Interview with Brittney

This is an interview with an employee at the BYU-Idaho Disability Services.

1. What is the program called at BYU-Idaho?

~Disabilities Services

2. How do you apply for the program?

~You need to have a doctor’s note with your diagnosis of your specific disability.  The doctor should also list how you should and can be accommodated.  After you have that paperwork you set up an appointment with the director.  You will then go over your paperwork with him and decide on a course of action.  Then, he will write you a letter for you to give to each of your teacher and tutors.

3. What type of disabilities does the school accommodate for?

~The school accommodates for all types of disabilities.  The goal is to help everyone do their best.

4. What is the severity of the disabilities?

~Most people at this school are fairly high functioning.  We get a lot of people who have autism, dyslexia, and memory problems.  There are a few students who are more severe and with them we have to be very specific in our instructions and wording to them. 

5. What do the students have to do?

~The students have to bring the letter the director write for them, to their teachers so they understand the situation and accommodations that need to be made.  They also have to come in once a semester to get their new letter or to have it adjusted.

6. What type of adaptive services does the school offer?

~We have voice recorders, the dragon, which types what you speak and kirswell, which scans books and reads them to you.

7. What is the school responsibility for?

~To provide nondiscrimination for students with disabilities that is free.

8. What type of accommodations does the school provide?

~We can allow for more time on tests, changing where the test is taken, and recording of materials.  Students are also allowed to meet with the tutor more often.

9. Does it matter what type of major they are in?

~No, however we do try to make a reasonable schedule for them and try to help them find a major that they can succeed.

10. What is the reaction of most students?

~Most students are very uncomfortable coming to the disabilities services center because it is very public and everyone can see them.  A lot of students have a parent come to the first meeting as well.

11. How many students do you service, approximately?

~Over 1,600!  However, Brother Taylor does not keep track well so there is no specific number.

12. Is there anything else that you would like to tell me or that I should know?

~The program is not advertised well and the website is confusing.  The students get frustrated a lot because we have a bad contact system, so things get lost. 

~Also, sometimes teacher say no to the accommodations, which creates a problem because then we have to meet with them and help them understand.  Which can be very time consuming frustrating.