Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing:

Interpreting and Captioning

SDS provides sign language interpreters, real-time captioning, and/or media captioning accommodations to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students for classes and academically-related activities.

Auxiliary Aids Offered

• Sign Language Interpreters, notetakers
• Real-time captioning
• Media captioning, or other computer-assisted note taking, Test Accommodations, Adaptive Equipment, Physical Access Accommodations

Qualifying for Support Services

• Registered with SDS
• Recent Audiogram on file (within 3 years)
• Completion of an Intake appointment with SDS counselor

Policy and Guidelines for Using and Requesting Interpreter and/or Real Time Captioning Services

• Requests will need to be submitted through the following form: DHH Service Request Form. Feel free to bookmark this link and it can also be found on SDS Connect (formerly SASC Connect).
• This form must be completed for any one-time class/event or for a recurring class/event (Please review the attached guide for additional information on how to complete this form).
• In order to fill your request, it must be submitted at least ONE WEEK prior to your event. Please note that we cannot guarantee that last minute requests will be provided on short notice.

Student Rights

Whether you are a first-time freshman or are transfering from a community college/other university, please keep in mind that the obligations and responsibilities of the University to students with disabilities can be significantly different than those from your previous academic institution.

• Receive appropriate accommodations.
• Participate in academically-related school activities and programs.
• Receive respectful treatment by faculty and staff.
• Privacy and confidentiality.
• Recourse to discrimination against you due to your disability.

Student Confidentiality

SDS practices the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is a law that protects students' educational records and prevents the improper disclosure of these records. As an SDS student, you must sign a SDS release of information and specify the individual you are authorizing the release of disability-related information. Without your authorization, we will not disclose information to faculty, staff, or parents. To learn more about FERPA and your rights as a student at SDSU, visit the University's Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Student Responsibilities

• Meet with counselors, academic advisors and other appropriate staff to discuss and arrange accommodations.
• Treat faculty, staff, service providers, peers, and students with respect.
• Provide appropriate documentation in a timely manner.
• Notify the Interpreter Coordinator, your SDS Counselor or the SDS office of changes in your schedule including individual class cancellations.
• Request additional and/or incidental accommodations at least one week in advance, including accommodations for field trips, meetings with faculty, and accommodations for Final Exam Week.
• Report interpreter, captionist, or other service provider No-Shows to the Interpreter Coordinators.
• If you experience any conflict with your service provider, contact the Interpreter Coordinators or your SDS Counselor immediately.

Role of Service Providers

• SDS service providers communicate information between all participants. Service providers do not participate, advise, tutor or act as an assistant to the professors. They should not be asked for their opinions or help.
• Service Providers should be treated with respect.
• When working with interpreters, it is appropriate to introduce yourself and tell the interpreter about any communication preferences you may have. Interpreters strive to match the communication styles and preferences of their consumers to the best of their abilities.
• Unless prior arrangements are made, interpreters and captioners wait 20 minutes outside the class or meeting room for their consumer to arrive.

ASL Interpreting For SDSU Visitors

• Contact SDS/DHH via email at: [email protected]

Media Captioning

• The Media Captioning Coordinators work directly with faculty when students register for classes every semester.
• SDS strives to have accurate captioning on all audiovisual content for students with a media captioning accommodation.
• If you encounter inaccessible audiovisual content at any point, please reach out to Mark Cervantes and Lizzie Crosthwaite at [email protected]