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!