Is Disability Resources Still Open?
YES! Disability Resources is open Monday – Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
For everyone’s safety, Disability Resources is holding all intake, registration and consultation appointments virtually. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to schedule a ZOOM or phone meeting, please call our main office number at (928) 523-8773, or email DR@nau.edu. During this busy time when calling our office you may get our voice mail. If this happens, please make sure to leave a message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Student Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Disability Resources Testing Center open? How do I get extended time for an online exam? Accordion Closed
Disability Resources will be available to proctor exams when a class is having in-person proctored exams. If you have an exam that is set up as an online exam, whether it is proctored or un-proctored, you do not need to schedule to take it at D.R. When you register with D.R. for the semester and notify your professors through AXEss, they are provided the information about your exam accommodations. They are also given instructions on how to provide your accommodations for online exams. D.R. is available to faculty and students to consult about unique circumstances.
Are Note-Taker accommodations available if my class is through NAUFlex? Accordion Closed
With classes being taught using NAUFlex, most class meetings will be recorded and available for review throughout the semester. With that in mind, it will not be necessary to provide note takers in most situations. If you have a situation for which you feel note takers are still required please contact our office at (928) 523-8773 or DR@nau.edu.
Do I still need my Modified Attendance accommodation? Accordion Closed
With classes being taught using NAUFlex, class meetings will be available virtually through a live stream. Most class meetings will be recorded and available for review throughout the semester. With that in mind, it will not be necessary to provide modified attendance accommodations in most situations. If you have a situation for which in person or synchronous attendance is still required please contact our office at (928) 523-8773 or DR@nau.edu.
With instruction being provided through NAUFlex I am not sure if I will experience unanticipated barriers. What should I do if I need to request new accommodations? Accordion Closed
If you are not currently registered with Disability Resources, please follow the steps outlined on the Student Eligibility Process page on our website.
If you are a Disability Resources registered student, please contact the office at (928) 523-8773 or DR@nau.edu to set up a time to discuss your new requests.
Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
How will exam accommodations work? Is the Disability Resources Testing Center open to proctor exams? Accordion Closed
Extended time on exams as an accommodation generally only applies to traditional, time-limited exams. If you decide to offer alternative means of assessment (e.g. essays, non-timed exams, project work), then a student’s extended time may no longer be applicable. We encourage you to speak with registered students if that is the case.
Disability Resources will be available to proctor exams when a class is having in-person, proctored exams. If you are administering an exam that is set up as an online exam, whether it is proctored or un-proctored, Disability Resources will not provide proctoring at the testing center. When students register with Disability Resources for the semester, they should notify you through AXEss about their exam accommodations.
Faculty are responsible for setting up extended testing time for online exams in BbLearn. You can find instructions for Creating Extended Time from E-Learning .
Disability Resources is available to consult with faculty if you have a specific question or circumstance.
As I am adapting my course materials for NAUFlex instruction, what should I be considering with regards to disability access? How do I best support my students? Accordion Closed
We acknowledge the significant effort required to adapt your courses to NAUFlex instruction. We want to collaborate with you to ensure that access for students with disabilities is maintained in this instructional environment. Some students may encounter new disability-related barriers with NAUFlex (e.g. students who use assistive technology, students with medical limitations on screen usage). D.R. staff are available for consultation. (Phone: 928-523-8773 or DR@nau.edu)
If you have students in your course who are utilizing alternative format materials or media, the Alternative Format team is working with faculty and students to ensure access to newly selected/created course material. The team is also working proactively with instructors of blind students to discuss accessibility strategies for course lectures, documents, activities, etc.
If you have students in your course who utilizing ASL, CART or captioned media, we are proactively working with faculty of Deaf/Hard of Hearing students to ensure captioning for prerecorded videos and/or arranging interpreting/transcribing services for real-time class meetings via Collaborate or Zoom.
Below are some tips to keep in mind as you are creating virtual course content (adapted from DO-IT):
- Use clear, consistent layouts and organization schemes for presenting content, and make instructions and expectations clear for activities, projects, and assigned reading.
- Offer outlines, scaffolding tools, and adequate opportunities for practice to help students learn.
- When selecting new materials, try to find videos that are already captioned, and articles that are available in a text-searchable format .
- Images can be made accessible to blind and low-vision students by providing captions or inserting alt text into the image. Use large, bold fonts on uncluttered pages with plain backgrounds and color combinations that are high contrast.
- Provide flexibility and understanding as this experience may cause disruption to the student’s home life and available resources – which may negatively impact a student’s disability symptoms.
For more tips, visit:
What if a student’s accommodation letter indicates the student has a Modified Attendance accommodation? Accordion Closed
With classes being taught using NAUFlex, and class meetings will be available virtually through a live stream. Most class meetings will be recorded and available for review throughout the semester. With that in mind, it will not be necessary to provide modified attendance accommodations in most situations. If you have a situation for which you require in person or synchronous attendance is still required please contact our office at (928) 523-8773 or DR@nau.edu.
Disability Resources
Fostering Success Through Access
Disability Resources (DR) leads collaborations with students, faculty, staff, and the campus community to cultivate a universally designed environment, and facilitates the removal of existing barriers for the full inclusion of people with disabilities.
We ensure access through design, services and accommodations at no cost to all Northern Arizona University students and employees with disabilities.
An example of a few of the services and accommodations provided include:
- Priority registration
- Access to assistive technology devices and software
- Collaboration with the Office of Housing and Residence Life in the provision of housing accommodations
- Distraction reduced testing center
- Time extensions on exams and quizzes
- Print matter in alternate format
- Note-taking
- Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART)
- Sign Language Interpreting
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
Haben Girma: Keynote Speaker at the 2019 Annual AHEAD Conference
Haben Girma is the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. In this video she speaks to over 1300 attendees at the 2019 AHEAD Conference in Boston.
Northern Arizona University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or other legally or policy protected status, in the university’s services, educational programs, and activities, including but not limited to, admission to and employment by the university. As a federal contractor, the university is committed to affirmative action in employment for women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans.