[Ucr-sdrc] SDRC Newsletter

[Glyn A Wild]

UCR SDRC Snapshot
A newsletter featuring reminders, resources, events and opportunities.

Follow SDRC on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/UCRSDRC>, Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/ucrsdrc>, and Twitter<https://twitter.com/UCRSDRC> for information and updates.
Do you have questions about using or requesting approved accommodations? If so, please call 951-827-3861 or email sdrc at ucr.edu<mailto:sdrc at ucr.edu>. If you call and you get our voice message, please be sure to leave a message with your name, SID, and phone number we can reach you.

Welcome to Winter Quarter 2022!!
NOTICE: First Two Weeks Winter 2022 Remote Instruction
On December 30, 2021, Chancellor Wilcox sent out an updated notice to the campus<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2021/12/30/plans-start-winter-quarter> indicating the first two weeks of Winter 2022 of instruction are occurring remotely. Please review this notice<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2021/12/21/update-beginning-winter-quarter> and ensure you are familiar with the details, as it does include requirements for ALL students to participate in COVID testing to return for Winter Quarter 2022, and COVID booster requirement by January 31. In addition, you should periodically check official UCR email and social media announcements, as the situation may evolve in the coming weeks. Please note that most student services, including SDRC, are open and available. However, services may be available virtually versus in-person.
SDRC Services Available Virtually During Week 1 of Winter 2022
The SDRC staff is working remotely at this time, as the department is in the process of complying with campus COVID mitigation guidelines. SDRC offices on campus (in the Student Services Building) will be open as soon as it is practicable to do so. Please check the SDRC website and social media for updates. In the interim, SDRC will operate remotely during normal business hours. Staff may be contacted via email and Zoom appointments. Phone messages will be checked and responded to regularly during this time. To request and appointment, you may also click on this link: https://forms.gle/EEfMMDV3arRbtA8K9.
January Programming: SDRC Winter Open House Cancelled, Other Scheduled SDRC Programs To Go On!
In the notice that was sent out on December 21, 2021<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2021/12/21/update-beginning-winter-quarter> by Chancellor Wilcox, guidelines were put in place regarding large gatherings on campus for the first two weeks of the Winter quarter 2022. As a result, the planned SDRC Winter Open House to happen on Thursday, January 6, has been cancelled. However, please note that all other SDRC programs for January will be happening virtually! To find out what is going on check out the upcoming schedule<https://sdrc.ucr.edu/events>!
Accommodation requests
Remember to visit rability.ucr.edu<https://rability.ucr.edu/clockwork/custom/misc/index> to request to use your accommodations this quarter! This allows SDRC staff to review your request, identify anything that may require SDRC assistance, and provide guidance to the faculty or student. The University needs to track exams given with accommodations to ensure that accessibility is being provided.
To protect your rights, please follow the established process in accessing approved accommodations (https://sdrc.ucr.edu/steps-accessing-approved-accommodations).  The SDRC can only support official accommodation requests submitted through R'Ability (https://rability.ucr.edu).  If arrangements are coordinated outside of the official SDRC process, you risk not receiving your SDRC-approved accommodations in a timely manner or not in a manner appropriate to your situation. Submitting your exam information allows SDRC to effectively advocate for you when necessary.
 Please see below for instructions:
 Requesting exam accommodations via R'Ability:
a. Go to rability.ucr.edu<https://rability.ucr.edu/clockwork/custom/misc/index>, select "Student Portal", Send your Quarterly Letters to Faculty.
b.Select Test or Final Exam Requests must be completed at least 10 days before scheduled exams, and at least 14 days before exams during Finals Week.
c. Please make sure exam times/dates match the class exam time/dates.
d. Look at "View Your Calendar" for confirmation of upcoming exam requests.
e. If you have any questions regarding test-taking arrangements or need assistance requesting to use your accommodations in R'Ability, , contact sdrc-exams at ucr.edu<mailto:sdrc-exams at ucr.edu> Or stop by our office during regular business hours.
E-text/Alternate Media Accommodations:
Please submit your Alternate Media Requests using the Alternate Format Textbooks module on the R'Ability<https://rability.ucr.edu/clockwork/custom/misc/index> website as soon as course materials are announced. Required course material will be prioritized. Requests may take longer than 2 weeks to fulfill due to limited staff working hours over the next 12 weeks. Please email sdrc-at at ucr.edu  if you have any questions or concerns.
Students are highly encouraged to purchase e-text versions of required textbooks. When e-text is not available, the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) works with the campus bookstore, the publishers, and other partners to provide course materials in e-text formats. To avoid delays, it is best to purchase e-versions of all available textbooks.

SDRC Bootcamp: Transitioning/Returning to UCR as a Student with a Disability
Transitioning or returning to an in-person learning environment as a student with a disability can present challenges. SDRC team members and student leaders will provide a one day boot camp opportunity on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, with multiple sessions that will help prepare you to transition to UCR.
To RSVP to any or all of the sessions below, please complete this form.<https://forms.gle/kqgDKzFyE6ZAjoQ68>
Students registered with SDRC are welcome to register to all sessions that are relevant to them.
Description of Sessions:
10:30 AM- 11:00 AM:
Session 1: "I'm Registered, Now What?'
Facilitators: Felicitas Nungaray and Hanna Randolph
Description: Whether you are new or returning, an Orientation to Services refresher is always helpful. Come join us as we review how to send out letters of accommodations to faculty, schedule tests, and/or ask questions as it relates to accessing approved accommodations.
11:00 AM- 11:30 PM
Take a Break with Student Leaders
Description: Come join SDRC Peer Mentors and the student leaders of DAPi Honor Society and the Student Disability Union.  Get to know your fellow peers in an informal setting and potentially partake in a few virtual games.

11:30 AM-12:00 PM:
Session 2: Intro to Tech Tools for Note Taking
Facilitators: Jenny Biggers and Will Pines
Description: Note taking in the college setting can be intimidating; learn about various methods that can assist with note taking and become acquainted with tech tools that can be helpful for note taking.

12:30 PM- 1:00 PM:
Take a Break with Student Leaders
Description: Come join SDRC Peer Mentors and the student leaders of DAPi Honor Society and Student Disability Union.  Get to know your fellow peers in an informal setting and potentially partake in a few virtual games.

1:00 PM -1:30 PM:
Session 3: Self-Advocacy in the College Setting
Facilitators: Jenny Biggers and Glyn Wild
Description: Improve your self-advocacy skills as it relates to requesting clarification about course material, communicating disability related information, or addressing concerns.  Additionally, this workshop will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as it relates to accessing SDRC resources during the Winter 2022 quarter.

1:30P PM - 2:00 PM:
Student Panel-Tips and Strategies for a smooth transition to UCR
Moderators: Jenny Biggers and Glyn Wild
Description: Hear from students first-hand about resources/strategies that supported their transition to UCR.

2:00 PM- 2:30 PM: Wrap Up/Final Questions
Facilitators: Felicitas Nungaray and Jenny Biggers
Description:  Any last thoughts or questions? Join us in closing out the day as we share additional resources and discuss upcoming events.

SDRC In-Office Resources
The SDRC has two in-house resources available to students registered with our office. These resources include a computer station that has access to the R'Ability Web Portal<https://rability.ucr.edu/> and CZUR, a desktop scanning utility. R'Ability is an online platform that provides collaboration between the SDRC, students with disabilities, faculty, and note takers. It facilitates the following functions:
*         Pre-registration for services for students with disabilities
*         Quarterly Letters to Faculty to notify faculty of their approved accommodations by notifying faculty of your approved accommodations
*         Schedule course tests/exams/quizzes with accommodations at the SDRC Testing Center
*         Request alternate Format Textbooks (e-text) for qualifying students
*         Note sharing for a student to volunteer as a notetaker and upload notes, and for students with disabilities to request and retrieve notes
*         Calendar for students registered with SDRC to see their scheduled appointments and exams
The CZUR scanning station is a new type of intelligent scanner whose best features are its high scanning speed, its ability to recognize and correct for curved, incorrectly positioned, or soiled pages, and its ability to quickly and easily convert scanned pages to more useful formats (including PDF, searchable PDF, and MS Word).
The scanner can automatically handle pages otherwise difficult or very time-consuming to scan. For example, it can automatically flatten the curved pages of open books (using laser lines), automatically split double pages into two, and correct pages incorrectly positioned. This allows large books to be scanned and archived very quickly.
For more information on how these new services can benefit you, please contact our office at sdrc at ucr.edu or come to our office at 1228 Student Services Building.

VISITING THE SDRC OFFICES OR TESTING CENTER?
What to know before you go!:
-          Disability Specialists are currently available by appointment only. Appointments arriving more than 10 minutes late will need to be rescheduled for an alternative time. Many times there is quite a bit of information to cover during the allocated appointment time and late start times doesn't allow enough time and/or the next appointment is delayed affecting others who are scheduled to meet with the staff member.
-          Exam accommodation spaces in the Testing Center are reserved primarily for students who have approved testing accommodations and are limited. Be sure you submitted your exam requests through rability.ucr.edu so that a seat may be reserved for you during your scheduled course exams. Proctoring an exam requires preparation and collection of information from not only you, but the instructor. Reservations and deadlines are in place to ensure SDRC can protect the integrity of the course exam process, while also ensuring students receive their approved accommodations.
SDRC COVID-19 Policies & Procedures (Effective for Main Office and Testing Center)
1)      Be prepared to show your Daily Wellness Check to SDRC staff.
2)      Wear your mask/face covering at all times, includes covering your nose and mouth, regardless of vaccination status. The only exception is if you are completely alone in a testing room, with the door shut, taking an exam. However, as soon as the door opens (regardless of reason), the mask must immediately go back on.
3)      No eating/drinking in the center that requires you to remove your mask. Arrangements will be made to comply with approved accommodation needs in the Testing Center, during scheduled exams.
4)      Respect the personal space for other students and staff.
5)      Note that SDRC staff are regularly disinfecting hi-touch surfaces in the testing rooms, countertops, doors, lockers, etc.

Come, Join SDU!
Hi Everyone,
At the SDU (Student Disability Union) we welcome all students to join us as disability allies, as we work together to promote the awareness of disabilities; we also assist individuals with disabilities by hosting awareness events, programs, and support groups.
 If you are interested in joining the SDU, please access this link<https://highlanderlink.ucr.edu/organization/sdu>, or contact us at sdupublicrelationsofficer at gmail.com.
 Also, please follow us on Instagram! Insta: @sdu_ucr<https://www.instagram.com/sdu_ucr/>

Work with a SDRC Peer Mentor
As you prepare to transition to UCR, you may benefit from working with a peer mentor.  SDRC Peer Mentors are able to assist with navigating today's challenges, offer tips when needed, and provide guidance throughout Winter 2022 quarter and, if requested, throughout the academic school year.  A peer mentor has experienced similar challenges as yourself and will be able to help.
Peer mentors have participated in extensive training, and will continue to partake in ongoing skills-development training throughout the year. Our mentors understand the importance of confidentiality and are prepared to direct you to available resources when needed.
 If you are interested in having a peer mentor, complete this questionnaire<https://forms.gle/v34X3A3EHatGaxpe6>.
 Here's a short video  explaining the benefits of having a peer mentor:
https://ucr.yuja.com/V/Video?v=1891356&node=7254454&a=4980937&autoplay=1


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