The Office of Disability Services provides a variety of accommodations to student with disabilities based on their need. The following are some common accommodations; however the list is not exhaustive. Please contact ODS for more information specific to your needs.

Extended Time Testing – This accommodation constitutes “time and a half” based on standard exam time. Instructors may provide this accommodation by administering the exam by allowing a student extended time directly before or immediately after a scheduled exam time, during office hours, or at any other mutually agreed upon time and location or ODS can proctor the exam. 

Quiet Setting for Exams – This accommodation provides student with a quiet space to take any course exam. Instructors may provide this accommodation by administering the exam by in their office or somewhere within their department. If this is not a possibility the student can choose to take their exam at ODS by scheduling it a week in advance.

Peer Note Taking – This accommodation provides students with a supplemental copy of class notes. In order to receive this accommodation students must complete the Student Note Taking Workshop at the beginning of their first semester. Students will then receive a supplemental copy of the notes in their BlackBoard account.

Use of a calculator – This accommodation is provided for students with a math disability. Students are allowed to use a non-scientific basic calculator on all math exams. Students must provide their own calculator.

Use of a scribe/reader – This accommodation is for students who need an exam read to them and/or who are unable to write their own exams. In most instances, ODS will set the student up with assistive technology designed to read an exam to them and take dictation. If this does not work, ODS will provide a reader/scribe for the student.

Use of a computer – This accommodation can be for in-class activities as well as on exams. Students should use their own computers for in-class work. Students needing to use a computer for their exams will take their exams at ODS.

Preferential seating – This accommodation is for students who would benefit from sitting at the front of the classroom. Students should make arrangements with their professor to make sure they receive this accommodation.

Use of an interpreter – Should a student need an interpreter or CART service, ODS will provide it. It is important that students needing these serves register with ODS well before the semester begins.

Alternative formats of text – ODS does provide students with electronic versions of text as needed. Students should be aware that there is a 4 week turnaround time to convert texts to electronic formats. Therefore students should make arrangements for electronic texts well in advance of the beginning of the semester.

Early Registration – Students registered with ODS who have asked for their accommodations for a particular semester are eligible for early registration. Early registration provides students with the opportunity to register for classes prior to the rest of the Suffolk University student body.


Assistive Technology –   ODS provides students with access to a variety of assistive technology. Some of the technology we house in our Assistive Technology lab include, text-to-speech software, scanners, speech-to-text software, Inspiration, Braille embossers and enlarging software. We will also loan students Alpha Smarts, talking calculators, etc. as needed. Students registered with ODS are welcome to use the Assistive Technology lab anytime while the office is open.

Technology found in the Assistive Technology Lab:
• 4 PC computers, 1 Mac
• Speech-to-text software (Dragon Naturally Speaking)
• Text-to-speech software (Kurzweil, Jaws, Window Eyes)
• Organizational software (Kurzweil, Inspiration)
• Two scanners
• Alpha Smarts
• Talking calculators
• Braille Embossers
• Enlarging software (ZoomText)
• Reading/ writing assistance software (Co-Writer, Word Scan)