An Equal Opportunity
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What
is a Reasonable Accommodation?
A:
"Reasonable accommodation" is the term used by the
ADA and the Rehabilitation Act for modifications
made to the learning environment which eliminate to
the extent possible, physical and/or instructional
barriers to learning which a student might encounter
due to his or her disability. Because the
learning environment is designed with the
nondisabled students' abilities in mind,
students with disabilities are sometimes placed at
an initial disadvantage when they enter the
classroom. Reasonable accommodations must be
made to put students with disabilities in the same
starting position as their nondisabled classmates.
Accommodations which violate the integrity of the
program or fundamentally alter an essential
requirement of the course or program are not
considered to be reasonable.
If reasonable
accommodations are not evident, effort must be made
to look for accommodations. The student with a
disability and the Disability Services Coordinator
are invaluable resources to faculty and staff
looking for accommodation techniques and
strategies. Examples of accommodations that may be
necessary to ensure equal access to education
include, but are not limited to:
Q: What if students with disabilities
require accommodations during an examination?
A student may need an accommodation in order
to successfully complete a course exam. This may mean
that a student be allowed to give oral rather than written answers. Extended time on the exam in a
distraction-reduced room may also be a request. A test should ultimately
measure a student’s achievements and not the extent of the disability.
At the beginning of the semester, a student who has requested
testing accommodations should present their instructors with a Testing
Accommodation Request Form. Faculty fill out the entire form,
sign it, and return it to the Disability Services Coordinator. If you choose to
have Student Support Services or the Dean of Student’s Office proctor testing,
the student is responsible for making an appointment a week in advance of the
test. Faculty need to supply a copy of the test to the Disability Services
Coordinator a day or more before the test date so that an alternate format can
be made if necessary.
Q: Who makes the decision on what accommodations are to be
received?
A: With documentation, interviews with
the student, and consultation with the faculty member, the
Disability Services Coordinator is responsible for making
this decision. The University cannot require that a student
use an accommodation even if this would help him/her succeed
in the classroom. On the other hand, faculty are not
expected to conduct personal services for students. If a
faculty member has a question about an accommodation, they
are encouraged to call the Disability Services Coordinator.
If faculty and/or students are not satisfied with the
decision of the Disability Services Coordinator, they may
contact the 504/ADA Compliance Officer (see Administrative
Memorandum No. 5-01, November 26, 2001, ADA Student
Grievance Procedures).
Q: Who verifies a student’s disability?
A: The Disability Services Coordinator
(DSC) should be called to verify a student’s disability if a
student self-discloses their disability to an instructor.
Students must provide documentation to the DSC, if they have
not already done so, before they receive any accommodations. |
