Disability Services

DMACC provides access to Kurzweil, a software program that is loaded to the student's laptop for use while he/she is attending classes at DMACC. Staff converts students' textbooks into files supported by Kurzweil, giving students with print disabilities the same access to content and note-taking tools as their peers.

Textbook Services Project Coordinators
Kari Carpenter
Tere Glasnapp
515-964-6636
K3000a@dmacc.edu
Bldg. 6-20d, Ankeny Campus

Textbook Services Handbook

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) via the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is responsible for enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted educational programs and activities. These laws include Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities. All public and private educational institutions that receive any federal financial assistance (“schools”) must comply with this law. Title IX protects students in all of the academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools and includes prohibiting discrimination against pregnant and parenting students.

How to support pregnant students at DMACC

• Include the student in all aspects of the class. Safety concerns should be expressed directly to the student, who should be given all the relevant safety information and then allowed to make her own attendance decisions. Should a safety concern be addressed by the student, accommodations should be made to address the issue. Contact the Disability Services office to discuss accommodation options, if needed.
• Pregnancy related absences should be excused and the student should be allowed to make up missed work or tests. The college is allowed to request a doctor’s note if the school requires students with other medical conditions to submit a doctor’s note under similar circumstances. Contact the Disabilities Service office for guidance in this area.
• A student must be allowed to submit work after a deadline because of absences due to pregnancy or childbirth.
• If grading is based in part on class attendance or participation, the student should be allowed to make up the points missed due to pregnancy related absences.
• When a student returns to school after an absence, she should be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before her absence(s) began.
• Any special services provided to students who have temporary medical conditions should also be provided to a pregnant student.
• To ensure a pregnant student’s access to educational programs, when necessary, a school must make program adjustments that are reasonable and responsive to the student’s temporary pregnancy status (a school might be required to provide a larger desk or allow breaks during class). Contact the Disability Services office for any classroom needs.
• A school may offer (but not require) the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester, taking a comparable online class, or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date especially after longer periods of leave (see ES 4563 Incomplete Grades Extension of Time). The student should be allowed to choose from the options.
• A comfortable private room for mothers to pump, breastfeed, or store milk is available at the following campus locations.
  • West campus: Room 115W (request key at front desk)
  • Carroll campus: Room 168A
  • Boone campus: Room 129
  • Urban campus: Bldg. 1, Room 214A
  • Newton campus: Bldg. 1, Room 262
  • Ankeny campus: Bldg. 5, Room 1217 (access the key to the room at the Student Center Front Office, room 1102); Bldg. 9, Rooms 17D and 29
• Contact the Disability Services office to discuss any questions (515) 964-6850.

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Washington, D.C., 2013. This publication is available on the Department’s Office for Civil Rights website. Any updates to this publication will be available at this site.

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats.

Interpreter Request Form

Complete an Interpreter Request Form

Sign Language Interpreters

DMACC employs licensed staff interpreters to provide communication access district-wide for students who are deaf/hard of hearing. DMACC's interpreters value the rights of deaf/hard of hearing students, meet the requirements of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and support students in reaching their full potential.

Interpreting Services may be scheduled for classes, meetings, peer tutoring, homework help in the Academic Achievement Center, and other DMACC-sponsored events.

Staff Interpreter Directory

Lisa Inskeep
515-965-6034 Office
515-249-5673 Cell
lsinskeep@dmacc.edu

Lori Hamilton
515-964-6872 Office
515-249-5694 Cell
llhamilton1@dmacc.edu

Student FAQ's

How do I request a sign language interpreter for a DMACC related appointment or event?

Complete an Interpreter Request Form.

How do I request a sign language interpreter for classes?

Apply for accommodations. Visit the How to Apply page for application information. Provide a copy of your class schedule.

Will I have DMACC staff interpreters or freelance interpreters?

Sign language interpreters are assigned based on availability and student need.

Who should I contact if I am going to be late or cannot attend class?

Contact information will be determined the first week of classes.

Who should I contact if I have concerns regarding my accommodations?

Contact Jennifer Argo, Disability Services Coordinator, at jdargo@dmacc.edu or at 515-964-6850.

Accidents happen! And while they may not lead to a disability, they may interfere with coursework or other college activities.

If you are in need of a temporary accommodation to address, for example, a broken arm, complete the application for accommodation and indicate that the request is for a temporary accommodation.

Students at the following campuses can request testing accommodations at the links below.

• Ankeny Campus Test Accommodation Request
• Urban Campus Test Accommodation Request
• West Campus Test Accommodation Request