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Mission Statement

The mission of the Disability Services Department is to promote the academic success of students with disabilities (SWD) through high-quality educational assistance, faculty and staff seminars, workshops and training, and assistive technology training for all students, faculty, staff and administrators.

Disability Services at Norfolk State University consists of a hierarchal structure to include the Director of Disability Services/ADA Coordinator, Coordinator/Supporting Students through Disability Services (SSDS), Coordinator/Assistive Technology Laboratory (AT Lab), and a part time AT Lab Assistant.

DSD encompasses the daily function of the SSDS office, the AT Lab, and the Counselors-In-Residence Program (CIR). It reconciles administrative, faculty, staff and students' issues as they pertain to the policies and procedures, rights and responsibilities in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as set forth in the SSDS Faculty and Student Handbook. DSD adheres to the needs and requests of the University-at-Large and all other pertinent professional organizations, remaining heedful of the University's long-range goals and mission. DSD collaborates with international, national, state and local organizations, institutions and colleges to enhance and promote the educational experience of SWD in higher education.
 

Supporting Students Through Disability Services (SSDS)

The Supporting Students through Disability Services Office (SSDS) at Norfolk State University is committed to complying with the law as designated in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The program assists currently enrolled students with documented disabilities including physical, psychological, traumatic head injury, learning disabilities and other health concerns.

All contacts with SSDS are held in strictest confidence, and information is released only with the student's permission.

Norfolk State University is dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities to reach their fullest academic potential in higher education. Reasonable accommodations and services are provided to help equalize their opportunities and meet the individual needs of the disabled student. Arrangements or these accommodations and services are made through SSDS.

TTY Telephone Number: 757-823-2762

SERVICES:

Shuttles
Disability-Related Counseling
Personal Counseling
Bi-weekly Support Group
Priority Registration
Assisting Students with Appropriate Vocational Rehabilitation for Further Services
Assistive Technology Lab
Assistive Technology for Daily Classes
Accommodation Letter to Instructions

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Note Sharing
Extended Time for Testing
Readers for Exams
Allowed Priority Seating
Allowed Unanticipated Class Absences
Allowed Attendance at Duplicate Lecture Sessions
Allowed Tape Recorders in Class
Disregarding Spelling Errors for In-Class Work
 

Registering for Accommodations

Students planning to apply for admission to the University are encouraged to contact the SSDS Office as soon as possible to determine if the University can accommodate their particular disability.

Once accepted, students who wish to receive assistance must contact the SSDS Office at least forty-five (45) days before classes begin. Otherwise SSDS cannot ensure that accommodations can be made in a timely manner.

The SSDS Office serves persons eligible for assistance under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as persons with temporary disabilities acquired as a result of illness or injury. Written documentation from a qualified professional is required before accommodations are implemented. Campus Accessibility

Typically, the Norfolk State University campus is accessible and easy to negotiate.  The terrain is flat, and accumulations of snow and ice are rare in Eastern Virginia.

Transportation

Students requiring special transportation arrangements on our campus, and on neighboring campuses, are accommodated daily by regularly scheduled shuttle bus service.

Parking

For students with their own vehicles, accessible parking is available near residence halls, most classroom buildings, and administrative offices.

Special parking permits for students with permanent and temporary impairments can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Admissions

Admission to the Norfolk State University will be based solely on the entrance requirements as described in the college catalog.

Disclosure of a disability during the admissions process is not required. However, it is encouraged for the purpose of preparation. Neither the nature nor the severity of an individual's disability is used as criteria for admissions.

Contact
Marian E. Shepherd
Coordinator, Supporting Students Through Disability Services

2nd Floor Rm. 240 Lyman B. Brooks Library
Phone 757-823-2014
Fax: 757 - 823-2689
Email: mshepherd@nsu.edu 
SSDS hours 8am to 5pm

Assistive Technology Laboratory (AT LAB)

At Norfolk State University, we are continuously researching and updating materials and equipment and collaborating with colleagues and experts across the state and the country in various fields of technology. Realizing Assistive Technology is a process as much as a product, it is imperative that we provide high-quality technical assistance for our students during their educational experience.

Students currently enrolled with a documented disability in our program will receive access to the AT Lab. They will be able to use the specialized hardware and software that level the playing field in their endeavor to excel. Each student qualifies for an assistive technology evaluation. The assistive technology evaluation is the process of determining which device best facilitates the student’s efforts to achieve.

Assistive technology is any device or process to assist a student with a disability in his or her efforts to accomplish a task that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without the assistive technology. In that vein, Norfolk State University has established an Assistive Technology Laboratory.

The AT Lab exists to support the enhancement of student outcomes through the delivery of information, training, and technology support utilizing assistive technologies.

SERVICES:

Educational Aids
Training
Lab Assistance
Educational Videos
Assistive Technology Software
Adaptive Hardware

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Thursday 8am to 8pm
Friday - 8am to 5pm
Saturday - 11am to 5 pm
Location: Lyman B. Brooks Library - Room 240

Contact:

Marvin C. Clemmons Sr.
Coordinator, Assistive Technology
Phone 757-823-2603
Fax: 757 - 823-2689
Email: mcc@nsu.edu