Center for Teaching and Learning

Accommodating Students with Disabilities at UMSL and Faculty Syllabus Suggestions

 

Accommodating Students with Disabilities at UMSL
Frequently Asked Questions and Suggestions for the Syllabus
Disability Access Services Office
144 Millennium Student Center, 314-516-6554

 

  1. Does UMSL have a policy or procedure regarding students with disabilities?

Yes, Executive Order No. 21 was implemented on 11/1/84; amended 2/25/97. 240.040 Policy Related to Students with Disabilities. It actually covers all four UM campuses. This policy assures that mandated reasonable classroom accommodations are provided to students with disabilities and eliminates the need for faculty to make accessibility/accommodation decisions.

  1. How will I know that a student is eligible to receive reasonable classroom accommodations for my course?

The student will deliver a personal/confidential notification memo identifying him/herself as a registrant with Disability Access Services and what eligible classroom accommodations that he/she may need in your course.

  1. Exactly what do I do when I am handed a disability notification memo?

Students with disabilities are responsible for introducing themselves to you and informing you that they plan to use the requested accommodations listed in the memo. Remember, the memo says that the student is eligible for but may or may not need the accommodation in every course. Discuss how the accommodations will be arranged with the student.

  1. What if I am handed a notification memo by a student late in the semester and the accommodations are requested?

     Begin accommodations at that point. Accommodations are not retroactive. Exams prior to official requests are over and done. If a student comes to you after they've taken an exam, done poorly, and says, "I really should have had extended time," it's too late for that exam. The accommodation will be applied to future exams.
  1. What should I do when a student identifies him/herself to me without any notification from DAS and requests extended time for exams or other accommodations?

Inform the student that the university has a policy and procedure for providing accommodations that you must follow and refer them to Disability Access Services

  1. What should I do when it's the day of my exam and a student franticly informs me that he/she must have extended test time?

Do not be intimidated into placing yourself in the uncomfortable position of determining if a student is eligible to receive classroom accommodations in your course, particularly on the day of your exam. You have the right to say, "I'm sorry, but those arrangements must be made in advance. I can't accommodate you today for this exam. I will need to reschedule the exam after you have been to Disability Access Services." Refer them to the DAS office. DAS will determine if the student has an appropriately documented and diagnosed disability and is eligible to receive the accommodation. This legally covers you and prevents you from providing something to a student who may not be eligible; therefore, discriminating and being unfair to the rest of your class.

  1. What if a student presents medical documentation to me and requests accommodations?
  1. Never accept disability evaluations or medical documentation from a student. This information is confidential and should be on file in the Disability Access Office. You don't want to be responsible for keeping confidential information confidential.
  2. You may accept Doctor's statements for absences from your class. These statements don't include detailed information regarding the student's specific medical diagnosis and condition. You do need to verify that an absence was for legitimate medical reasons and that the student was seen and treated by the doctor on that given day and time. Other detailed information can prove to be uncomfortable knowledge to possess and more than you ever wanted to know or deal with.
  1. John Doe brought me a notification memo. John doesn't appear to understand the lecture and is not passing any of my exams. He isn't passing my course. What should I do about his grade?

You have provided John Doe with his reasonable classroom accommodations and made your course accessible to him. You must now evaluate this student according to the grade that he earns just like the other students in your course. As you might for other students, consider using the Academic Alert system to refer him to campus offices that can support his academic success.

  1. What should be done with the hard copies of the confidential disability notification memos after the student's eligible accommodations have been established in my class?

Please shred the memo after you have met with the individual student! Disability Access Services will always have a copy of each notification memo on file should there be a need for one.

Faculty Syllabus Suggestions

Many faculty members at UMSL have included statements regarding students with disabilities in their syllabi for years and are doing a fantastic job. It is the best way to inform students of their responsibility to identify themselves and request accommodations in a timely manner. Also, as long as they have the syllabus, the information is always there to remind them and they can't say that they were not informed or didn't know what to do.

The following are examples that you can feel free to copy and paste, use as is, change, or modify.

Suggestions:

  1. To request academic accommodations (for example, extended time on exams, a note taker, or accommodations to access library materials on reserve), students must register with Disability Access Services, 144 Millennium Student Center, 314-516-6554. This is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations, and for accommodation planning in cooperation with students and instructors, as needed and consistent with course requirements.
  2. If anyone has a health condition or disability, which may require accommodations in order to effectively participate in this course, please contact the Disability Access Services Office in 144 Millennium Student Center at 314-516-6554. Information about your disability will be regarded as confidential.
  3. Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact the Disability Access Services Office in 144 Millennium Student Center at 314-0516-6554 as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are arranged in a timely fashion.
  4. This University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which stipulates that no student shall be denied the benefits of an education solely by reason of a disability. Disabilities covered by law may include, but are not limited to, learning disorders, attention deficit disorders, hearing loss, vision loss, or mobility impairments. If you have a disability that may have some impact upon your work in this class or for which you may require accommodations, please contact the Disability Access Services Office in 144 Millennium Student Center at 314-516-6554.
  5. Students with disabilities, including invisible conditions such as chronic health conditions, learning disorders, head injury or attention deficit/hyperactive disorders, are urged to contact the Disability Access Services Office in 144 Millennium Student Center at 314-516-6554.This office will appropriately assess your individual accommodation needs, maintain your disability documentation confidentially on file, and coordinate appropriate classroom accommodations on your behalf.

Revised 6/25/2010

ctl