Accommodation Terms
Here is a list of terms that may be on accommodation letters for students and suggestions on how to appropriatly meet those accommodations. If you have any questions please email proctoring@berkeley.edu.
Reduced Distraction
The Student should be placed in a room that is quiet, with minimal movement or distractions both inside and outside the room, such as frequent opening and closing of doors, loud foot traffic outside the room, or construction noises outside the window.
The room should not exceed 1/3 of the room’s maximum capacity. For example if the room can hold 30 students there can be no more than 10 students in that room to meet the requirements of reduced distraction. Students should have room to position themselves facing the wall or away from other students.
Extended Time
The student requires extra time. Generally you will see extended time as time and a half (150%) or double time (200%). These percentages are used in combination with the amount of time non-DSP students are allowed during the same exam to calculate the DSP student’s allotted testing time.
For example if a regular exam is from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM on Berkeley time (10 minutes after the hour) non-DSP students will receive 50 minutes of testing time. Therefore a student with time and a half will receive 75 minutes (50 minutes X 1.5) and a student with double time will receive 100 minutes (50 minutes X 2.0)
Adjustable table
The student requires a table that can be adjusted up or down. This can be for a student in a wheel chair or for a student who needs to stand.
Scribe
This student is unable to write or type his or her own exam. This student will require another person to write down their answers. This student should also be in a room alone.
Wheelchair accessibility
This student uses a wheelchair and needs to take tests in a building and room with wheel chair access.
White noise
The student requires some background noise such as a fan. The student may bring white noise recorded that can be used (after whoever administers the exam confirms that this noise will not assist the student academically).
Earplugs
The student may require the use of earplugs or headphones to block out surrounding noise
Room alone
The student requires a room with no other students in it. A proctor may be in the room with the test-taking student, or the student may be alone per your discretion.
Large Print
The student needs enlarged print on their exam. The font size can change from student to student depending on the student’s disability. Check with the student to see what font size they need.
Assistive Technology
Any form of technology that the student requires to take the exam. Some of these require that the exam to be put into an electronic format and sent to Alternative Media Services 5 business days before the exam. Some exams may require additional administrative time for Alternative Media depending on the complexity of the exam material or the formats required. Examples include technical subjects like mathematics, statistics, etc. and exam formats such as Braille.
Computer with word processing
The student will require a computer to type their exam. The student should be placed in a room alone or in a room that only has students who are typing on computers or a braillenote device.
Computer with screen and voice output: The student needs a computer with speakers or headphones to be able to use screen reading software, such as Jaws or Kurzweil. The exam needs to be put into an electronic format and sent to Alternative Media Services at least 5 business days before the exam. The student should be placed in a room alone or in a room that only has students who are typing on computers or braillenote.
Computer with screen and voice input
The student requires a computer with a microphone to be able to use voice recognition software, such as Dragon. The student should be placed in a room alone. The student may need to be placed in a room alone or in a room that only has students who are typing on computers or braillenote.
Computer with screen magnification software: The student requires a computer that has screen-enlarging software, such as Magic.
Braille
The exam needs to be converted to a braille exam. The exam needs to be put into an electronic format and sent to Alternative Media Services 3 business days before the exam.
Braillenote
The student will bring a braillenote device to use during the exam. The student should be placed in a room alone or in a room that only has students who are typing on computers or braillenote.