Using a VISA (Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations)
After student documentation has been brought in and the OSNS Coordinator or Learning Specialist has had a chance to go over the documentation with the student, a VISA is set up, if needed. A VISA (a term for Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations), is the list of student accommodations.
Key Points
- The instructor will note on their course guide that any student with a VISA needs to meet with the instructor after a class or at a time that works for both the student and the instructor. The student will have a chance to make the instructor aware of his or her accommodations at the time that they meet.
- The student needs to show a copy of their VISA to the instructor as early as possible.
- Often, students will give a copy of their VISA to their instructor, but they do not have to. Unless there is a ‘need to know’ situation, the student does not need to give any personal details to the instructor unless he or she wants to.
- The student may choose to use some or all of the accommodations on the VISA.
- If the student has extended time for testing, he or she will need to follow the testing guidelines that have been outlined during the intake (Guidelines for Testing Accommodationsto view the guidelines). Students especially need to make sure they have a conversation with their instructor as to where and when a test will take place. It is the responsibility of the student to remind an instructor 3 days prior to a test that they will need the testing accommodation.
- If there is a conflict between the learning objective of a course and the use of an accommodation, the learning objective comes first. For example, if a student is taking Math 021 and has the use of a calculator as an accommodation and if the learning objective is that the student show basic math skills (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing), then the student will need to test without the use of a calculator in that case.
- The student using a VISA will need to follow the day and time the instructor has set up for a test to be taken. In other words, extended time to actually take a test does not mean the days for testing are drawn out.
- If a student has any trouble using the accommodations on their VISA for a class, he or she should first meet with the instructor to talk through the issue. If for any reason that is unsuccessful, the student can meet with the Coordinator or Learning Specialist in OSNS to see what needs to be done.
- ADA accommodations have boundaries. All students, including those registered with the Special Needs Office, are expected to abide by the course timelines and deadlines. For example, if the course syllabus states rules concerning class attendance or penalties for late assignments, those rules apply to all students. Please review the course syllabus and plan to work according to it