What should I discuss with the student when I am presented with an accommodation letter?
It is important to lay a framework about how you and the student will work together throughout the semester.
- Ask the student what accommodations they expect to use in your class right away (recorder, 记笔记的人, 延长时间)
- Share expectations regarding notice/communication for accommodations as needed
- Outline how episodic use of accommodations (flexibility with deadlines, 出席, 休息)会起作用
Can I ask a student about their diagnosis or the nature of their disability?
No, you should not ask a student about why they receive services or why they have specific accommodations. There are times when students are comfortable discussing their disability with professors, 但大多数情况下, 学生选择不透露他们残疾的性质. 教师 may contact the student’s disability counselor to discuss helpful ways to work with students.
What if I think a student's request for accommodation impacts the integrity of my course?
如果住宿在他们的住宿信中概述, please contact the student's disability counselor to consult about your concerns. It may be possible to find alternative accommodations or there are times when an accommodation does not work given a course structure. 教师 must consult with SDS prior to denying any accommodation (some faculty have consulted once and continue to use previous SDS guidelines for the same course).
If the accommodation is not outlined in the student's accommodation letter, 我会让学生注意到这一点. They may need to be referred back to SDS to discuss whether they qualify for the accommodation. SDS appreciates notification from faculty when a referral is made to us to expedite the process.
如果我已经确定了支持学生的其他方法呢? Or want to propose an alternative accommodation to meet the needs of a student?
SDS welcomes input from faculty about meeting students' accommodation needs. 教师 are an integral part of discerning what will work in their course and how a student is performing/navigating the course. Please consult with SDS prior to replacing any approved accommodation with an alternative unless this has already been approved by a disability counselor in a previous semester for the same course.
What should I do if I suspect a student in my class has a disability and I do not have an accommodation letter from them?
The instructor’s observations in the classroom are invaluable to appropriate referrals to SDS. SDS encourages faculty to contact a disability counselor to consult about a student and whether a referral is warranted and how to make the referral.