Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 

DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES

  • Documentation of a hearing loss is the basis for providing accommodations.  
  • The documentation for a hearing loss is typically an audiological evaluation. An audiogram must be included in the documentation. An audiological evaluation will indicate the presence of a hearing loss and its scope. 

 

ACCOMMODATIONS ARE DECIDED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:

  •   Priority registration
  •   Real-time captioning
  •   Sign Language interpreting (ASL, PSE, and signed English) 
  •   Cued speech transliterating
  •   Note taking
  •   Assistive listening devices (ALDs)

    

WHEN TO CONTACT DS:

  • To register for services.
  • To request additional accommodation(s).
  • When unable to work out DS approved accommodations with faculty.
  • When accommodations do not seem to be helping.
  • When there is a problem. Be honest with the DS staff and faculty. We cannot be of assistance if we do not know a problem exists.

 

NEW STUDENTS:

Orientation is held each fall semester for deaf and hard of hearing students to meet the LSU Communication Facilitators (CF).  In addition, this is an opportunity for students to learn about resources available on campus.

 

 

STUDENT TIPS FOR USING A COMMUNICATION FACILITATOR (CF):

  • On the first day of class, or in any new situation, the student should identify him/herself to the CF.
  • Let the CF know what method of communication is preferred at the beginning of the semester to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Sit in a place that provides the best distance, lighting, background, and angle for seeing the CF and near an electrical outlet if using a laptop.
  • If a student has a question during class time, the student should raise his/her hand and ask the instructor/professor. The student should not try to talk to the CF during class time. The CF cannot listen to the faculty member, interpret/caption, and understand what the student is saying at the same time. Students should not sign/cue anything they do not want voiced in the class.
  • Personal conversations with the CF should not occur during class time.
  •   If a student has difficulty understanding the CF, discuss it initially with them. If this does not solve the problem, then notify the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
  •   Students should notify the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing if:
  • He/She is planning to be absent or miss a class.
  • His/Her class is cancelled.
  • There will be a video or film shown in class.
  • He/She will be making a presentation in class.
  •   If a student does not show up for class, the CF will leave the class 10 minutes after the class starts.

           

TUTORING SERVICES:

A CF can be provided to deaf and hard of hearing students for all tutoring, review sessions, and study groups.  However, requests for this accommodation must be made to Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services the at least 24 hours in advance.

   

EXAMINATION ACCOMMODATIONS:

Additional time for examinations may be provided as an accommodation to deaf and hard of hearing students who are not native/fluent users of English in order to compensate for their language processing time. In addition, some deaf and hard of hearing students may require their tests to be interpreted by a sign language interpreter when English comprehension and/or expression is not being tested. A distraction-reduced environment may also be required as a testing accommodation for deaf and hard of hearing students.

 

DEAF and HARD OF HEARING STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

CF services involve significant financial expenditures. Students receiving this service must adhere to the following procedures: 

      

  • Students with hearing impairments must submit a written request for a CF on the "blue" Semester Accommodation Letter Request Form also referred to as a “Blue Form” prior to the beginning of the semester.
  • If a student is unable to attend class, 24-hour notice to DS is required unless the absence is due to illness or an emergency.
  • Students should immediately notify DS in writing if a CF is unsatisfactory (i.e., unsatisfactory ability to sign or caption, tardiness, absenteeism, unprofessional behavior, etc.).
  • If a student needs to request a CF for additional University functions (other than normal class times), a Communication Facilitator Request Form must be filled out and returned to the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing at least 24 hours in advance.

    

NO SHOW POLICY

If CF services have been requested and the student knows that he/she will be unable to attend class, the student should provide DS with at least 24 hours advance notice so that the CF can be informed. In some situations, students may not be able to provide 24 hours notice, however, any advance notice is appropriate. 

 

Failure to provide any advance notice is considered a "no show."  To give advance notice a student may:

  • E-mail the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing at cfservices@lsu.edu.
  • Contact Disability Services main office at 225-578-5919 to leave a voice message.

Failure to provide notice will result in the following actions:

1)      First “no show”:                                    Formal Warning  

2)     Second “no show”:                               2nd Formal Warning

3)     Third and subsequent "no show”:       Services will automatically be temporarily placed on hold and a letter or e-mail will be sent to the student informing the student of the policy, appropriate procedures and to inquire if they wish to continue receiving interpreting or captioning services.  Services will remain on hold until the student makes an appointment and meets with the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing to discuss the situation and inform the Coordinator of their wish to continue receiving services.

 

EXCEPTION TO THE “NO SHOW” POLICY:

If three (3) or more "no-shows" occur within the same two-week period, services will automatically be placed on hold with no warning and a letter or e-mail will be sent to the student informing the student of the policy and the appropriate procedures. The services will remain on hold until the student makes an appointment with the Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing to discuss the situation and inform the Coordinator of their wish to continue receiving services.

 

 Note: Students with disabilities have a right to review their files. This can be arranged by scheduling an appointment with an DS staff member. DS does not provide copies of documentation. Upon receipt of student documentation, DS will scan documentation to create an electronic student file. The original hard copy of the documentation will then be destroyed. Upon registration, students will be encouraged to maintain a copy of the documentation. Original copies of documentation should be obtained from the originator of the documentation.  DS will retain an electronic copy of all information within a student’s file for five (5) years. Once the student is considered inactive for five years, the file may be deleted. When a student with a disability requests accommodations, he/she should understand that some disability-related information may be provided on a need-to-know basis to University personnel in order to ensure that the student will receive appropriate accommodations. In most instances, University personnel need to know only what accommodations the student must be provided and that the student has been through the disability documentation review process with DS. Otherwise, University personnel do not have access to information regarding a student’s disability.