Support for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Students
At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), we at ACCESS believe equity should never be an afterthought. We intentionally take a proactive approach to support all d/Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing (HoH) students by creating an environment where they feel included and valued. Ultimately, our goal is to create a campus where d/Deaf and HoH individuals are fully integrated into an inclusive and welcoming campus. Students are encouraged to participate in every aspect of college life including extracurricular activities.
To achieve our goal, ACCESS created a division of comprehensive d/Deaf Services. Those services include:
- Outreach to surrounding schools and organizations that serve d/Deaf and HoH population
- Providing resources including advocacy, equipment, and education of rights under the ADAAA in accordance with ACCESS Learning Outcomes
- Providing access to communication, assistive technologies, support to increase independence, and enhance the college experience
- Serving as an information and referral source for campus community members and the public
Services Typically Provided
- Assistive Technology
- Captioning
- Note-taking
- Priority registration
- Sign Language Interpreters
- Sight translation of documents
Assistive Technology
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for a Frequency Modulation (FM) or a Digital Modulation (DM) system, we will work with you to find an appropriate system compatible with your device.
Captioning
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for captioning, the student will receive services such as Computer Assisted Real-Time Translation (CART) and Typewell. Typewell is a meaning- for-meaning real-time transcript, while CART is a verbatim real-time transcript, both of which are displayed on a screen. All requests should be made as soon as possible to secure services. Keep in mind, not all campus events will plan for captioning, students should submit a Caption Request Form to ensure accessibility. When submitting your request, please be prepared to share as much pertinent information as possible to expedite the scheduling of the service.
Notetaking
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for a notetaker, this service will be retrofitted to the individual, depending on the student’s need.
Priority Registration
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for a priority registration, students may register early and submit their semester requests (interpreter, notetaker, captions, assistive listening device, etc.) to streamline services.
Sign Language Interpreters
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for interpreting services, qualified sign language interpreters will be provided to facilitate all faculty and peer interactions. American Sign Language and/or English-based sign systems are available upon request for conferences, workshops, advising sessions, campus-wide events, and extra-curricular activities (e.g. sports, clubs, etc.) Keep in mind, not all campus events will plan for interpreters, students should submit an Interpreter Request Form ensure accessibility. When submitting your request, please be prepared to share as much pertinent information as possible to expedite the scheduling of the service. ACCESS - Deaf Services works closely with students to tailor services to their individual needs and preferences (e.g. interpreting services, captioning, assistive technology, etc.).
Request Interpreter or Transcriber
Sight Translation of Documents
After registering with ACCESS and being approved for interpreting services, students may request documents to be interpreted from text into ASL. For more information, please contact ACCESS Deaf Services at [email protected].
Camp Launch
Camp Launch is a camp for young D/deaf individuals that focuses on crucial pre-employment and/or college transition skills that will equip them to successfully navigate life post-high school. To learn more about this exciting and innovative new experience, please contact ACCESS Deaf Services at [email protected]!
