Accommodation Guidelines for Interpreting Services

Interpreting Services

·          The University provides ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters for courses and other academic-related activities (e.g., cultural events) for students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.  Winthrop contracts with and provides qualified interpreters through area agencies or with independent interpreters from the Rock Hill or Charlotte area.

Student Responsibilities

·         Submit requests for interpreters to the Services for Students with Disabilities Coordinator during pre-registration. The Disabilities Coordinator will then contact professors to notify them of the anticipated use of an interpreter during their class.

·         Communicate any scheduling changes – actual or anticipated – to the Disabilities Coordinator as soon as possible. Interpreters may not be available if schedule changes are made to close to the beginning of the semester.

·         Notify Services for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible if you plan to withdraw from a class where interpreter services are being used.

·         Notify Services for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible if you will not be attending class (due to illness or other reason) or if your class has been cancelled.

·         Make requests for interpreters for university-related events, such as cultural events, as soon as possible.

·         Contact the Services for Students with Disabilities immediately with any concerns regarding interpreting services.

Services for Students with Disabilities contact information:

Location: 110A Crawford

Phone: (803) 323-3290 (V/TDD)

e-mail: disability@winthrop.edu

Contact the Coordinator, Gena Smith, directly at smithg@winthrop.edu

Professor Responsibilities

·         Speak to the interpreter the first day of class to discuss any questions or concerns.

·         Allow the student to sit in the front of the room.

·         Allow the interpreter to sit at the front of the room.

·         Provide as much detail as possible on the course syllabus to give the student a visual reference to assignments.

·         Because the deaf or hard-of-hearing student will need to give his or her full attention to the instructor and the interpreter, assist Services for Students with Disabilities in finding a peer notetaker for the class. Notetakers are paid through Services for Students with Disabilities.

·         Have copies of materials that will be presented on an overhead projector available for the student.

• Cancelling Class: If you need to cancel class, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible so that we can cancel the interpreter.  You can reach Services for Students with Disabilities at 803-323-3290 or you can reach Gena Smith, Coordinator, at smithg@winthrop.edu.  Notifying us about changes in your class schedule helps us to provide the best services for the student and helps us to use limited interpreting resources effectively.

·         Contact the Services for Students with Disabilities with any questions or concerns at 803-323-3290.