
Assistive Technology allowed me to succeed in my courses and gave me all the tools I needed to be the best student I could be
Accessing Our Student Services
Overview
Assessments – The ATRC provides evaluations to determine a best match between the person, the environment, and the available assistive technology options.
Accommodations – The ATRC determines and recommends appropriate assistive technology accommodations. This can include software that can help read text books, take notes, organize thoughts, and write papers.
Training – The ATRC provides training in the application of the assistive technology. We will teach you how to use and understand the benefits of any software or hardware that we recommend for your school work.
Equipment Loans – The ATRC provides assistive technology equipment loans to students. This can include ergonomic keyboards and mice, headsets, laptops computers, digital voice recorders, DAISY readers, Livescribe pens and more.
Resources – The ATRC provides access to assistive technology resources and information. These resources, both inside and outside the CSU community will enable you to fulfill your potential as a student.
Eligibility
Assistive technology services through the ATRC are available to any registered student at Colorado State University with a documented disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Undergraduate or Graduate Students eligible for services include those who are:
- Registered full time student
- Registered part time student
- Continuing education students and distance learners*
Students who may benefit from ATRC services include, but are not limited to, those having difficulty with tasks such as:
- Reading regular sized text
- Comprehending reading materials
- Seeing the computer monitor or keyboard
- Producing written work
- Physically using a standard keyboard or mouse
- Taking multiple choice, essay or short answer exams
- Taking notes in class
Primary recipients of services are those students with an identified disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Secondary recipients of assistive technology services include those students with a temporary disability or those students with or at risk for injury due to computing. Services will then be provided as time, resources, and equipment are available.
Continuing Education Students*
For continuing education students, the entity initiating the course is responsible for any “reasonable accommodations”. If a CSU instructor initiates the course then CSU is responsible for the accommodation. If the course is initiated by a community member, that individual or the site associated with that instructor become responsible for providing the accommodation.
Initiate Services
Students are referred to the ATRC by the Student Disability Center and University Health Services. The ATRC must receive a copy of documentation of the disability, as required by ADA and Section 504.
Services are initiated as follows:
- Student is referred to ATRC services by the SDC or University Health Services.
- Student calls or emails to setup an appointment with an ATRC staff member at (970) 491-6258 or atrc@colostate.edu.
- Student brings the required documentation to the ATRC and participates in an initial interview with an ATRC staff member to determine potential strategies.
- Student participates in an assessment, in order to match assistive technology to their individual needs.
- Student is trained to use their chosen assistive technology in order to complete academic tasks. Training occurs in the student’s desired location on campus.
Rights and Responsibilities
The ATRC is Responsible for ensuring the:
- Equipment is working
- Accommodation is located in the appropriate location
- Accommodation was provided in a timely manner, ideally less than four weeks
- Student understands how to use the technology for their needs
- Equipment is upgraded or modified to fit the students needs
Students are responsible for:
- Contacting the ATRC to setup the initial appointment
- Participating in an interview to identify their assistive technology needs
- Participating in an assessment to determine the best assistive technology match
- Participating in training sessions to learn how to use the assistive technology to complete their academic tasks
- Updating the ATRC staff as their needs change, in order to change the desired location of assistive technology
- Notifying the ATRC staff if there is a change in assistive technology needs based on course content
- Contacting their academic advisers or instructors in advance of a new semester, if they anticipate needing an alternative format accommodation
Hardware and Software Loan Policy
The ATRC provides both hardware and software loans for students needing assistive technology accommodations at Colorado State University.
Read more about our Hardware and Software Loan Policy