Q. |
I have a student who is having difficulty in my class. I think the student may have a disability. What should I do to help the student? |
A. |
Talk privately with the student to discuss your observations and recommend that s/he make an appointment with a professor in the Academic Support Center. Avoid labeling a student by asking if they have a disability. |
|
Q. |
What would be the best way to inform students in my class that I would like to accommodate their disabilities? |
A. |
It is strongly recommended that all faculty put a statement about accommodations in their syllabi, or make a general announcement in class. One suggested wording is as follows. "If you have a document disability, or believe that you have one, contact the Academic Support Center at extension 1347 and make an appointment with the Learning Specialist, Kathy Perzanowski (ext. 1428). She can help you obtain appropriate academic accommodations if you have the proper documentation on file. Those students who were on an IEP or 504 Plan in high school are especially encouraged to do this." |
|
Q. |
Who is responsible for determining appropriate accommodations? |
A. |
Kathy Perzanowski, the Academic Support Center Learning Specialist, will determine appropriate accommodations for students, and the Director of Human Resources will determine them for employees. Decisions about accommodations are based on documentation of the disability and the student or employee's functional limitations. |
|
Q. |
Am I required to provide accommodations to students who request them? |
A. |
Yes, you are. Students with disabilities are protected by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. This law requires that qualified students with disabilities get equal access to an education. It is important to note, however, that the student must have a documented disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and s/he must request accommodations. |
|
Q. |
A student asks me for an accommodation. How do I know the student truly has a disability and needs accommodations? |
A. |
The student should have a form from the Academic Support Center that verifies they are eligible for accommodations. |
|
Q. |
Do all students with disabilities go to the Academic Support Center? |
A. |
No, it is very likely that many students with disabilities have chosen not to disclose that fact to the Learning Specialist in the Academic Support Center. Faculty do not need to provide these students with accommodations. |
|
Q. |
I have a student in class who told me that s/he has a disability, but has never requested any accommodations. Am I still responsible for providing accommodations? |
A. |
No, you are only responsible for reasonable accommodations if requested. In this situation, however, it would be appropriate to speak to the student privately to let the student know that you welcome the opportunity to discuss reasonable accommodations, and encourage the student to go see Kathy Perzanowski, the Learning Specialist in the Academic Support Center. |
|
Q. |
Am I required to lower the standards of a required assignment because the student has a disability? |
A. |
No, the standards should be the same for all students, however, some students with disabilities may exhibit their knowledge, production, and other course expectations differently than their peers. For example, a student with a learning disability in writing may produce an essay exam by using a computer or scribe rather than writing out an answer without the use of accommodations. The quality of the work should be the same. Students with disabilities need to be "otherwise qualified to be a college student." |
