Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

UMW offers supports for students who are deaf and/or hard of hearing in order to provide students equal educational access and opportunities within the classroom and around campus.  The goals of the ODR are to assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the following:

1. Access to the material presented within their classes and curriculum
2. Develop Self-Advocacy Skills
3. Achieve independence through access to all UMW programs and services

Confidentiality

ODR adheres to the strict right-to-privacy guidelines and ethical standards, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Educational information may be shared with UMW faculty and staff on a need to know basis according FERPA guidelines, in order to best support students receiving services through ODR.  No information will be disclosed to any outside parties without proper signed consent.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

1. ASL Interpreters
2. CART real-time speech-to text transcription Services
3. Typewell meaning-for-meaning real-time speech-to-text transcription Services
4. Appropriate Assistive Listening Devices
5. Closed-Captioning Services

Forms For Review

Interpreting Services Agreement

Student Responsibilities Form

No Show Procedure for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Third Party Services

When is it important to contact ODR?

We support students in their right to non-disclosure; however, we also encourage students who are deaf/hard of hearing to connect with the ODR.  Students are the responsible party in contacting the Disability Resource office in Higher Education.  Recommendations of contact are below:

1. At least 2 months before you begin taking classes at UMW, to set up services throughout your time attending.
2. At least 4 weeks prior to every semester, if a third party service is required for equal access.
3. At least five days prior to a special event (faculty meeting, tutoring, or other academic activity) if you require Interpreting/CART/Typewell services.
4. If you are having a hard time in class.
5. If you need to be, absent from a class or special event and need to cancel your interpreter/CART/Typewell service, notify ODR and your Interpreter/Liaison no fewer than 30 hours of the absence.
6. If you have a problem with your service (for example, if you are not satisfied with the interpreter, CART, Typewell, or Notetaker).
7. If there are any problems with your accommodations.

Student Requests for Service