With temperatures now in the 50's and 60's instead of in the 70's and 80's--it appears that fall is now in full swing! For some of our students with chronic illnesses, the dramatic change in barometric pressure can serve as a trigger for a flare-up--while for others with respiratory issues, the cooler air can be a welcome relief from summer breathing problems. For many students, midterms have already begun--so best of luck on whatever course projects you're currently working on. Please remember to practice balance and stress management whenever you can--or come by ODS for some new ideas and suggestions--or a calming cup of herbal tea.

Test Accommodations Forms (TAF): Final Call 10/12/07

As you know from our email sent on 10/8--we revised the TAF deadline for FA'07 to is Friday, 10/12 @ 5pm in ODS in 105 Hewitt. Although most of you have turned your forms in by now, we have found that there have been some consistent problems with them--so offer this TAF Tip sheet for you:

1. Okie (all LD/ADD students) or Susan (all others) *must* sign the Certification of Disability Statement on the bottom of page 1 *before* you have your meeting with your professor and obtain her/his signature on Page 2 of the form. Many students have been doing this in reverse. Please remember this for the SP'08 term when we will ask that all TAF cover sheets be completed *prior* to your check-in meeting with Okie or Susan--and then signed in that meeting by either Okie or Susan. (This should streamline the process and make it much quicker for all!)

2. As the most common test accommodation is extended time (with time + 1/2 being standard Barnard policy)--we ask that all students who need extra time do so with the rest of the class. When the class is over, the student can either go to the professor's office, go to the departmental office or a mutually agreed upon location, or (as a last resort) be picked up after class and brought back to ODS for the remaining extra time. Students who need a separate/quiet room can usually locate a room nearby the regular classroom where the instructor is available for questions or help, as needed. For the most part, test proctoring in ODS should be reserved for students who need to use assistive technology or who otherwise *cannot* be accommodated in the regular classroom. That being said--and as the TAF states--individual arrangements can be made on a case-by-case basis by ODS in consultation with your faculty member/s.

3. Any time-shifts of an exam may *only* be approved by the instructor-- with students always encouraged to take their exams either the same day as the in-class exam or within 24 hours if at all possible.

4. To locate departmental and faculty office locations and phone numbers, please use the *Search and Directories* link on the Barnard homepage. To obtain projected final exam dates for the FA'07 term, go to the CU website Registrar webpage and you will find the Projected Exam Schedule for FA'07. As this is tentative, please confirm the projected date/s with your individual faculty members. If ODS will be proctoring any of your finals, this is crucial info as we have limited space (as you all know!).

WFIR (Writing Fellows In Residence) has begun for FA'07

We are delighted to welcome our three writing fellows for this term--and hope that you will find them friendly, knowledgeable and helpful:

Tuesdays 2-3pm (Elise)
Wednesdays 12noon-1pm (Megan)
Thursdays 10-11am (Maggie)

Please know that the fellows are available for you at whatever phase you're in the writing process--from ideas generation to outlining to issues of writer's block at any point along the way. As some students like to do, you may set up your very own *dedicated fellow* by scheduling a standing appointment on a weekly basis for either a full (60 minutes) or half-session (30 minutes). Just call Merody to book a time-slot--or you can also drop-in--although calling in advance of coming is always wisest.

Life Safety Information Cards (LSIC): Last Call

If you think you might have a disability-related need in the event of a life-safety crisis (assistance on stairs, tendency to panic, inability to hear the fire alarm, other issue?)--and have not already done so either in ODS or with your RA, please stop by ODS by *Monday 10/15* at the latest to complete the LSIC, available at the front desk from Merody. If you have any questions or are unsure about whether you should complete the form, please contact Susan via email @ squinby@baranrd.edu or stop by ODS.

Accommodative Aide Directory for FA'07 now ready

As we do each semester, ODS has just completed the Accommodative Aide
Directory for this semester. The Directory includes weekly/daily schedules
of all students who have expressed an interest in assisting Barnard
students with disabilities on a 1-1 basis--either as a volunteer or in
some cases a paid worker. Please speak with Merody directly if you have
any questions about the program or anticipate needing an aide at some
point during the semester.

Happy early Halloween!

ODS December 2007 Newsletter

Happy holidays and best of luck on your remaining coursework and final exams for the fall semester. Please remember to think of your health and wellness holistically by remembering to get enough sleep, exercise and nutrition to sustain yourselves through the next few weeks. Stop by ODS for a cup of herbal tea anytime - and we will be here to assist you until we close for the holidays on December 21st.

FINAL EXAM/TEST ACCOMMODATIONS ALERT

Although the deadline (OCt 12) for FA'07 Test Accommodation Forms (TAFs) has long since passed, we ask that you re-confirm any test accommodations needed during the final exam period (12/14-12/21) asap - no later than 4pm this Friday, December 7 (212/854-4634 or ods@barnard.edu).

Please remember the following:

1. Even if you think (DNA: Do Not Assume) that we already have your exams scheduled in the ODS calendar, please re-confirm any plans you've already made for exam-proctoring in ODS. This is especially important if you will be using a computer or any assistive technology so we have booked the correct room location and equipment for you.

2. If we do not hear from you by our final deadline of Fri. Dec. 7th @ 4pm, we will NOT be able to proctor your exam/s. As most of you know and can appreciate, proctoring space in ODS is very limited. To the greatest extent possible, ODS students are expected to take their exams with the rest of their class--with exceptions to this rule made on a case-by-case basis and well in advance of any upcoming test date.

3. All students who are using final exam test accommodations must have a signed (student/faculty/ODS signatures) TAF on file in ODS by Friday, Dec. 7th. Students without the appropriate and timely TAF will NOT be permitted to take their exams in ODS.

4. That being said, good luck to all of you on your finals!

DARA: Disability Access Recognition Awards

Has there been a member of the Barnard/Columbia community - faculty, staff or student - who has been particularly supportive and/or creative in responding to your disability-related needs this semester? If so, please nominate them for a DARA! DARA nomination forms are available now in ODS--or can be found on our website!

Equipment Reminder

If you have borrowed any ODS equipment during the semester, please remember to bring it back as soon as you are able to do so. All equipment must be returned by the last day of finals (12/21 at 4:00pm) or you will be billed for any outstanding items.

Final Check-Ins for FA'07

December is here. As you wrap up the semester, we'd like to know how we at ODS have done in meeting your needs.

Have we been good listeners?

Were you provided with accommodations that were approved on your TAFs?

Are there services you would like to suggest for the near future?

Do you need any assistance with program planning (though the deadline was 11/19)?

Call ODS at 212/854-4634 to set up a brief check-in appointment with Susan or Okie so that we can best help you now and in the SP'08 term.

Happy Holidays from all of us in ODS to all of you!

ODS News

January 2008

Welcome to all new transfers and visiting students for the SP ’08 term—and welcome back to our returning students and to any students who have been studying abroad during the FA ’07 semester. We hope that you have had a restful and restorative break—and that you’ve chosen some exciting classes for the coming term!

Introducing Colleen Reilly, New ODS Assistant to the Director

We are pleased to welcome Colleen to ODS and to Barnard, and hope that all of you will stop by in the coming weeks to introduce yourselves to Colleen. Having started her new position on January 7, Colleen is in the process of learning all about ODS (and our many forms!)—but she has taken the plunge and is doing a great job! Before joining the ODS staff in January 2008, Colleen received her Bachelor’s degree in gender studies from Indiana University and her Master’s degree in women’s and gender studies from Rutgers University. She has worked at various non-profit organizations for the last six years, and is excited to join the ODS staff and the Barnard community. A Midwestern girl at heart, Colleen is rapidly adjusting to life in New York City and discovering the joys of mass transit. Welcome Colleen!

Check-in Appointments and Test Accommodations Forms (TAF)

As always, we encourage all ODS-registered students to schedule a brief check-in meeting with either Okie (LD/ADD students) or Susan (all others) to discuss your academic programs for the SP ’08 term—even if you do not anticipate needing any disability-related classroom or test accommodations. Remember—it is always best to be pro-active—especially for our students with chronic illnesses who should always plan ahead for possible flare-ups as the semester progresses. Please call Colleen at 4/4634 or stop by 105 Hewitt to set up a check-in appointment and pick up/complete any forms you may need (TAFs; notetaker forms; etc.). Remember: All TAFs are due in ODS on 2/8!

New ODS Student Assistant Needed!

We are actively searching for a new ODS student assistant for the SP ‘08 term—days and hours flexible based on your schedule and ours. Our very able student assistant Claire Halberstadt is now preparing for her upcoming student teaching responsibilities—so we are in need of some part-time office support *asap*! If interested, please call or stop by and drop off a copy of your schedule and resume as we’d like to hire immediately!

Marsteller Internship Program

Once again, we are delighted to invite all ODS students to apply for a grant of up to $2500. for an internship this spring. The deadline for all applications is this Friday, February 1 at 4pm—and applications can be downloaded from the Career Development (OCD) website. Please note that there will be one additional Marsteller grant funding cycle for summer 2008—deadline in early April. For further info, please speak to Susan Quinby or OCD Internships Coordinator Suzy Stein at 4/2033.

Free Flu Shots

The Student Health Service (SHS) is lower level Brooks is now offering free flu shots to all Barnard students on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30-11:30am—no appointment needed. Students with chronic illnesses are encouraged to get a flu shot now—or for further info contact SHS at 4/2091.

Barnard February Blood Drive

Calling all blood donors and volunteers for our upcoming one-day, drop-in mini-drive on Friday, February 8 from 10:30am-3:45pm in the Le Frak Gymnasium in Barnard Hall. Donors must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be age 17 or above to donate—and additional donation information (including reasons for deferral) can be found on the New York Blood Center website at www.nybc.org. We also need volunteers to help staff the drive throughout the day on 2/8 from 9am-5pm—so please call 4/4634 or stop by ODS to sign up for a one-hour volunteer time-slot. Please get involved in this important community service event—and we hope to see you at the blood drive!

ODS News

April 2008

Welcome to the last month of school—always hard to believe as once again the SP ’08 semester has flown by for so many of us! We wish you all the best as you finish your final papers and projects—and congratulations to all of our graduating seniors on the completion of their senior theses.

Final Test Accommodations for Finals

If you currently have a TAF on file with Colleen for this semester, please call 4/4634 or stop by 105 Hewitt to confirm any final exam plans. As during the regular semester, we prefer to have all students remain with their classes for any extended time or other test accommodations. If this is not possible in your particular situation, please contact us *asap* as we have limited proctoring space and it will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis by advance reservation only. Please confirm *all* test proctoring with Colleen—even if ODS is not involved—so that we can compile a master exam schedule with all arrangements made well in advance. The deadline for all requests will be Thursday, May 1 at 4pm. Good luck on your finals!

April Blood Drive: 4/18/08

Come one, come all to the final Barnard Blood Drive of the year co-sponsored by ODS and SGA on 4/18/08 from 10:30am-3:45pm in the LeFrak Gym. As always—this is a drop-in drive and no appointments are needed. Donors must weigh 110 pounds, be in general good health, and be at least 17 years old. Volunteers are needed throughout the day from 9am-5pm for one-hour shifts—and should reserve a time-slot by calling ODS *in advance* at 4/4634.

Program Planning and Disability

With the FA ’08 program planning deadline of 4/29 rapidly approaching—now is the time to consider what your disability-related needs are and will be for the fall semester and plan pro-actively! Did you miss classes because of a flare-up of a chronic illness and then were surprised when a professor would not accommodate your absences? Would an advance copy of a syllabus help you to get a jump on your coursework over the summer—or otherwise plan for a busy semester? Would speaking to a professor now—and self-identifying your disability-related needs—help to build a supportive disability safety-net for you now vs. later? Please schedule a check-in appointment with Susan or Okie to discuss any of these ideas or others as you plan for the fall term.

Barnard Summer Housing

Please remember that the deadline for all summer housing requests—for both disabled and nondisabled students—is Friday, April 25. If you need to complete a Disability-Related Housing Request, your deadline is also 4/25—which includes your personal statement, a clinician letter and a meeting with Susan Quinby to discuss your needs. Please go to the ODS website/manual and forms link to download the Specialized Housing Request Form for further info.

Senior Exit Interviews

All graduating seniors are asked to schedule a brief (30 minute) Senior Exit Interview appointment with either Okie (all LD/ADD students) or Susan (everyone else) so we can get your feedback on your life at Barnard and beyond Barnard. Let us know what was helpful—as well as what was not—as we prepare for the Class of 2012. We welcome any and all suggestions for how we can improve our services—and look forward to meeting with each of our illustrious seniors!

Past Issues: Academic Year 2006-2007
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Past Issues: Academic Year 2004-2005
Past Issues: Academic Year 2003-2004