Viruses
A virus can spell disaster. Your use of a reputable anti-virus program is a requirement for participation in this course (good ones include McAfee or Norton). Also, back up your files: "My hard drive crashed." "My modem doesn't work." "My printer is out of ink." These are today's equivalents of "My dog ate my homework." These events really do occur and they are really inconvenient when they do. However, these are not valid excuses for failing to submit your work on time so please plan in advance to avoid them.
Technical Resources
For specific problems in any of the areas below or for further information go to the corresponding link for assistance:
- ACHS.edu Home Page will help you find ACHS resources http://www.achs.edu
- Help Desk email helpdesk@myachsclass.org - You can also call the Help Desk at (877) 740-2213
- Hardware/Software Requirements - http://myachsclass.org
If your equipment problems prevent you from using a computer at home, virtually every public library offers Internet access.
Non-Technical Student Resources:
- Student Services stuserv@achs.edu or (800) 487-8839
- Registrar registrar@achs.edu or (800) 487-8839
- Business Office (for payment issues) (800) 487-8839
Access Policy
ACHS is committed to providing accessible programs to all students and makes reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities based on ADA requirements. Please notify your Admissions Advisor of any disability that may affect your studies at ACHS so that appropriate accommodations can be made.
Accommodations may include granting additional time to complete the course based on the disability rating as advised by your case worker or physician or completing the course in writing rather than online.
Our online platform, eCollege, exceeds the defined student requirements of Section 508, the U.S. Federal Accessibility Standard for electronic and information technology, to provide an accessible environment for disabled faculty to author course content.
Through its state-of-the-art courseware and support services, our platform has broken new ground in addressing the needs of blind, deaf, and mobility-impaired students learning online, as well as disabled faculty authoring online courses.
What Our Platform Offers
Accessibility
- Addresses the needs of blind, deaf, and mobility-impaired students.
- Accessible beyond disabled students learning online to also include disabled faculty authoring online courses.
- "Chat" feature provides a text-based HTML choice to the Java applet.
Usability
- Courseware features set designed to improve accessibility and integrate with leading assistive technologies such as JAWS and Window-Eyes.
- Teamed up with members of the disabled community over three-year R&D effort to design and test courseware for usability.
Support
- 24x7 Help Desk technicians are trained in the use of popular assistive technologies.
- Course development consultants and instructional designers are trained to design, build, audit, and modify course content for accessibility.
- Visually impaired staff to help identify and address issues.
Availability
- Immediately available to all users with no additional purchase, upgrade or installation required.
- Transcripts are also available for instructional videos for students who are hearing-impaired.
Additional accessibility tools for Macintosh users can also be found at http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Maintaining Standards
Please help maintain standards. Report possible violations of these standards immediately, including a copy of the suspect post and the name of the poster when it occurs, to stuserv@achs.edu. Your details can be kept confidential on request. Often only re-education of appropriate behavior is needed. However, any action by a participant that, in ACHS' sole opinion, restricts or inhibits other participants from using and enjoying the ACHS website and classes is strictly prohibited. Violation of these may invoke disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from ACHS.
