Low Vision or Blind

What Services are Available?

SERVICES AVAILABLE AT RENSSELAER FOR LOW VISION OR BLIND STUDENTS

If you have low vision or are blind, you are urged to contact Disability Services as early as possible to facilitate planning. You may be interested in the following services:

A Kurzweil reading system, scanner, and CC-TV print magnifier are located in a reserved key-access room in Folsom Library. To arrange to use this equipment, contact Disability Services for Students.
Assistance can be provided if students need advice in configuring campus workstations or their personal laptop computers for the best accessibility options.
Additional equipment or software will be provided as required on an individual basis.
Assistance can be provided in ordering e-text/digital versions of textbooks from publishers, as available under New York state law. This law requires students to purchase a hard copy of their textbooks, and also requires that all requests be made through Disability Services. Assistance in ordering recorded textbooks also can be provided using Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic in Princeton, New Jersey. Since timely availability of recorded textbooks cannot be guaranteed by RFB&D, local volunteers or other sources will be utilized when necessary. Assistance will be provided in recruiting readers and notetakers from the campus community. (New York State residents may be eligible for Readers’ Aid assistance.)
Faculty will be requested to provide accommodations needed in the classroom, such as large print exams, extra test time, front-row seating, etc.
Special arrangements for campus housing can be provided if requested in advance through Disability Services.
Information and referral is available for government financial assistance and special scholarships targeted to blind and low vision students.
Large-print maps of the Rensselaer campus are available. Students can also receive assistance in getting oriented to the physical environment of the campus.
If you need assistance in using the Library, consult Library Services for Disabled Users at Rensselaer.

For more information on any of the above services and equipment, contact Disability Services for Students, Dean of Students Office, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180-3590, send email to dss@rpi.edu, or telephone(518) 276-2746

Last modified: Jul 2, 2007