From the Director
Welcome returning and new students to the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Following are some updates and information about ODS services. The ODS term Advance Registration has been replaced by Special Groups registration of classes. In order to assist the academic advisors with scheduling student appointments the ODS must now submit our list of names earlier to the Registrar. Therefore, you must now sign up within the first five weeks of each long semester. For the ninth consecutive year, a representative from the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) will visit Texas State in February 2009 to interview eight students with disabilities for summer internships and permanent positions with the federal government. Watch TRACS in November for additional details about the interviews. The ODS uses Texas State email as its primary method of communication with students. You can forward your Texas State email to an alternate email address however there is no guarantee you will receive all Texas State email. For more information visit Information Technology.  ODS has a new “Suggestion Box” where students can submit feedback and suggestions about ODS and university services. Visit the ODS web page and select “ODS Suggestion Box” under Site Links.
Tina Schultz, Director

Get to Know the Library
Take an audio or photo tour of the library.  For updates to library resources, new tools, and research tips please visit the Alkek Library News Blog. Acquaint yourself with the information gathering process or various other topics by visiting the Tutorials. Need help selecting a database, finding books, or have any other research questions? Call the Reference Desk at 245.2686 or chat online with a librarian. You may also schedule an appointment with a Reference Librarian. For additional information about library services or to make a suggestion contact Barbara Potts or 245.2685.

Online Special Groups Registration of Classes
The 2009 spring semester sign up for students registered with the ODS is from: 8 a.m. Monday, August 18 to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, September 30. To sign up, visit the ODS and follow the links to ODS System for Students and Special Groups Registration. NO names will be added after the September 30 deadline.

Developing Time Management Skills
Texas State is made up of a diverse population. Some students appear to be prepared and on top of what is going on in their life; others might be procrastinators and seem to struggle getting that 20-page paper turned in on time. While most students would like you to believe they have everything under control, the truth is college students in general struggle to keep school and social life in balance.
Most procrastinators just need some steps to keep them on track. A useful website, Study Guides & Strategies provides some insight on how to manage your time in a better way. Here are just a few tips:

• Develop blocks of time to study – How long can you study without becoming restless? 20, 30 or 45 minutes? Take a break when you need to instead of trying to study for three hours straight. Taking frequent breaks will keep your mind fresh and help you retain the material longer.
• Prioritize assignments – When studying, get into the habit of beginning with the hardest subject first. Then as you study the material and your mind gets tired, the hard stuff will be out of the way.
• Review notes and readings before class, then review notes after class – This will help you reinforce the material you learned that day. In fact, research shows that students who review their class materials within a 24-hour period retain 80 percent more of what was studied.
• Create a “To Do” List – Creating a “To Do” list will help you prioritize your big events for school (papers, exams, etc.) and also your social life so you can plan to work on that big paper rather than going to the river.
• Have a daily or weekly planner, and USE it – Carrying a planner to every class and having it available at all times will also help you plan both your school and social activities better. The key to having a planner however is to keep it with you and to use it.

Of course like any good habit time management takes discipline and consistency to make it stick. So try it out and you might surprise yourself with the results.

Sorenson Media®
Alkek Library has a new Sorenson Media® that allows deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to make calls to their hearing friends, family and business associates via a videophone or video relay software. Sorenson offers the latest video technologies. Members of the Texas State community who are deaf or hard of hearing can use the Sorenson VP-100™ videophone appliance which is connected to a TV equipped with a Web camera and Sorenson EnVision® SL video relay software. The technology enables deaf and hard-of-hearing users to place video relay calls to family, friends or business associates through an ASL interpreter and a broadband Internet connection. Sorenson is located on the second floor of Alkek Library. To access the equipment visit the Information Desk.

Student Support Services (Providing More Than Tutoring)
Student Support Services (SSS) offers a variety of FREE services to Texas State undergraduate students who have a need for academic and other support services. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help students adapt to college life, excel in the classroom and ultimately reach their goal of graduation. SSS accomplishes these objectives by providing services such as one-on-one tutoring, advising, financial aid assistance, scholarships, study skills, cultural enrichment activities and campus referrals. SSS is free but serves a limited number of students who apply and meet federal guidelines. Students are eligible if they are a first-generation college student (neither parent graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university), meet income guidelines or have a documented disability on file with the Texas State Office of Disability Services. For more information, contact SSS at 245.2275 or stop by their office located in the LBJ Student Center, Suite 5-6.1. Space in SSS is limited, so it is important to apply early!

Testing Reminders and Updates
A student qualified for testing accommodations MUST schedule an exam at the ODS through the online “Testing Accommodation System”.  Students can also check the status of the exams they have scheduled through the online system. Keep the following items in mind when scheduling tests:
1. NEW!! Due to the many requests made by students, we are changing the policy for coming in late to an exam. The ODS WILL NOT administer an exam if you arrive more than five minutes after the time your exam is scheduled to start. There will be NO exceptions. If you are late to an exam we will try to re-schedule with approval from your professor.
2. A separate request must be completed for each exam at least 48 hours (weekends do not count) before the time the test is scheduled to begin. Late requests will be denied by the ODS.
3. Due to limited space for testing, the ODS can only administer exams at: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Please contact ODS if you have questions, and refer to the ODS “Student Testing Guidelines” for process changes.

ODS Shining Star
In fall 2001, Cristina Wheeler began her academic career at Texas State. Cristina, who was a low-vision student, contacted the ODS in order to establish her accommodations. Life for Cristina was going great, she was on the Dean’s List every semester and enjoying her management classes. She began serving as a student representative on the ADA/504 Compliance and Steering Committee on Disabilities. In late spring 2004, life took a dramatic turn for Cristina when she began experiencing severe headaches. Within several days, a shunt placed in her skull many years earlier due to a brain tumor literally burst in her head; Cristina went into a coma.  For a year, Cristina lived at home with her parents undergoing multiple brain surgeries. For most the time she was unaware of time and her surroundings, literally losing track of one year of her life. After several months of cognitive therapy, Cristina decided she wanted to return to Texas State to complete her degree. In spring 2006, Cristina returned to school part-time, adjusting to the memory impairment she now had to learn how to manage. Manage she did, Cristina made the Dean’s List her first semester back and stayed on the Dean’s List until her graduation last May when she graduated Cum Laude. Cristina’s commitment and determination was recognized by the university when she was selected as the student speaker for one of the spring 2008 commencement ceremonies.  After an interview with a Federal Workforce Recruitment Program representative at Texas State in February, Cristina was offered a position in Washington, D.C. working for Farm Credit Administration where she and her guide dog Truckee have recently relocated. Cristina is truly a person of remarkable fortitude who proves that no matter what the challenges are, if you are determined and work hard you can reach your goals.

ADA Committee
The university ADA/504 Compliance and Steering Committee on Disabilities will hold its spring meeting in October. The committee, composed of Texas State faculty, staff and students, provides guidance on access and services for persons with disabilities at Texas State. Two ODS students also serve as members of the committee.  If you would like to propose an agenda item, contact Tina at the ODS or the ADA coordinator, Dr. Sherri Benn, at 245.2278. Meetings are open, and notices are sent in advance to all members of the Texas State community.

Texas State Scholarships
This fall, Texas State will award spring 2009 scholarships for students with disabilities. These include the Access, Cooper, Middleton and Nesenholtz scholarships that give preference to students with physical disabilities. Scholarship amounts range from $250 to $1,000 based on the number of qualified scholarship applicants. To be considered for any of these scholarships, a student should have completed the ODS scholarship application by October 1. For the application and more information, visit the ODS TRACS site.

Are You on TRACS?
If you are registered with the ODS but are not receiving e-mail notices for the ODS TRACS site, please email Heidi to sign up. Through TRACS you will receive information including scholarships, updates regarding ODS deadlines and service changes, and university information.

DARS Services
Clients of the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) have access to a full-time counselor at Texas State, John Grayson. His office is located in 308 ASB North and he is assisted by Helen Armendariz. The DARS office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clients who need to contact or schedule an appointment can call 245.3625. DARS clients who already work with another DARS counselor will continue with their counselor, but the campus DARS office can serve as a liaison with other DARS counselors to assist with problems and help facilitate communications. It is possible that, after an initial contact, you will be referred to, and assisted in contacting a DARS counselor near your home. Contact DARS to find out if they can help you with testing, obtaining accommodations and other supportive services, assistance with tuition, books, assistive devices and some medical treatments. Financial assistance is on a needs basis as DARS must consider your income and usually your parent incomes. Tuition assistance is now calculated according to the number of credit hours you are taking. DARS brochures are available at the ODS.

ODS Book Club
College Confidence with ADD by Michael Sandler will help you turn obstacles into opportunities and overcome social, academic, financial and personal challenges both in and out of the classroom. Whether your goal is to get into the school of your choice, improve your grades, survive the experience, gain guidance and direction, or springboard into the future of your dreams, this comprehensive and essential guide will help you succeed. For more information listen to an audio clip from College Confidence.