Accommodations
Under Section 504 and the ADA, the terms “auxiliary aids and services” include: qualified interpreters, note takers, transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, devices or other similar services and actions. In postsecondary education, classroom accommodations are referred to as “academic accommodations.” The accommodation(s)/service(s) available to students are based on the individual student’s medical documentation. Accommodation(s)/service(s) include, but are not limited to, the following:
Coordinating Services
In order to assist the academic success of our students with disabilities, the Disability Services Office will coordinate the following services to these students:
- Academic advising, pre-registration, and registration to allow students with disabilities the ability to schedule classes.
- It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor.
- Tutoring services for students with disabilities through the Center for Learning Assistance.
- Providing and interpreting information on articulation agreements for students with disabilities who intend to transfer to senior colleges/universities.
- Providing educational advisement designed to assist students with disabilities in understanding the requirements of programs and choosing courses that will advance these students toward degree completion in a timely manner.
Types of Accommodations
Extended time on in-class exams is an accommodation for many disabilities. In most cases, the extended time will be equal to time and a half of the time allotted for the exam (a 50 minute test = a 75 minute test with time and a half). Disability Services will not grant a request for untimed or unlimited time on in-class exams. Students are required to work out arrangements for extended time on in-class exams with their instructors at least one week in advance.
Extended time on out-of-class exams is an accommodation for many disabilities. The amount of extended time on out-of-class exams may differ from that granted in proportion to in-class exams. Students are required to have open communication with their professors regarding when assignments will be completed and give professors adequate (at least one week) notice before each use of this accommodation. The communication between the student and professors should not be strictly by email unless agreed upon by both the student and professor. If a student sends an email to or leaves a telephone message for a professor stating that he/she plans to use the extended time for an out of class exam and receives no response from the professor, then open communication has not taken place. Students are required to complete all exams by the end of the semester.
Extended time on in-class assignments is an accommodation for many disabilities. In most cases the extended time will be equal to time and a half of the time allotted for the assignment (an in-class assignment with a 30 minute time limit = a 45 minute time limit for time and a half). Disability Services will not grant a request for untimed or unlimited time on in-class assignments. Students are required to work out arrangements for extended time on in-class assignments with their instructors at least three days in advance.
Extended time on out-of-class assignments is an accommodation for many disabilities. The amount of extended time on out-of-class assignments may differ from that granted in proportion to in-class assignments. Students are required to have open communication with their professors regarding when assignments will be completed and give professors adequate (at least three days) notice before each use of this accommodation. The communication between the student and professors should not be strictly by email unless agreed upon by both the student and professor. If a student sends an email to or leaves a telephone message for a professor stating that he/she plans to use the extended time for an out-of-class assignment and receives no response from the professor, then open communication has not taken place. Students are required to complete all assignments by the end of the semester.
This accommodation is typically used by students with anxiety disorders, severe ADHD and those students who need test assistants (i.e. readers). Distraction-reduced environment for testing does mean testing in a separate room from the rest of the class or lab. However, distraction-reduced environment for testing does not necessarily mean a private room for testing. Refer to Student Responsibilities for more details concerning testing.
Students with extenuating circumstances may request an alternative test format if their documentation specifically makes reference to alternative test formats. This accommodation may not be reasonable if changing the test format fundamentally alters the test/content.
Preferential seating means that a student’s seat is placed in a location that is most beneficial for his/her learning in the classroom allowing the student to see, hear, pay attention to, or participate in activities in the same ways as his/her peers.
Students who are hearing impaired often prefer to use a Sign Language Interpreter to insure that they can understand and learn the material presented and understand course content. A sign language interpreter may be arranged for the student as a reasonable and useful classroom accommodation.
The College primarily utilizes a volunteer notetaker system. Students are asked to make the initial effort in finding notetakers for their classes. Students who are unable or uncomfortable with finding a notetaker in their classes will be assisted by Disability Services in finding notetakers. Upon request, the notetaker will be provided with NCR notetaker paper. If upon the basis of one’s disability documentation he/she is entitled to receive notetaker services, this accommodation does not, and should not replace or substitute for class attendance. Notetakers will not be responsible for providing notes for a disability student’s missed class periods.
The Disability Services Office has a limited amount of Glean licenses for students. Glean is an online note taking system that can help students take notes. Students with the note taker accommodation will be given access to Glean; other ADA students who are currently registered with the Disability Services Office may also request Glean access through the Disability Services Office.
Some students with visual disabilities, severe learning disabilities, or severe ADHD have difficulty keeping their place on scantron forms. Students who have been granted “No Scantron” as an accommodation may write their answers directly on the exam.
Recorders are used to allow students with disabilities to focus on the classroom lecture without having to write notes.
Students may request an instructor for repeated instructions or give alternative explanations to insure the student has a full understanding of the material or assignment. This request, however, must be made after class or during the instructor’s office hours so that it will not be disruptive during the class.
Scribes are available with in-class tests for students who do not have their dominant hand or for students with visual impairments. Students using scribes may make arrangements to take their tests through the office.
This accommodation is for blind students and/or students who have Dyslexia or other reading/learning disabilities. It is usually done through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). Students should make this request known as far in advance as possible as it often takes several weeks or months to get textbooks from RFB&D. Assistance can be provided through the office in obtaining materials in Braille, cassette tape, large print and raised line drawings. Students must provide the office a reasonable amount of time to provide the required material in alternative formats.
Students with poor vision may request to have written documents or computer images enlarged.
Readers are available to assist with in-class tests for students who have visual impairments or severe reading disorders. Students using readers may make arrangements to take their tests through the office. In order to do so, a Testing Accommodation Form must be completed and submitted to the Disability Services Advisor and the professor at least one week prior to test date.
It is a student’s responsibility to notify Disability Services as to where the person's classes are located. After the student knows where the classes will be offered, this student should notify Disability Services as soon as possible to ensure that classes located in inaccessible buildings can be moved.
While the majority of special equipment must be furnished by the student, there is some equipment that is available for students to use. Please check with the Disability Services Office for additional information.
In accordance with ADA and Section 504, BPCC can accommodate service animals as specifically identified through the U.S. Department of Justice. Further information is available upon request.
OTHER POSSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Students with dyslexia and other visual processing disabilities may request consideration for spelling. If a student has a hand held spell checker, this student may choose to use it in place of “consideration for spelling”. A student may not receive both accommodations.
An assistive listening device (ALD) is a system in which the student wears a headpiece, similar to radio headphones, and the professor wears a small microphone. The professor’s voice is then amplified for the student through the headphones. In order to receive an ALD, students should make this request known to the Disability Services Office in advance of the beginning semester.
A substitution is not an appropriate modification if the course or content is found to be essential to the area of study and making a substitution would require a “substantial change in an essential element of the curriculum.” It is the institution’s responsibility to show that a certain class or area is essential to a certain course of study, and if there were any changes in the curriculum that it would substantially alter the curriculum. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.
The College is responsible for the provision of the appropriate auxiliary aids and services available at no cost to the student. The institution cannot place a limit on its expenditure for auxiliary aids or services.
Institutions are not responsible to provide PCAs, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature. See PCA Policy.
- Kurzweil 3000 software is available for Students with Disabilities to use in the Learning Commons, and the Disability Services Testing Center.
- Dragon Dictate software is available in the Disability Services Office.
Bossier Parish Community College works with Louisiana Association for the Blind to aid our visually impaired students. For more information, please contact Disability Services Office at 318-678-6020.
BPCC Web Site Accessibility
The BPCC web site pages are checked using W3C validation. W3C follows the Web Content Guidelines as noted in the Americans with Disabilities Act. We strive to make the BPCC web site experience as accessible as possible to all individuals. However, due to the large variety and amount of content on our site, and ever-changing world of technology, there may be portions that are not accessibility compliant. If you find any aspect of our web site for which this is the case, please email the Interim Student and Disability Services Specialist at acao@bpcc.edu or call 318-678-6511 and we will strive to correct the issue wherever possible.
To learn more about the College’s ADA policy and how to access ADA services, visit the Disability Services page. Students are encouraged to visit Building F, Room 254 or call 318-678-6020.