 |
| Duquesne University
has pledged a continued commitment to its students
with disabilities. This is in keeping with the University's
mission statement: |
| "Duquesne serves
God by serving students--through commitment to excellence
in liberal and professional education, through profound
concern for moral and spiritual values, through
the maintenance of an ecumenical atmosphere open
to diversity, and through service to the Church,
the community, the nation and the world." |
Receiving
Appropriate Reasonable Accommodations
Duquesne University considers the needs of students
on an individualized basis. Students with learning
disabilities who desire special student services
must present evaluations (psychoeducational or psychological)
that are no more than three years old to the Office
of Special Student Services, 309 Duquesne Union.
Students with other disabilities must submit written
documentation of their disability from their physician.
It is beneficial if evaluations/correspondence provide
suggestions for accommodation. The Office maintains
a regular dialog with the students whom it serves.
Each student is provided with assistance in understanding
his or her disability, so each student can become
empowered as a self-advocate, communicating his
or her needs to faculty and the University community.
Students are encouraged to make known their needs
to this office. To better meet the student's needs,
the University recommends that the student meet
with a representative from the Office of Special
Student Services. Upon acceptance, reasonable accommodations
will be outlined with the student. |
Accessible
Campus Facilities
The Office of Special Student Services will assist
each student in procuring reasonable accommodations
in the Living/Learning Centers and classroom facilities.
A floor of the Tower's Living Learning Center has
recently been renovated to ADA requirements for
students who use wheelchairs. St. Martin's Living/Learning
Center is equipped with a Braille grid and tone
system, suited for students with visual impairments.
Accessible classroom relocations can be made through
the Office of Special Student Services on an as
needed basis for students who use wheelchairs. |
Assistive
Technology
Duquesne University's Gumberg Library has established
an Assistive Technology Center with funds received
from the state of Pennsylvania and the University.
This center provides appropriate equipment and a
suitable workspace to empower visually impaired,
blind, hearing impaired, learning disabled and students
with limited English to do their own research in
the library. The center is housed on the fourth
floor of the Library and consists of the following
software and other types of equipment: Jaws for
Windows 2000 3.7; Arkenstone Openbook 5.0; Wynn
Wizard 2.0; Jawbone; Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional
5.0 speech recognition software; Co-Writer; Duxbury
Braille translation software; ZoomText Level II;
Dancing Dots Feel Good Braille music translation
software; HP Scanjet 6350 scanners with automatic
document feeder; Refreshable 65 cell Braille Display;
and Speech capable Braille embosser. Gumberg Library |
Early
Pre-registration
Students with disabilities may register early for
courses prior to the normal pre-registration period.
To utilize this service, the student must be registered
in the Office of Special Student Services and the
file must include documentation of the student's
disability. |
Financial
Aid Assistance
The Financial Aid Office provides students with
information on grants from the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation and other agencies, as well as information
on state and federal grants. The Financial Aid Office
is located on the Ground Floor of the Administration
Building and can be contacted at (412) 396-6607.
The Office of Special Student Services also administers
the George R. Puskar Endowed Scholarship Fund, awarded
annually to students with physical disabilities
based on financial need and academics. |
Health
Care Tailored to the Individual
The Office of Freshman Development and Special Student
Services works in cooperation with the Department
of Health Service to offer recommendations for appropriate
health care. Students may contact the Department
of Health Service at (412) 396-1650. |
Services
Available to Students with Learning Disabilities
Following a review of the documentation, certain
reasonable learning accommodation are recommended.
These may include (but are not limited to) making
arrangements for: oral testing, secluded testing,
extended-time testing and readers for test situations.
The Office of Special Students Services will also
assist students in petitioning the Student Standing
Committee for any warranted substitutions as per
submitted documentation. |
Services
Available to Students with Blindness or Visual Impairments
The Office assists students with blindness or visual
impairments in securing taped textbooks as needed.
Individual services provided, such as taped syllabi,
taped assignments, etc., by maintaining communication
with the student and his or her faculty and comprehensive
student advisor regarding the student's needs. The
Kurzweil Personal Reader is also available in the
University library. The personal reader converts
printed text to synthesized speech. To utilize the
Kurzweil, contact the Office of Special Student
Services or the Periodical Department in the university
library at (412) 396-6127. Recording For the Blind,
Dyslexic, in Princeton, New Jersey, is also a valuable
resource for books on tape. |
Services
Available to Students with Hearing Impairments
The Office of Special Student Services works closely
with various state and nonprofit agencies to coordinate
the services of interpreters for students with hearing
impairments. The Office of Special Student Services
also has a TTY/TDD machine for use by individuals
with hearing impairments. |
Special
Parking Areas/Permits
Students who posses a handicapped license plate
can purchase a standard parking permit. Spaces for
persons with disabilities are designated throughout
standard parking areas. For additional information
on parking call the University's Parking Office
at (412) 396-5813. |
Testing
Accommodations
Depending on an individual's needs, the University
offers special arrangements for oral testing, extended
times for examinations, test readers, secluded testing
and information on how to take tests. |
Tutorial
Series
Free tutoring is available to all university students,
through the various academic departments or Learning
Skills Program. The Office of Special Student Services
will assist students with disabilities in procuring
tutors. Students with disabilities are encouraged
to contact the Office of Special Student Services
as early in the semester as possible to make the
necessary arrangements in obtaining a suitable tutor. |
Notice
of Nondiscrimination and Nonharassment Policy
Duquesne University, motivated by its Catholic identity,
values equality of opportunity, human dignity, racial,
cultural and ethnic diversity, both as an educational
institution and as an employer. Accordingly, the
University prohibits and does not engage in discrimination
or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, age, disability or status
as a veteran or disabled veteran. Further, Duquesne
University will continue to take affirmative steps
to support and advance these values consistent with
the University's mission statement. This policy
applies to all programs and activities of the University,
including, but not limited to, admission and employment
practices, educational policies, scholarship and
loan programs, and athletic or other University-sponsored
programs. This is a commitment by the University
in accordance with its religious values and applicable
federal, state and local laws and regulations. Nothing
herein, however, should be interpreted as a waiver
by the University of its own constitutional and
legal rights based upon its religious affiliation.
The person responsible for coordinating its efforts
under this policy is Dr. Judith R. Griggs, Affirmative
Action Officer, Ground Floor Administration Building,
(412)396-6661. |
For
more Information
All inquiries should be directed to the:
Office
of Special Student Services
309 Duquesne Union
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
(412) 396-6657 or (412) 396-6658
Fax (412) 396-4909
E-mail: lorensen@duq.edu |
