Faculty Guidelines

The following provides answers for some often asked questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:

 

When working with a student with a disability, we sometimes are concerned about making sure that we are providing accommodations appropriately.  Here are some basic guidelines:

• A student is not considered to be a student with a disability by the University unless they have registered with Disability Support Services (DSS). 
• A student who tells you that they need an accommodation should be treated in the same way you would treat any student, unless they present a Letter of Accommodation (LOA).
• Accommodations BEGIN AFTER the student has provided the instructor (including teaching assistants) with an official LOA from DSS.  The student is responsible for this action. 
• The instructor must SIGN the LOA Receipt Form to acknowledge requirements of the LOA. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the signature/confirmation and ensure its return to DSS.
• Accommodations must not change the educational integrity of the course or the curriculum.
• If you believe an accommodation will interfere with educational integrity of the course, contact DSS (x 6203) to verify.   DSS is adept at finding solutions that may allow an accommodation without altering educational integrity.
• ALL students should be held to the same educational and behavioral standards.
• If you would allow a make-up exam for a student without accommodations due to illness, then you would also allow a make-up exam for a student with accommodations.
• If a student without accommodations misses a make-up exam, and you would fail that student, then you would do the same for the student with accommodations.
• If a student without accommodations is sufficiently disruptive that you would report them to your department chair or judicial affairs, then you would do the same for the student with accommodations.

If you have any questions about implementing any of these guidelines please contact DSS (x 6203 OR dssproctor@uah.edu ) before taking action.