All students who manage symptoms of a diagnosis are encouraged to connect with Disability Support Services, regardless of whether they utilize formal accommodations. However it should be noted that notification from DSS is required for exceptions to University policy and the provision of academic accommodations by faculty. Accommodations cannot be implemented retroactively. It should also be noted that accommodations that require additional communication between faculty and student will not be implemented until the student sends their DSS coordinator a written copy of the established implementation plan.
Interested in learning more? View our general descriptions of accommodations below, explore answers to our frequently asked questions, or learn more about Navigating Accommodations. Still have questions? Contact our team!
Testing accommodations apply to all formative or summative assessments whether it is a midterm, final, or in-class quiz. Generally speaking, if an assessment is timed in any way, students are entitled to use their testing accommodations. Common test accommodations include but are not limited to: extended time, testing in the least distractive environment possible, testing in a separate location, and breaks.
Coordinating test accommodations is a joint endeavor between DSS (Disability Support Services), faculty and students.
The Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL) can assist with online exam accommodation implementation.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), the Disability Support Services (DSS) provides ASL interpreter services for any eligible student, employee, or visitor.
Flexible Attendance/ Assignment Due Dates:
Flexible attendance is a reasonable accommodation for students who manage diagnoses that include an inability to plan for symptomology such as chronic conditions. The accommodation is to ensure that students experiencing an unexpected “flare up” are not penalized for missing a class or handing in information late.
The assumption behind this accommodation is that students are attending class regularly and completing assigned work (including starting long-term assignments), and that they are able to submit their work to date when a flare up occurs and need a short period to manage recovery. This is not the same as a faculty approved incomplete.
It is important that students understand this, and that should they find themselves consistently missing classes, they should contact their DSS coordinator immediately to determine options. Missing multiple classes can constitute a fundamental alteration.
While they are not required to notify us of an absence, it is in the student’s best interest, should faculty concerns arise at a later date.
Once these accommodations are determined to be reasonable through conversation between student and their DSS coordinator, accommodation notifications will be sent out and students will be asked to talk with their faculty about the flexible attendance accommodation. DSS coordinators can share effective approaches and create a talking point sheet for the student. Students will then need to confirm the parameters of the accommodation as agreed upon with faculty. DSS coordinators are encouraged to reach out to faculty to address any concerns or questions regarding the implementation of the accommodation.
Alternative Format Policy:
Alternative formats of texts are available for students. For audio versions of texts, DSS encourages students to access publisher provided versions of texts books and the library. However, should an audio version of the text not be available, DSS can assist with accessing materials. Additionally, for students who use access software, DSS is able to create versions of the text to support use on these platforms.
Faculty are encouraged to employ best practices when providing class materials to students by utilizing in-class microphones, closed captioning in videos, and PDFs that are screen-reader compatible.
Note-taking Services:
For multiple reasons, students may need to reference class lectures and materials to ensure full access to their education. To support students, we first recommend they research available audio recording devices from smart pens to software that records lectures and supports the taking of notes. These options engage students in continuing to develop skills while also providing a lifelong option for retrieving and processing information. DSS has licenses for Glean that can be shared with students for the duration of an academic year.
We can also ask faculty to provide materials such as presentations with the student, that may not otherwise be shared.
While we can certainly work with faculty and students to secure notetaking from a classmate, this option is often the least efficient. Having a note taker does not relieve a student with a disability from attending class, participating, taking their own notes and meeting other course responsibilities.
Learn more about note-taking resources.
