Disability Services students excel at NLC

October is Disability Awareness Month on campus. Carole Gray, director of the Disability Services Office (DSO), said, “Disability Services is one of the busiest offices in the college, and the staff is delighted to help students with disabilities succeed in college.”

The DSO provides a diverse network of support for students with disabilities and works to eliminate physical, instructional and attitudinal barriers by providing reasonable accommodations and promoting campus awareness and education, said Gray.

Students who have temporary setbacks due to accidents, surgeries or are who are in rehabilitation programs are also eligible for services that will enable them to overcome obstacles and turn them into milestones along their collegiate journey.

Nahid Pope, an assistive technology coordinator who works with Gray, said, “Technology plays an important role in assisting the increasing needs of students with various learning abilities.”

Technology like the Kurzweil 3000 allows the computer to read text aloud, scan text and provide audio and visual feedback. Dragon Naturally Speaking is another popular software program that enables students to convey thoughts orally to the computer, and relays them into written text. The Kurzweil and Dragon programs are only two of the many options that enrich students' tools to be successful.

The support accommodations that are made available to the students are a co-operative partnerships with many community, state and national resources. The counselors strive to enable each student to be successful and tailor accommodations to fit each student's unique needs.

“They have a tough job and they do it well,” said Keith Mundie, a part-time weightlifting student.

Accommodations cover a wide range of needs. Sign language interpreters, note takers, scribes and textbooks on tape are some of the tools that may be used on campus. Some students can receive help with their book purchases through the rehabilitation programs, and get help to defray tuition costs if they qualify.

For more information about DSO services, call 972-273-3165.