Typewell Transcription
Overview
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) of Cal Poly provides Typewell Transcription services for deaf and hard of hearing students who are registered with our office.
Requirements to Receive Service
Deaf and hard of hearing students should initially verify their hearing loss with the DRC office by providing medical documentation from a physician or a licensed audiologist, including a recent audiogram.
Students should then schedule an intake appointment with the Deaf Services Specialist to discuss and make arrangements for appropriate services. At this meeting, students will sign a Typewell Transcription Agreement to confirm that they have read and understood policies related to the provision of these services.
Students should meet with the Deaf Services Specialist within one week of registering for classes to discuss realtime transcribing services to be requested for the following quarter. Students should also notify the Deaf Services Specialist of any subsequent class changes as soon as possible to allow time for support services to be arranged or altered.
Service Priority
As a result of the limited availability of Typewell transcribing resources, the Disability Resource Center has identified the following criteria to be considered when prioritizing the assignment of such services:
- Date of request for services (earliest requests are given higher priority).
- Type of class:
- Basic of pre-requisite courses required for academic progress.
- Major/support/GE courses (elective or non-academic courses will receive lower priority).
- Sequential courses critical to student's major which may be offered only at limited times during the year.
- Availability of alernative times/sections for requested course(s).
- Ability of students to voluntarily take classes together to maximize use of interpreting resources.
- Ability of DRC to provide interpreting services the previous quarter.
- Availability of accommodations that might serve as an alternative to requested interpreting service (i.e., sign-language interpreting, assistive listening devices, supplemental notetaking services, etc.).
Special Requests
As a professional courtesy, requests for educationally-related transcribing services outside of regular classroom hours should be submitted at least one week in advance to allow sufficient time to locate available transcribers. Students may request transcribing services for extra-curricular events by contacting the hosting department.
Transcriber Absences
If a transcriber is ill, or has an unexpected urgent family emergency, he or she should call the DRC as soon as possible and speak directly to the Deaf Services Specialist, or to a staff person, to specify which classes and assignment times will be missed.
Transcribers requesting substitutes for reasons other than illness or emergencies must get prior approval from the Deaf Services Specialist. As consistency of transcribing is critical, requests for substitutes will be approved only for compelling reasons and when an appropriate substitute can be found. All substitute requests must be written on a substitute request form and submitted two weeks in advance.
In the event that a transcriber fails to show up for an assignment, the student should contact the Deaf Services Specialist as soon as possible. If available, a replacement will be sent. If not, a tape recorder may be provided so that the lecture can be recorded and transcribed at a later date.
Student Absences or Class Cancellations
Students should notify the Deaf Services Specialist immediately if scheduled interpreting services are not needed so that interpreters may be redirected to other assignments. As a professional courtesy, if the student is canceling for reasons other than illness, the student is requested to notify the DRC at least 48 hours in advance.
Late Arrival
When a student is not present at the beginning of class, the interpreter will wait outside the classroom for a time period equal to five minutes for every half-hour of the class period. If the student does not arrive within the designated time, this will be considered a "no show" and the interpreter should notify the Deaf Services Specialist as soon as possible to seek reassignment. If no reassignment is available, the interpreter should return to the DRC office
Final Exams
Transcribers will not automatically be assigned for final exams. During final exam week, all services are by request only. If the student would like an interpreter for a final exam, the student should contact the Deaf Services Specialist and submit an email request two weeks in advance.
Requests for Interpreter Preference and/or Replacement
Student and interpreter preferences will be considered when determining scheduling assignments; final responsibility for assignment of interpreting resources lies with the Deaf Services Specialist.
Students and interpreters share the responsibility for the provision of high quality interpreting services. Should difficulties arise that can not be resolved, either party may contact the Deaf Services Specialist for assistance.
Note
Students will be asked to sign an "Typewell Transcription Agreement" to indicate that they have read and agree to the above policies and procedures.
