Accommodations are reasonable adjustments or modifications to programs, facilities, or curricula that ensure equal access. Each student’s accommodations are determined individually based upon their specific needs, documentation, and circumstances, and are intended to ensure equal access by removing barriers. Below is a listing of examples of the academic accommodations that Pratt students can receive.
Examples of Academic Accommodations
- Alternative and Electronic Format
- Priority Registration
- Exams
- Extended Time for Written Assignments
- Note-Taking
- Preferential Seating
- Recording Lectures
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Sign Language Interpreting
- Real-Time Captioning
Examples of Services
HELPFUL SOFTWARE
The L/AC has helpful software available to all Pratt students, including Kurzweil. Kurzweil is a text-to-speech software that has amazing reading and writing tools to make your academic work easier, including:
- Tools for reading text out loud to you;
- Highlighting and annotating tools for digital reading;
- Templates to guide brainstorming and paper outlining.
This awesome tool is FREE for Pratt students! If you are interested in learning more about Kurzweil, or if you would like to get set up with your own Kurzweil account, please contact email LAC@pratt.edu, and provide your Pratt ID number.
INDIVIDUALIZED SESSIONS WITH A LEARNING SPECIALIST
Students who are enrolled with the L/AC can choose to attend individualized sessions with a Learning Specialist. Learning Specialists provide academic coaching and counseling. Academic coaching and counseling involves regular one-on-one meetings between the Learning Specialist and the student. Students meet with a Learning Specialist in order to evaluate individual learning goals and to develop and monitor progress toward appropriate goals. Goals can include developing better study strategies, improving performance, and/or discussing methods for making conscious and informed decisions that will help optimize the educational experience.
Other topics that can be discussed during Learning Specialist sessions include: effective time management and organization skills, learning strategies and study skills, and personal management techniques such as communication, self-care, motivation, and attitude.
TUTORING
Work with a peer or professional tutor. Subject and software tutoring are available, in addition to support with time management, brainstorming, study skills and more.
RESERVE A ROOM
If you would like to reserve a study room in the Learning/Access Center please email lac@pratt.edu with details about your reservation.
WORKSHOPS
Throughout the year, the L/AC offers workshops on a range of topics, including study skills and time management, successfully navigating critiques, and disclosing disabilities in the professional setting.
Examples of Academic Accommodations
ALTERNATIVE AND ELECTRONIC FORMAT
Students who require course materials in alternative formats should ask professors for all materials, including readings and handouts, before the start of each semester, so that the L/AC can assist with converting the materials into digital or other formats. Handouts and PowerPoint presentations can also be converted to audio files if provided from the instructor in advance. Book titles and other materials that are to be converted to alternative formats should be submitted via email to LAC@pratt.edu.
PRIORITY REGISTRATION
Some students enrolled with the L/AC may qualify to register early for their classes. Early registration is based on the following:
- Physical access needs (e.g., room location, endurance/fatigue factors, etc.);
- Communication access needs (e.g., interpreting and captioning);
- Academic access needs (e.g., course scheduling issues, alternate format, etc.);
- Health-related needs (e.g., medication side effects, sleep disorders, medical treatment/intervention issues, etc.).
Students should meet with the L/AC concerning any changes in physical, communication, academic, and/or health-related needs. This meeting should be done early in the semester, if possible. Please contact the L/AC at 718.802.3123 or at LAC@pratt.edu to schedule an appointment.
EXTENDED TIME FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Some students may receive an accommodation of extended time for written assignments. In general, this accommodation only applies to written assignments or projects in non-studio classes. As such, this accommodation does not usually apply to studio classes where presenting work for critiques is a fundamental aspect of the class instruction. Typically, the student requesting an accommodation of extended time for assignments will either (a) receive the assignment in advance to allow for additional time for completion; or (b) be allowed to hand the assignment in at a later, previously arranged, date. The student must speak to the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss the details of this accommodation.
NOTE-TAKING
Students who need note-taking help are encouraged to reach out to the L/AC to schedule an appointment to discuss this need in more detail.
The L/AC can provide information about available resources for note-taking help. The L/AC can also work with students to identify resources for getting notes, strategies for improving note-taking skills, and helpful technology, such as a Smart Pen or laptop note-taking applications.
PREFERENTIAL SEATING
The accommodation of Preferential Seating allows the student priority in choosing a seat that will allow them better access to academic materials.
RECORDING LECTURES
The L/AC may recommend that a student be permitted to audio record class lectures in-person or on Zoom as a form of academic accommodation. This may include the use of Smart Pens, digital recorders, or computer software.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
The Assistive Listening Device (ALD)/FM Unit is a two-piece device that makes hearing the lecture easier by delivering sound directly to the listener. It is used with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants, and the user controls the volume. The ALD amplifies speakers’ voices over competing noise in the environment such as ventilation systems, computers, outside traffic or construction, and activities in adjacent rooms. It also helps minimize the effects of poor room acoustics such as tile or cement flooring, or hard wall surfaces; or the distortion of sound that happens when a listener is farther away from a speaker.
The FM Unit has a transmitter with a clip-on microphone for the speaker and a receiver with an earpiece for the listener. The transmitter sends a direct auditory amplified signal to the receiver for the student to hear the lecture. Prior to the lecture, the student gives the transmitter to the speaker to wear, and at the conclusion of lecture, the student will collect the transmitter from the speaker.
To make a request for an FM Unit, contact the L/AC at 718.802.3123 or at LAC@pratt.edu to schedule an appointment.
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING
The L/AC arranges sign language interpreting in the classroom and well as at campus events. Students and departments should notify the L/AC to make arrangements.
REAL-TIME CAPTIONING/CART
The L/AC provides Computer-Aided Real-Time Translation (CART) for students who have trouble understanding or hearing lectures and discussions in class and at other meetings.
Real-time captioning provides an instant translation of spoken English into written English text, which is displayed on a laptop monitor in the classroom. This is done by a captionist in the classroom who, using a stenograph or regular keyboard and special software, transforms what is said in the room into text, instantaneously creating a written transcript. This allows the student to read what is being said during the class session, both for lecture and in-class discussion.
To make a request for CART, contact the L/AC at 718.802.3123 or LAC@pratt.edu to schedule an appointment.
EXAMS
For any exam accommodation administered by the L/AC, students should make arrangements at least one week prior to the test date. It is also recommended that students remind instructors of any testing accommodations at least a week prior to every exam to ensure that proper accommodations are provided.
At least one week before the scheduled exam date, the student will need to complete the Student Request for Exam Accommodations form and the professor will need to complete the Instructor Testing Accommodations form. The completed forms will be submitted to the L/AC office. You do not need to follow up with the L/AC after submitting the form. Once the request is processed, the L/AC will contact the student and the professor via their Pratt emails with any additional instructions and next steps.
ALTERNATIVE AND ELECTRONIC FORMAT AND FONT FOR EXAMS
The font size on exams may be enlarged to meet the student’s needs. Arrangements for this accommodation should be made well in advance of the scheduled exam date to ensure enough time for format conversion.
DISTRACTION-REDUCED TESTING ENVIRONMENT
Students with this accommodation are permitted to take quizzes and exams in a Study Room at the L/AC office.
EXTENDED TIME FOR TESTING
Students may be allowed additional time for testing, either in the classroom, or in another location provided by the professor, or within a L/AC Study Room.
EXAM READER/SCRIBE
The L/AC can provide a reader/scribe for exams and quizzes. Clarification or explanation of questions is not permitted.
USE OF CALCULATOR ON MATH-BASED EXAMS
Students may be allowed to use a calculator during a test if it does not compromise the fundamental requirements of the class.
USE OF COMPUTERS ON EXAMS
Students may be allowed the use a computer for essay exams and/or note-taking. This may be done within the classroom testing setting or in an L/AC Study Room.