Faculty should not refuse to provide required accommodations, ask a student to disclose his or her disability, discuss in front of the class that the student is registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS), or request to examine the student’s documentation.
General
- Privately address accommodation issues with students who have a letter from SAS. Although the student is responsible for discussing accommodation needs, faculty should establish a welcoming environment.
- Accommodations allow the student to comprehend course material and communicate that comprehension to the instructor. Accommodations may not alter the fundamental nature of the course or program.
- If a student requests accommodations but does not have official documentation from SAS, the instructor should help student contact SAS. If the disability is obvious (use of a wheelchair, hearing aids, service dog, etc.) and the requested accommodation is appropriate, instructors should provide the accommodation while paperwork is completed. Otherwise, instructors are not obligated to provide requested accommodations unless notified by an SAS Accommodation Request Form.
Before the Semester Begins:
- Provide course materials (syllabus, textbook list, handouts, etc.) to the SAS to be converted to the appropriate format for students with visual impairments or reading disabilities.
- Include the following statement in your syllabus and make an announcement in class encouraging students who need accommodations to contact SAS:
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students should request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the semester begins, otherwise the accommodations may be delayed.
Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for a course must provide the instructor with the “Notice of Approved Accommodations” before accommodations are provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the “Notice of Approved Accommodations” from the student. Students are encouraged to submit this approval to the instructor at the beginning of the semester to allow time to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.
Find more information on the Student Accessibility Services website.
During the Semester:
- Review and discuss with your class evacuation procedures for your classroom and building.
- Make sure audiovisual materials are captioned for deaf students. To request closed captioning, contact Ginger Bennett.
- Contact SAS for help providing accommodations for any students with a disability.
- Complete an Exam Assistance Request Form and attach exams to be administered and/or proctored by SAS at least one week before the scheduled date of the exam.