Quarterly Newsletter

Autumn Quarter 2021 Newsletter

Welcome New Students!

Student Disability Services (SDS) would like to welcome all incoming students to UChicago! We look forward to working with you during your time at the University.
As the University returns to in-person instruction this Autumn, we want to ensure that you are able to fully participate. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Contacting SDS

The SDS office is available both in-person and remotely via Zoom or telephone. For questions about accommodations or access matters, you may email questions to disabilities@uchicago.edu or call 773-702-6000.

You may also use the links below to set up an appointment with an SDS director:

Schedule an appointment with Charnessa Warren, Director
Schedule an appointment with Katherine Fahey, Deputy Director
Schedule an appointment with Danielle Garvey, Associate Director
Schedule an appointment with Amber DiCosola, Assistant Director

To set up an appointment or ask questions of a SDS Program Coordinator:

Josh Green: Communication Access Program Coordinator, asl.cart@uchicago.edu
Sandra Fernandez: Proctoring Program Coordinator, proctor@uchicago.edu
Rosemary Cook: Notetaking Services Program Coordinator, notetake@uchicago.edu
Morgan Severeid: Alternative Format Text Services Program Coordinator, text.sds@uchicago.edu

SDS Welcomes New Staff

Joshua Green: Communication Access Coordinator

The SDS staff is pleased to welcome Josh Green as our newest staff member. Josh coordinates services for Sign Language and Captioning requests. Josh is fluent in both American and Greek Sign Language and functional in cheesecake-baking. Josh can be contacted at asl.cart@uchicago.edu.

Morgan Severeid: Program Coordinator for Document Conversion

Morgan joined SDS in Spring 2021 and coordinates requests for textbooks and course materials in accessible formats. Morgan got her start working in disability services as a student employee working in document conversion. She also has a background in theater arts. Morgan can be contacted at text.sds@uchicago.edu.

Events

SDS Drop-In Hours

Students seeking general information on disability accommodations may meet with an SDS Director during drop-in hours during O-Week and Welcome Week. If students are unable to drop in during the scheduled hours below, they may arrange an appointment by contacting SDS at 773-702-6000 or disabilities@uchicago.edu.

Scheduled Drop-in Hours:

Tuesday, September 21, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Wednesday, September 22, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Thursday, September 23, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Saturday, September 25, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Tuesday, September 28, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Thursday, September 30, 2:30 PM-4:30 PM

Location: Student Disability Services, 5501 South Ellis Avenue, on the main level of the Campus North Parking Facility.

SDS Drop-In Hours for Productivity Tips, Tricks, and Tech Trials

Drop in to SDS to learn more about available assistive technology tools and productivity/organization skills to jumpstart your success this academic year! Free planners and giveaways will be available while supplies last.

Drop-In Productivity Tips Dates and Times:

Friday, September 24, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thursday, September 30, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Location: Student Disability Services, 5501 South Ellis Avenue, on the main level of the Campus North Parking Facility.

Director Dialogues

You are cordially invited to meet SDS Director Charnessa Warren, who will host an informal, one-hour session every month for students to bring forward any questions, concerns or ideas they would like to discuss. The first Director Dialogue will be held on Friday, October 15, at Noon. Save the date, and subscribe to SDS Announcements to be notified of dates and times of future sessions.

Requesting Academic Accommodations

Graduate/Professional Students

Accommodation implementation varies by academic division. Graduate/Professional students have a different process than College students. Please consult with the disability liaison within your graduate/professional division, and follow the procedures to make arrangements for accommodations during Autumn Quarter. Contact information for your graduate and professional disability liaisons is available on the Disability Liaisons webpage.

College Students

Remember to request accommodation letters for the Autumn Quarter. Many accommodations must be scheduled through the online AIM Student Portal.

The procedures for notifying your instructors of your approved accommodations, using exam accommodations, and alternative format conversion requests are all outlined on our website. Please review these procedures carefully and contact us immediately if you have any questions.

Using Exam Accommodations for Autumn 2021

Students should review their course syllabi for the exam modalities that will be used in the course and should also review the information available on our website that details how to use exam accommodations this quarter.

SDS Survey

For a consecutive year, SDS sent out an end-of-the-year student survey to evaluate overall performance in each service portfolio area (e.g. Note-taking, Document Conversion, Testing Accommodations, Communication Access, and Accommodation Application Processing). Thank you to every student who participated. Your voices matter! We look forward to sharing the survey results on the SDS Survey Feedback & Response webpage soon.

We hope you have a great Autumn Quarter!