AccessAbility Center

What should I do when a student hands to me directly his or her documentation of a disability?

The student should be directed to take the documentation to our office:

AccessAbility Center
North Academic Center 1/218

Staff will review the documentation to determine eligibility for accommodations and then meet with the student to discuss appropriate accommodations for each class. The staff member will also assist the student communicate with faculty about his or her accommodation needs.

Are students required to identify their disability or provide copies of disability documentation to faculty and staff?

No. Students are not required to disclose the nature of their disability, nor should they be asked to provide faculty and staff with copies of their disability documentation. Student disability documents are treated as privileged information and kept confidential in our office.

When students identify themselves as having a disability, what should faculty and staff do?

Students may notify you of a disability and express interest in seeking an accommodation. Students who request academic accommodations for disabilities but have not yet registered at the AccessAbilty Center need to be referred to our office to complete the registration process before accommodations are arranged..

Do I provide accommodations for students who orally request them but do not have documentation from the AcessAbility Center?

No. The faculty is not obligated to provide accommodations to students if they are not registered with the AccessAbility Center. Students should be directed to the AccessAbility Center for registration.

I suspect that a student has a disability. How do I talk to the student about my concern?

You can tell the student that you have noticed he/she is struggling and ask if you could suggest some campus resources that may be helpful, listing the AccessAbility Center among the resources. The student can come to our office or call (212) 650-7060 to schedule an appointment.
We will encourage students experiencing psychiatric or medical conditions to seek consultation with their physicians and/or psychologists for disability evaluation. We do have a list of community resources and can be of some assistance in directing students to resources who can help with documentation

What accommodations are required if a student discloses a disability after the fact (e.g., after failing an exam or assignment)?

If exceptions are not made for other students after-the-fact, none are required for students with disabilities. However, if exceptions are made for other students, requests such as this must be considered.

What do I do about a student with a disability who is misbehaving, threatening, or rude?

All students are expected to abide by the University Code of Conduct. Poor behavior is not excused on the basis of disability. If any student is disruptive, follow standard departmental procedures such as contacting campus security.

Should I extend deadlines or grade students with disabilities differently?

Students with disabilities are expected to meet the same course requirements as other students unless having an extended deadline is a specific accommodation in the accommodation memo provided to you from our office. Faculty members are not required to make modifications that fundamentally alter the nature and content of a course.  

In providing academic adjustments, (an institution) does not guarantee the success of the student, rather it commits itself to providing that student whatever assistance is necessary to ensure that a disabled student has the same opportunity of academic success as any other student in the same program we strive to level the playing field.
*Source: Salome Hayward, JD. Hayward, Lawton and Associates, Inc. 2002.

FAQs Adapted from the University Of Iowa Faculty FAQ