dragon Naturally Speaking, a program that allows someone to speak into the computer and the words will show up on the screen. This is a popular program used by students who need extra help using computers.[/caption]
By UW-L student intern Bree Levine
UW-La Crosse’s Disability Resource Services (DRS) not only helps those with physical disabilities, but also sensory, learning and psychological disabilities as well.
UW-L is committed to providing equal opportunity for all students. DRS staff make sure students with disabilities have proper accommodations, both physical and academic.
Any student with a diagnosed physical, sensory, learning or psychological disability or any veteran with wounded warrior status is encouraged to take advantage of accommodations through DRS.
The secret behind DRS is the dedicated staff, like advisors Jennifer Bell and Chris Coppess. As advisors, they meet with new students and plan out accommodations the students will need to succeed.
“We serve as a sounding board,” says Coppess.
There is a multitude of resources available to students with disabilities, including alternative media.
“Alternative media include things like putting textbooks into a digital format, assistive technology, smart pens and screen readers,” Bell says. “This technology can make a huge difference for a student with a disability.”
While DRS helps people with documented disabilities, staff cannot diagnose disabilities.
“If someone thinks they may have a disability, they are welcome to come in and ask questions,” says Bell. “We do not screen for disabilities, but we can point students in the right direction.”
[caption id="attachment_33358" align="alignleft" width="674"]
DRS staff from left, Jennifer Bell, Colleen Dixon and Chris Coppess.[/caption]
A struggle for a lot of students with disabilities, especially those with learning disabilities, is test taking. Accommodations such as getting more time on tests or volunteer note takers can help, but sometimes a student needs a little more support.
DRS have just the right solution: a test taking area. Testing Coordinator Colleen Dixon oversees the test taking area, which provides a quiet, calm environment for students with documented disabilities to take exams with less pressure. About 20 students can be in the room at one time to discourage cheating, there are security cameras that record everything in the room. Students are also required to leave all coats and backpacks in a separate locked room.
[caption id="attachment_33363" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Students use the test taking area in the DRS office. The room is equipped with security cameras at each test taking station.[/caption]
In 2004, only 230 exams were taken in the test taking area throughout the entire 2003-2004 school year. However, there were 1,100 tests taken last semester alone.
For more information about DRS, or to schedule an appointment, visit their website at www.uwlax.edu/drs/.
Work study student Aaron Walker uses Dragon Naturally Speaking, a program that allows someone to speak into the computer and the words will show up on the screen. This is a popular program used by students who need extra help using computers.[/caption]
By UW-L student intern Bree Levine
UW-La Crosse’s Disability Resource Services (DRS) not only helps those with physical disabilities, but also sensory, learning and psychological disabilities as well.
UW-L is committed to providing equal opportunity for all students. DRS staff make sure students with disabilities have proper accommodations, both physical and academic.
Any student with a diagnosed physical, sensory, learning or psychological disability or any veteran with wounded warrior status is encouraged to take advantage of accommodations through DRS.
The secret behind DRS is the dedicated staff, like advisors Jennifer Bell and Chris Coppess. As advisors, they meet with new students and plan out accommodations the students will need to succeed.
“We serve as a sounding board,” says Coppess.
There is a multitude of resources available to students with disabilities, including alternative media.
“Alternative media include things like putting textbooks into a digital format, assistive technology, smart pens and screen readers,” Bell says. “This technology can make a huge difference for a student with a disability.”
While DRS helps people with documented disabilities, staff cannot diagnose disabilities.
“If someone thinks they may have a disability, they are welcome to come in and ask questions,” says Bell. “We do not screen for disabilities, but we can point students in the right direction.”
[caption id="attachment_33358" align="alignleft" width="674"] DRS staff from left, Jennifer Bell, Colleen Dixon and Chris Coppess.[/caption]
A struggle for a lot of students with disabilities, especially those with learning disabilities, is test taking. Accommodations such as getting more time on tests or volunteer note takers can help, but sometimes a student needs a little more support.
DRS have just the right solution: a test taking area. Testing Coordinator Colleen Dixon oversees the test taking area, which provides a quiet, calm environment for students with documented disabilities to take exams with less pressure. About 20 students can be in the room at one time to discourage cheating, there are security cameras that record everything in the room. Students are also required to leave all coats and backpacks in a separate locked room.
[caption id="attachment_33363" align="alignleft" width="300"] Students use the test taking area in the DRS office. The room is equipped with security cameras at each test taking station.[/caption]
In 2004, only 230 exams were taken in the test taking area throughout the entire 2003-2004 school year. However, there were 1,100 tests taken last semester alone.
For more information about DRS, or to schedule an appointment, visit their website at www.uwlax.edu/drs/.