SAS COVID-19 FAQs

While the university is operating on a modified academic schedule due to COVID-19, this site outlines FAQs for the process of requesting and provision of ADA accommodations. We recognize how challenging this time is for students and encourage them to contact us for support.

Student FAQs

1. Can I still/How can I schedule an appointment?

Yes, please visit https://10to8.com/book/sas/ or call 757-221-2512. Appointments can be done over the phone or via Zoom video conferencing, whichever you prefer. Please e-mail [[sas]] if you would like to have your appointment via Zoom so we can e-mail an appointment link to you.

2. I was in the middle of requesting accommodations. How do I proceed?

The process will continue "as normal". Documentation can be emailed to [[sas]], or uploaded to the Accommodate Portal. Meetings with SAS staff members can be conducted over the phone, or via Zoom.

3. How will my exams be proctored?

When you have an exam announced, contact us at [[sas]] and let us know what your professor is specifying regarding testing parameters for all students. We then will determine how this works with your ADA accommodations. Please do not book exams through Accommodate at this time.

Note that SAS needs FIVE (5) days' notice to implement remote proctoring, so please be looking ahead at your test dates and checking in with professors about a week before each test.

4. Will I still receive extended time on tests?

Yes! Depending on how your professor is administering the test, your professor either will implement your extended time directly, or you will work with SAS. Please email us at [[sas]] with any questions about arrangements.

5. My ability to type is limited to due a chronic condition or temporary injury.

Please schedule an appointment with an SAS staff member to discuss possible accommodations.

6. Because of my diagnosed condition, I'm having trouble hearing video content in my online courses.

Please contact SAS to determine accommodations or other strategies to address this issue.

7. How will my note-taking accommodations be affected?

In some cases, these accommodations will not be necessary as some professors will be posting lectures online for repeat viewing. After determining whether note-taking will continue to be needed, please contact SAS if you have concerns about taking notes in your courses.

8. How does this impact my accommodations for flexibility with attendance and/or deadlines?

As many faculty will be adjusting their attendance and deadline policies for remote learning, and because your needs in these areas may change as a result of the new learning environment, we recommend that you initiate a conversation with your professors about these accommodations, even if you did this at the beginning of the semester. SAS is happy to consult and help you communicate with your professors.

9. How do I return equipment that I borrowed from SAS during the Spring 2020 semester?

If you have borrowed equipment from the Spring 2020 semester, you may keep it and return it in the fall when you return to campus. If you have graduated, or do not plan to return, please let our office know by emailing [[sas]].

Faculty FAQ

1. How do I ensure that my online course is accessible to students?

As always, it is essential to honor students approved ADA accommodations. Please contact SAS at [[sas]] or 757-221-2512 if you have questions about how to implement particular accommodations in the remote learning environment. Also, please review these 20 Tips for Teaching an Accessible Online Course.

2. How do I implement a student's extended time accommodation through Blackboard?

See "Test availability exceptions" on this Blackboard guide.

3. Can SAS proctor exams for students with testing accommodations?

As the university's campus is not open to the public, the Watson Testing Lab is not available at this time. In many cases, faculty will be able to implement students' testing accommodations directly. For example, if an exam is being administered through Blackboard, faculty can adjust the allowed time for students who receive accommodations using the instructions shown on this Blackboard guide. However, if a faculty member is not able to implement a testing accommodation, please contact SAS for assistance in advance of the exam.

Please note that SAS needs FIVE (5) days' notice in order to implement remote proctoring for students with testing accommodations.

4. I will not be implementing remote proctoring for the tests in my course. Do I need to make proctoring arrangements for students with testing accommodations?

Faculty should only make arrangements for remote proctoring for students with testing accommodations if the rest of the class will be proctored. In other words, if the rest of the class will not be proctored while they are testing, students with testing accommodations should not be proctored either. It is important we hold all students to the same standard in terms of testing supervision.

5. How do I accommodate a student who needs a "paper and pencil" version of a test?

Please start by referring the student to SAS to determine if there are alternate accommodations that meet their access needs. If a paper and pencil test is deemed necessary, SAS can assist with arrangements. While this accommodation is easier to implement if the test already exists as a Word document, SAS can help convert Blackboard tests to an alternate format as necessary (with advanced notice).

6. How does this impact students who have accommodations for flexibility with attendance and/or deadlines?

As many faculty will be adjusting their attendance and deadline policies for remote learning, we recommend faculty start by considering how you will be evaluating students' course engagement and adherence to syllabus policies in general. Then, confer with the relevant students and SAS to determine how to address attendance and deadline accommodations.

7. What else should I be considering as I strive to create an accessible online course?

At a time when many of us are in need of flexibility, we encourage you to consider the principles of Universal Design for Learning. This may mean giving students different options to "show what they know" (e.g. giving the option of taking an exam, writing an essay, or completing a video project) or presenting material through various means (e.g. visual, audio, written, etc.). UDL is considered the gold standard in the accessibility field because it not only provides greater access to individuals with disabilities, but also creates more opportunities for learners in general.

8. Should I be captioning my course content?

It is best practice to caption videos. Universities are increasingly held liable for producing or promoting online content without captioning and accessibility to all students. In addition to serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing, captioning has the potential to benefit all students, providing clarification for incomprehensible audio (i.e., for students who are trying to take courses in a noisy/chaotic environment), providing a transcript of content, and adding an additional layer of comprehension for students, for example).

9. Can I caption my live, synchronous content in real time?

This is the most intensive version of captioning, though it is important. Please contact [[sas]] for more information regarding students with disabilities that require real-time captioning.

10. How do I caption my Zoom videos once recorded?

Be sure that your Zoom Settings are adjusted to allow for captioning. Please refer to the following resource for support: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/207279736-Getting-started-with-closed-captioning and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a06O8JmpPZA

11. How do I caption videos I upload to Panopto?

Great news: Videos uploaded to Panopto are captioned automatically. Here is a Panopto resource: https://www.panopto.com/blog/frequently-asked-questions-faqs-about-video-captioning-answered/

12. How do I caption videos on Blackboard?

Blackboard captioning resources: https://help.blackboard.com/Accessibility/Caption_Video_Content

13. What about other captioning questions?

Please contact [[sas]], and we will be in touch with you to assist you with your specific question(s).