Student Disability Services provides assistance to faculty in the implementation of academic accommodations in their classrooms and provides ongoing support through individual consultations.
We have developed an Accommodations Guide for Faculty with FAQs, common accommodation procedures, and up-to-date contact information for the office.
SDS welcomes individual consultations with faculty; common individual consultation topics include:
- Questions regarding the implementation of approved accommodations specific to a course
- Concerns about student access or brainstorming creative solutions to barriers
- Creating an inclusive environment for students with disabilities to thrive
SDS is also available for more formal presentations to faculty groups; previous presentation topics include:
- How to develop departmental-wide policies for accommodating students with disabilities
- Education about specific types of disabilities and rationale for accommodation
- Best practices for communication regarding accommodation
Faculty should include a syllabus statement about the process to qualify for academic accommodations. Please include the following statement on your course syllabus:
Student Disability Services coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities (medical, learning or psychological). Students needing accommodation based on a disability should follow the university’s accommodation procedure by contacting Student Disability Services (sds@jxyg88.com or 512-448-8561).
Please visit the SDS Testing Center website for information on testing policies and procedures.
After a student has been approved for accommodation by SDS, the student will share their 504 accommodation letter electronically using Box (the university file sharing program). For more information on how to use Box, please visit OIT Support for Box. If you have questions about how to implement these accommodations, please call or email the disability counselor listed on the letter.
If you have questions about policies regarding animals on campus, please see the university Service and Assistance Animal Policy. In general, only trained service animals are allowed in academic buildings. If a student brings an animal to your classroom and you have concerns, please contact SDS as soon as possible to discuss next steps. SDS is available for training related to animals on campus as well.
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, note taker, extended time)
- Share expectations regarding notice/communication for accommodations as needed
- Outline how episodic use of accommodations (flexibility with deadlines, attendance, breaks) will work
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, but in most cases, students choose not to disclose the nature of their disability. Faculty 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?
If the accommodation is outlined in their accommodation letter, 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. Faculty 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, I would bring this to the student's attention. 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.
What if I have identified additional ways to support the student? Or want to propose an alternative accommodation to meet the needs of a student?
SDS welcomes input from faculty about meeting students' accommodation needs. Faculty 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.