1. Confidentiality:  UWM speech-to-text service providers are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the professional standards set by the National Court Reporting Association (NCRA) or the C-Print standards established by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. (i.e. maintain confidentiality, render the message faithfully, refrain from interjecting personal opinions, and function in a manner appropriate to the situation etc.)
   
   However, service providers may at times need to share classroom accommodation related issues with other campus staff on a “need to know” basis.  On a regular basis, the D/HH staff adopts a team approach in the collaboration and sharing of work-related information.  As a result, there will be times when service providers share typically confidential information about students and work experiences/challenges for the purpose of improving the quality of the UWM D/HH Program services.     
   

2. First Day of Class:  Arrive a few minutes early the first day of class to introduce yourself to the service provider.  Be sure your seat in each classroom is right for you.  It is important that you have a direct line of vision to the instructor, the board or screen, and the service provider.
   

3. Course Syllabus:   It is your responsibility to secure a syllabus (an outline of the main subjects covered throughout the semester) for each class and use it to plan for your assigned readings, exams, presentations, and final exam dates.
   

4. Questions about Class Information:  Ask the instructor if you have questions about class information.  The service provider can assist by voicing questions to the instructor and typing the instructor responses.  It is your responsibility to ask the service provider if he/she can arrive early or stay after class if you want to talk with the instructor or teaching assistant immediately before or after class.
   

5. Communication with your Provider:  Communicate with your service provider.  Let the service provider know on the first day of class, or early in the semester, if you will be voicing for yourself or prefer her/him to voice for you.  Discuss concerns directly with the service provider, and contact the D/HH Student Advisor if your concerns are not resolved.
   

6. Laptop Usage:  The speech-to-text service provider will make a laptop computer available to you in the classroom.  Students are expected to handle the D/HH Program laptop carefully and use it to read the real-time text display that facilitates communication.  The laptop provided by the service provider is not to be used for any other purpose.  (i.e. games, homework, e-mail, etc.)
   

7. Visual Information:  It is your responsibility to ensure that visual information presented on blackboards, etc. is collected.  Students are encouraged to obtain notetakers for each class to assist with summarizing the instructors message and to capture information displayed on the blackboard, etc.
   

8. Leaving Class:  The service provider will not type if you are not present in the room.  (The role of the speech-to-text service provider is to provide real-time communication access.)  If you do not show for a class, the service provider will not provide a transcript for that class unless instructed to do so by the D/HH Program Manager. 
   

9. Transcript:  Service providers will provide unedited electronic transcripts to you immediately following class.  It is your responsibility to bring a device and electronically copy the transcript at the end of the class period.  Service providers will not e-mail the transcript to you without prior approval from the D/HH Student Advisor or the D/HH Assistant Program Manager.  A paper copy of the transcript can be printed in any UWM computer lab. If you have questions about the process of printing a paper copy of the transcript, see the D/HH Student Advisor.  
   
   The class transcript is for your eyes only.  Transcripts are not to be shared with any other persons.  No other students, even if they identify themselves as a Student Accessibility Center client, are to be given transcripts without prior approval from the Assistant Program Manager.  
   
   Internships/Practicums:  The D/HH Program will consider the provision of transcripts for student internship/practicum assignments on a case-by-case basis.  Students in this type of situation should discuss the transcript policy with the Assistant Program Manager before the first day of the internship/practicum.

10. Transportation:  Some courses or course assignments may be held off-campus (i.e., not on UWM’s main campus).  Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the off-campus site.  D/HH Program staff and LTE service providers do not provide transportation for students to or from campus or other sites.  This applies to internships, field placements, group meetings, courses and other placements that may occur off-campus.
    

11. Internship/Practicum:   Students may be involved with internships or field work placements as part of their academic program.  The UWM D/HH Program considers internships and field work placements in the same light as regularly scheduled courses at UWM.   All of the responsibilities and policies regarding use of services remain in effect for all students who earn course credit in field placement and internship programs.  These responsibilities are outlined in the Students using Speech-to-Text Services, Notetaking and D/HH Program No-Show Responsibility forms.
    

12. Captionist Wait Time:  The service provider will wait 10 minutes for a 50-minute class and 15 minutes for classes longer than 1 hour.  If you do not arrive to class within these timelines, the service provider will leave.
    

13. Captionist No Show:  Contact the D/HH Program Office (229-4549 or 229-3340) if the service provider does not show-up for class.  As a last resort, an audiocassette tape recorder is available from the D/HH Program to tape the lecture and arrangements can be made for the audiocassette to be transcribed for you as soon as possible.
    

14. Schedule Changes:  The D/HH Program needs a copy of your class schedule and accommodation requests to arrange speech-to-text service providers.  Students are encouraged to submit their class schedule and related changes on or before the date specified by the D/HH Student Advisor.  Due to the limited availability of service providers, schedules and schedule changes received after the due date are at risk for classes starting the semester without a service provider.  If you need to make a schedule change, please discuss your options with the D/HH Student Advisor and Assistant Program Manager before making the change to ensure the availability of a service provider.
    

15. Request for Captionist (academic):   If you need a service provider for a meeting (such as meeting with a professor during his/her office hours), lecture, or class related activity, it is important that you complete a Service Request Form with as much advance notice as possible.  The Support Service Request Form can be found on the UWM D/HH Program web site at http://www.uwm.edu/cgi-bin/Dept/DSAD/SAC/srf.pl or in Mitchell 120 (the yellow form).
    

16. Request for a Captionist (non-academic):  All extra-curricular (unrelated to a class activity) speech-to-text service requests should be made to the department or organization hosting the activity or event.  The sponsoring department can then hire the D/HH Program to provide accommodation services.  If the D/HH Program staff is not available, we refer the department to community resources that can provide speech-to-text services.  Please refer the department to the UWM D/HH Program web site for information on how to obtain speech-to-text services.  http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/CCS.htm
    

17. Academic Advisor:  It is your academic responsibility to establish an on-going relationship with an academic advisor.  This should be done during your first semester at the university so that you will have access to information for appropriate course selection during your academic career at UWM.  The D/HH Student Advisor will assist you with accommodation-related issues, but will not assist you in choosing your classes.  Please plan ahead if you need a service provider to meet with your advisor.  The Support Service Request Form can be found on the UWM D/HH Program web site at http://www.uwm.edu/cgi-bin/Dept/DSAD/SAC/srf.pl or in Mitchell 120 (the yellow form).
    

18. Captionist Concerns:  Address concerns about the quality of the real-time services first with the speech-to-text service provider.  Contact the Assistant Program Manager if the concerns are not resolved after talking with the service provider.
    

19. Appeal Process:  For students who are denied support services, (i.e. student requests a classroom service provider, however, based on previous support services, degree of hearing loss and other pertinent information, this request is denied) an appeal process can be initiated.  An appeal form is included in the D/HH Student Handbook that you received when you registered with the D/HH Program.  The appeal form can also be found on the UWM D/HH Program web site at http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/SACappealpolicy.html.  Additional forms and specific information about the appeal process is available through the SAC office in Mitchell 112.
    

20. Questions:  The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program is here as your ally.  If you have any special needs or concerns, please direct them to the Program Manager, Susan Gordon, in the D/HH office, Mitchell Hall, Room 120, (414) 229-4549, skg@uwm.edu.
    

I have read the above document and agree to follow the guidelines that delineate my responsibilities as a student receiving support service from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.