Mission
The mission of the Department for Disability Support Services is to provide to individuals with disabilities
support services that will enable them to access programs, services, facilities, and activities of the university; to
enhance disability awareness among students, staff, and faculty; and to provide academic courses.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
East Carolina University has a long tradition of serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Hard of hearing
students may check out an assistive listening device (ALDS's) for use in the classroom. As early as possible in the
semester, make an appointment with the Assistant Director. While DSS has not experienced a shortage of ald's they are available
on a first come, first serve basis.
Documentation of hearing impairments must be provided by a licensed audiologist and include the following:
- A specific diagnosis.
- The most recent audiogram — aided and unaided.
- The impact of the disorder on the individual with particular detail regarding the academic and/or residential
setting.
- Rationale when recommendations are made for specific accommodations.
Local and national shortages of sign language interpreters make providing their services a critical concern of DSS.
Please read the following guidelines regarding interpreting services carefully. If you have any questions, please make
an appointment immediately for clarification. DSS provides sign language interpretation for scheduled classes, labs
and other university events and activities.
While DSS will consider individual preferences in the assignment of interpreters, it reserves the right to make all
interpreter assignments. These assignments are in DSS's sole discretion and may be based upon many factors which may include,
but may not be limited to, availability, certification, qualification and the appropriateness of the request based on actual or
perceived conflicts of interest.
Student Responsibilities in requesting an Interpreter:
- It is the responsibility of the student requesting interpreting services to provide the office with their
schedule immediately after registration. In the event of late registration, every effort will be made to secure
accommodations as soon as possible. Any changes to a schedule prior to, or after the start of a semester, should be
reported immediately to the Assistant Director for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
- Upon request, DSS will provide interpreting services for meetings, plays, movies or other functions sponsored by
the university. An Interpreter request form should be submitted to the Assistant Director no later than one week
prior to the event. Request forms are available on the bulletin board outside of Slay 138. Requests received
less than one week before the scheduled event will be honored if possible.
- It is the responsibility of the student to inform DSS if he/she does not plan to be in class on a given day. If
three consecutive classes are missed without informing DSS, interpreting services for that class will be suspended
pending a meeting with the Assistant Director.
- Check your syllabus at the beginning of the semester for dates when the instructor plans a video. Approach the
instructor and inquire as to whether or not it is closed-captioned. If they have questions refer them to the
Assistant Director.
- Your interpreter is expected to follow the Code of Ethics under which they are classified, as well as to comply
with all DSS standards and policies. Interpreters will wait for 15 minutes for you to arrive for class. If conflict
with an interpreter arises, make an appointment with the Assistant Director immediately.
- When taking an examination, the student has the option to have the interpreter remain or to excuse them. Be sure
that before you dismiss an interpreter, the instructor does not plan to lecture after the test. If you are taking a
test in a class that is team interpreted, please let the Assistant Director know so that we may release or
reschedule one of the interpreters ahead of time.
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