Counseling Center

What is this "accommodations" letter I got from the CC?

Students who have a disability may request "accommodations" for the disability. "Accommodations" refers to legally protected allowances for a disabled person. Being asked to provide an accommodation is different from being asked to give consideration to a student's situation. The Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students may ask you to be lenient with a student who has missed classes due to illness, but this is different from a legally protected disability accommodation. Accommodations are recommended only via Services for Students with Disabilities, a part of the Counseling Center. Accommodations are intended to level the playing field for the student, so he/she is not at a disadvantage relative to other students as a consequence of the disability.

If a student brings you an accommodations agreement, the student has submitted appropriate documentation that supports the need for an accommodation and has met with staff here. The agreement you receive is recommending the accommodations that are deemed appropriate. As a professor, you must then ensure that the student receives the requested accommodations.

Do I have to provide a disabled student with accommodations or with these particular accommodations?

Yes and no. By law, a disabled student must be granted appropriate accommodations, so you cannot legally refuse to grant a student necessary accommodations: doing so subjects you and the University to legal liability for discrimination. If, however, you have a potentially legitimate objection to a particular accommodation in a particular situation, you may have grounds to either offer an alternative accommodation or deny the accommodation. Consider the following two examples.

1. Student X is being granted "no penalties for in-class spelling errors." The student, however, is enrolled in your class in Old English Language and Literature. Part of your curriculum requires students to differentiate different Old English words according to spelling. Allowing a spelling waiver fundamentally alters your curriculum. Here-you probably have the basis for refusing the accommodation. But you bear the responsibility for discussing the situation with the student as soon as you become aware of his recommended accommodation and with the CC who can help you evaluate the defensibility of your position and any further steps you should take to ensure you're not legally liable for denying an accommodation and to otherwise help the student.
2. Student X is being granted extended time for in-class tests. You believe that extended time is an inappropriate accommodation for a college student and thus deny it. Here, you are potentially liable for discrimination, as your rationale is not specific to the student and situation and, furthermore, is based in your personal values rather than in your academic defense of the situation.

What if a student tells me s/he has a disability but doesn't provide me with an agreement from the CC ?

As a professor, you may make any changes to your course and course requirements that you choose. So if a student tells you s/he has a disability and asks for extra time on tests, you are free to give it.There are a couple of caveats to note with regard to this approach, however.

1. This student may not actually have a disability or may not have a disability that meets our standards for accommodations. By providing an accommodation, then, may be advantaging him/her relative to classmates. Most students tell the truth; but not all do.
2. This happens not infrequently: Professors one semester do not require an accommodations agreement. Professors the next semester do. The student may not know about this disparity until right before finals, having assumed, based on previous experience, that all professors would similarly allow the accommodations without an accommodations agreement from the CC. The student then frantically presents to the CC only to be told that his/her documentation is inadequate and does not qualify the student for accommodations. They are referred for additional testing/documentation but cannot secure it timely enough for finals this semester.

What if I suspect a student has a learning disability but s/he hasn't been diagnosed?

You can refer the student to the CC for further information. The student need only call us to schedule an appointment. For several reasons, we do not provide testing for learning disabilities, nor do we diagnose or treat ADD/ADHD. We will, however, screen a student for problems and make recommendations about whether testing seems a worthwhile pursuit. (Testing for learning disabilities is very time-consuming and very costly. Most often the cost is not covered by insurance.) We maintain a list of persons in many states who seem to us to be especially adept at testing and are happy to offer referrals to students.

If my syllabus requires students who need accommodations to see me within the first 2 weeks of the semester, can I deny accommodations to those who didn't see me until later?

No. You can ask students to notify you within a certain time period, but if they fail to do so, you still cannot legally deny accommodations. There is one exception to this dictum: the student must give you "reasonable" notice to prepare the accommodation.

Should I put a notice about disabilities on my syllabus?

Yes. Putting a notice in your syllabus indicates to students that you are aware of disabilities issues and encourages students to speak with you. Here is a sample statement: If you have a disability for which you need accommodations, please notify me as soon as possible. Please note that in order to receive accommodations, you must 1) submit documentation to the Coordinator of Disability Services for review and approval, and 2) meet with a member of the Disabilities Coordinator, preferably within the first one to two weeks of the semester. You can schedule an appointment by calling (570) 372-4751 (Counseling Center Secretary) or 372-4340 (Coordinator of Disability Services.

Where can I get additional information about teaching students with disabilities?