FACULTY RESOURCES
Syllabus statements:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with the ADA, all students with a documented disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations and services to support their academic success and safety. Though a request for services may be made at any time, services are best applied when they are requested at or before the start of the semester. To receive accommodations and services the student should immediately contact the Disability Services Coordinator at: 204-E ADUC, 606-783-5188, or e.day@moreheadstate.edu.
Campus Safety Statement:
Emergency response information will be discussed in class. Students should familiarize themselves with the nearest exit routes in the event evacuation becomes necessary. You should notify your instructor at the beginning of the semester if you have special needs or will require assistance during an emergency evacuation. Students should familiarize themselves with emergency response protocols at: http://www.moreheadstate.edu/emergency.
FACULTY FAQ
How are accommodations determined?
Upon receipt of appropriate documentation from a qualified professional, it is reviewed to ensure that it meets DS criteria. Guidelines exist, but specific accommodations are always set on a case-by-case basis with the student’s active involvement. They must also be reasonable and appropriate from the University’s standpoint. Prior to granting an uncommon accommodation, the professor involved will be consulted as to whether it would compromise an essential element of the course.
What types of accommodations/services are available?
Too many to list, but here are some of the more common classroom-related ones:
▪ Extended test-taking time ▪ Note-takers ▪ Readers for tests ▪ Scribes for recording test responses ▪ Electronic textbooks ▪ Enlarged materials ▪ Permission to record lectures ▪ Excused disability-related absences, tardiness, or breaks ▪ Assistive Technology ▪ Use of SpellCheck or no penalty for spelling errors ▪ Preferential seating ▪ Reduced-distraction testing location ▪ Course delivery alterations for deaf or blind students
What is the professor’s role in providing accommodations?
If a student with a disability needs to be accommodated by you, the DS Coordinator will notify you via campus e-mail, typically a few days prior to the start of a semester. The e-mail subject line will always be: “Notification of Disability Accommodations”. Included will be the student’s name, the course number and section, and a description of the approved accommodations you need to provide. Sometimes students will attempt a course on their own (e.g., take a first exam) before requesting assistance. In that case you will be notified shortly after they request services. Note: rights to accommodations are not retroactive – they commence on the date of the e-mailed notice.
How should I handle a student’s informal request for accommodations?
Please refer him/her to the DS Office first, before providing or agreeing to provide any course alterations. Even though accommodating immediately may seem more efficient (or friendly), acting on a student’s self report is against policy and can result in problems (e.g., unwarranted or uneven treatment of students, unnecessary work for you, and it could establish an obligation for other faculty).
What if a student says they are worried about being stigmatized if they formally seek services?
The door to the DS office is identified by its room number and the Coordinator's name rather than by special signage. Disability records are confidential, kept in a locked file cabinet in the DS office, and released at the student’s request. Receipt of accommodations is not noted on the academic transcript. Providers of accommodations are obligated to keep the identity of users confidential to the full extent possible. Please share this information with a cautious student.
Does the student have any obligations in this process?
Yes. More self-assertion is required here than in high school. The student must make the first move by contacting the DS Office and submitting the requested documentation. Following the intake session they are given a copy of the policies and procedures that were discussed, many of which rely upon future assertive behavior. For example, in a test-related accommodation the student must contact you at the class session prior to each scheduled exam and ask when and where to report on the test date. Thus, it is the student who initiates each occurrence of this type of accommodation. In preparation for a semester-long working relationship, I advise students to introduce themselves during the first few days of class. To help launch this assertive process, I mention that I will have already “broken the ice” by sending the notification, and that you will be expecting them to approach you.
What if I receive an accommodation notice but the student does not come forward to use it?
He/she may have forgotten the procedure, perhaps feels intimidated, or has simply decided not to use them in your class. After a week or so you might privately ask about their intentions or notify the DS office, although no obligation exists on your part.
Where do I turn if I am unable to provide a testing accommodation myself?
Look first to your department for someone able to proctor, read, scribe, or provide a reduced distraction location on your behalf. Unfortunately, the Disability Services office hasn’t the resources to widely administer accommodated testing for the campus. However, the obligation for the university does not end at that point, so do think of the DS office as a “back-up to your back-up”. Working together we will reach a solution.
I've been asked to administer my tests under "reduced-distraction" conditions. How is that possible?
Students deserving this accommodation are not guaranteed a location free of all potential distractions. Typically it calls for testing in a closed room with only the proctor present, a seat facing away from windows, without avoidable interruptions, music, or ringing phones. The DS office has a set of noise-canceling headphones you may check out if needed.
What safeguards exist to prevent unauthorized release of materials such as supplemental notes or recordings of my class lectures? What if I am simply uncomfortable being recorded?
Accommodated students sign an agreement on file in the DS office stating that materials are for their use only and may not be shared or sold (in a private meeting with the student, you could add your emphasis to these points, if you like). Accommodations are approved when supported by documentation and a student’s particular access needs, therefore you may not deny a right to record. If your class format includes the sharing of sensitive information by other classmates or yourself that will not be included on a test, you may signal the student to stop recording during just those portions.
Do I have any recourse if I disagree with the accommodations that have been approved in one of my classes?
Yes, you do. Start by discussing your concerns with the DS Coordinator. If you still feel the accommodations are inappropriate, please review your objections with your department Chair and forward any additional opinions to the DS office. If the outcome remains unsatisfactory to you, you may bring the issue to the Office of the Provost, 205 Howell-McDowell Building.
What if I suspect that a student has an undisclosed or undiagnosed learning disability that is impacting their performance in my class?
This is a delicate subject. While the potential for discrimination is rarely an issue in this context, I do not recommend directly inquiring about the existence of a disability. A private academic conference may give you an opening to suggest several possible explanations for poor performance (including learning disabilities) without implying that it applies in their case. It the student brings up the topic and is receptive, of course you are free to discuss the disability issue in detail. Alternatively, you could address learning disabilities in a general way with the whole class as a follow-up to an exam, and share our contact information.
Do accommodations apply in an Internet course?
Yes. Online courses offer more flexibility for every student, so overall fewer modifications are needed for students with disabilities. You will be notified of any accommodations to be provided by you.
Can I fail a student with an established disability?
Yes, if appropriate academic accommodations were provided yet the student did not meet essential course requirements. Laws exist to ensure equal access to education, not to guarantee a particular student’s success or to create an unfair advantage.
If a student complains about the extent of the accommodations approved by the DS office, where should I direct him/her?
Please clarify with the student that their dissatisfaction has already been discussed with DS personnel. If so, then the student may use the official complaint process available through the Office of the Provost, 205 Howell-McDowell Building.
OTHER POINTS:
► Students are not obligated to identify themselves as having a disability or to access accommodations for which they have been approved. They may also elect to use them in certain classes but not in others.
► Extended time ≠ unlimited time. Your accommodation notice will indicate either time-and-a-half, or double the time normally allotted for testing.
► Professors are entitled to adequate lead-time to make course and test modifications. Students are informed that they cannot simply show up and expect to be accommodated on the spot.
► The DS coordinator is also available for academic support and counseling to students with disabilities, but these services are driven by student request. If you find that someone you are accommodating needs additional help, please refer them back to this office.
► To maximize privacy, notices to professors will not indicate the specific nature of a disability unless that information is essential to the delivery of an accommodation or for safety reasons. Students are encouraged to share this information with you if they are comfortable doing so, although it cannot be required. Additional accommodations being provided by others are not disclosed.
► Accommodation notices and the student's identity are to be treated confidentially, and shared only to the extent necessary to provide the modifications mentioned. It is the professor’s responsibility to select trustworthy proctors and student note-takers who agree to maintain confidentiality as well. Under no circumstances should accommodations be arranged through an announcement in class. Even students whose accommodations take place in the classroom (special seating, receipt of special materials, etc.), understandably would like to be singled out as little as possible.
► Disability information for students can be found on the MSU website’s A-Z list under "Disability" or directly at: www.moreheadstate.edu/Disability
► You can call the DS office at any time for clarification on how to make an accommodation, to discuss a referral, or to trouble-shoot any problems. Your suggestions and feedback are always welcome.
