General Information and Student Accommodations Information

Accommodated Testing Services

Students may qualify for testing accommodations on in-class or online exams, midterms, finals, pop quizzes, and placement tests (including the Academic Assessment and TEAS).

Common accommodations include:

• Extended time for testing
• Reader or scribe services
• Reduced distraction environments (shared rooms equipped with headphones, earplugs, and sound machines to minimize noise)
• Assistive technology software or specialized equipment
• Computer or laptop access

Additional accommodations are approved on a case-by-case basis. Students can coordinate their testing adjustments directly with their instructor or schedule an appointment to take their exam at the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services.

These services are available at both the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.

Alternative Textbooks

To receive Alternative Textbooks each semester, please schedule your Semester Accommodations Meeting (SAM) with your Disability Services Specialist as soon as you register for classes. Prompt scheduling helps ensure your files are ready when your courses begin.

• Proof of Ownership: You must provide a textbook receipt or a Statement of Ownership form to receive your files. Exception: A receipt is not required if your textbook is already included in your tuition.
• First-Time Users: If this is a new accommodation for you, you may need to attend an Alternative Textbook Review with the Assistive Technology Specialist.
• Copyright Notice: Reproducing or distributing alternative textbook files is strictly prohibited and constitutes an infringement of copyright laws.

Assistive Technology Software/Equipment Usage

Once trained, students can access Assistive Technology software in an Assistive Technology Lab or at designated computer station where it is installed. We highly recommend reserving time in advance to guarantee availability in the Assistive Technology Lab.

Students may also borrow equipment from the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services under the following guidelines:

• Borrowing Terms: Equipment is loaned out on a semester-by-semester basis and must be returned at the end of each semester or sooner if determined equipment is not needed.
• Financial Responsibility: All borrowed items remain the property of Northern Essex Community College. Students may be held financially responsible for any lost, damaged, stolen, or unreturned equipment.
• Ongoing Support: You can request additional training sessions at any point during the semester.

Audio Recording Lecture

While Massachusetts law generally requires everyone in the room to agree before a class can be recorded, you do not need class permission if audio recording is part of your official ADA academic accommodations.

If you are approved for this accommodation, please observe the following guidelines:

Personal Use Only: Recorded lectures are strictly for your own personal study. You may not share, publish, or quote from the recordings without the explicit consent of the lecturer.
Privacy Exceptions: Instructors may occasionally ask you to turn off your recording device if sensitive, highly personal, or private matters are being discussed by students in the class.

Furniture Accommodation

If your disability documentation supports a request for specialized Furniture Accommodations, Northern Essex Community College will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations.

On occasion, due to circumstances beyond the control of the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services (CARS), furniture may be moved out of a room after it has been set up. If this occurs, please inform CARS as soon as possible so we can resolve the issue promptly.

Note Taking Support Services

Depending on a student’s documented disability, the college may approve specific note-taking support accommodations. These accommodations are designed to help you capture and review lecture material effectively.
Examples of note-taking support include:
Audio Recording class lectures using:

1. Digital Recorder
2. Livescribe Smartpen: Pens that record audio and sync it directly with your handwritten notes.
3. Genio Notes Software: Specialized assistive software designed to capture audio and organize lecture details.

Peer Note-Taker: In specific instances where technology is not a viable option, a peer note-taker may be approved.

Online Course Registration Recommendations

Students enrolled in online classes must possess the necessary digital skills, computer equipment (hardware and software), and assistive technology to meet course requirements. Please note that support structures for online learning differ from those provided in traditional, classroom-based environments.

To ensure a smooth semester, please review the following guidelines:

• Early Communication: Discuss your approved online testing accommodations with your professors early in the semester.
• Accommodations Discussion: You may arrange to discuss your accommodations or services with the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services (CARS) staff via email, Zoom, or phone.
• On-Campus Requirements: Certain accommodations or specialized services may require you to come to campus.
• In-Home Support Limitations: Paraprofessional staff such as peer note-takers, readers, or scribes, will not be placed inside a student’s home.
• Software Responsibility: Students are responsible for acquiring any assistive technology software needed for home use, as college-licensed software is only installed on Northern Essex Community College computers.

For technical assistance and detailed online course information, please refer to: Online Learning Students FAQs.

Paraprofessional Accommodations Assistant

The primary role of an Accommodations Assistant is to support students with documented disabilities, including those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, in classrooms or testing environments. These services are designed to eliminate communication, participation, or learning barriers, ensuring equal access to education without creating an unfair advantage. All assistants are trained and supervised by the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services.

Depending on a student’s approved accommodations, assistants may serve in one or more of the following roles:

• Note-Taker: Captures key information from lectures, discussions, and assignments. Notes can be written on special carbonless copy paper (NCR) for immediate delivery after class, or typed on a laptop and emailed to the student.
• Scribe: Writes down exactly what a student dictates during tests or in-class assignments. Scribes act neutrally and must wait for explicit instructions from the student before writing.
• Classroom Assistant: Helps students with physical disabilities fully participate in classroom activities, such as holding lab instruments or setting up equipment.
• Reader: Reads text, exam questions, or assignment materials aloud to the student as needed.
• Visual Assistant: Describes objects, diagrams, or lab materials for students who have low vision or are blind. They may also fulfill reading duties.

Note: These roles are frequently combined. For example, a single assistant may serve as both a Note-Taker and a Scribe if a student is approved for both accommodations.