Disability Studies: A Student Success Guide

Calvin provides assistance to students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, mobility impairments, hearing impairments, chronic health conditions (including allergies), psychological disabilities and temporary disabilities with a complete range of academic and non-academic opportunities. Resources and assistance for disability accommodations can be found through the Student Success office, including some of the quick links below.

Getting Around the Library

• There are three accessible entrances to the library, two on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd floor. The 2nd floor entrances are at ground-level and is the easiest to access. The main entrance is located at the east side of the building and includes a wheelchair ramp. Handicapped parking spots are available in nearby lots.
• Except for the stairwells and the restrooms on the 3rd and 4th floors, all areas of the Hekman Library are wheelchair accessible. An elevator near the center of the building provides access to all floors.
• Any student assistant or library staff person will be happy to assist with retrieving books from higher shelves. Do not hesitate to ask for help, and please let library staff know if there is a physical barrier.  
• There are bathrooms on every floor of the library, with handicap-accessible stalls on the 5th floor.

Making Use of Library Resources

• Hekman Library provides some special equipment to serve patrons with disabilities, such as book magnifiers and headphones. Please ask at the Checkout desk on the main floor to borrow.
• Many of our ebook collections and databases provide screen-reader compatible resources and provide screen magnification tools for patrons with visual disabilities. For example, EBSCO eBook Accessibility User Guide and FAQs shows accessibility options in the EBSCO EBook database.
• Some of our ebook collections and databases offer Lexile (reading level) information on their resources and allow readers with intellectual or learning disabilities to search for resources by Lexile level. Lexiles - Frequently Asked Questions to read more about Lexile level tools in the EBSCO databases.
• Hekman Library provides thorough and personal research assistance both online and in-person, through our LiveChat instant message service, through walk-up service at the Research Assistance Desk on the library main floor, and by appointment with our research librarians. To request an appointment with a librarian, either in-person or through online video conferencing, please use our appointment calendar; alternatively, select a librarian by subject and message them directly using their contact information.