The ADA Office is the place where students with physical and emotional disabilities are served. The student follows a set of procedures to register with the office and if the registration leads to a discussion of reasonable accommodations in your class, you will be notified. Most often you will be notified at the beginning of the semester or term but sometimes it will be later in the semester. The notification, in the form of an email or letter, will often not tell you what the disability is unless it is visible, and you need to know for accommodation purposes. The letter will discuss the fact that the accommodation/s requested have been arrived at in an interactive process involving the student and the ADA Coordinator. The student will have provided documentation that verifies a substantial limitation to a major life activity and accommodations are necessary for equal access and non-discrimination. You do not have the right to see the documentation. If students do give you documentation please treat it as confidential information and encourage the student to give it to the appropriate office. For medical concerns that aren't of a permanent disability nature, it is not necessary to contact the ADA. If in doubt, please call the Coordinator.
The student is the primary advocate for him or herself. Students are expected to introduce themselves to you to communicate the approved accommodations and how they can be implemented. The ADA Office welcomes your input, as it is often necessary to determine whether the accommodation/s is reasonable in your class. Essential functions of the curriculum may not be altered or accommodated, unless agreed upon by you. Please see the fact sheet under forms and documents about what constitutes essential elements of the curriculum. The following is a list of typical accommodations in the classroom although this list is not exhaustive.
The most common accommodation is extra time on examinations at the ADA Office. There is a process for students to follow. The process is outlined in the current student section of this website and there are forms on student responsibilities for exams plus an exam cover sheet that can be printed. It is important to remember that the student must contact you first.
Students will sometimes ask for leniency in attendance or to have extra time for assignments and projects. Since students are expected to attend class just like any other student, it is up to you whether it would compromise the integrity of your course. If you allow absences beyond a set policy for any other student, you must also allow them for students with disabilities. The same is true for extensions. The bottom line is that the student with disabilities is entitled to equal access, not success. The student is expected to fully communicate with you any difficulties he or she is having in your course.
If your class or lab is taught by a TA or graduate assistant, it is your responsibility to notify the assistant about the student and/or direct the student to contact him or her.
Syllabus Disability Statement
A statement placed on course syllabi can indicate your willingness to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.
Example:
Any student who thinks s/he may need an accommodation/s based upon the impact of a disability should contact me. You will be referred to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office for students with physical or emotional disabilities and/or the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) for students with learning disabilities or ADHD.
There is a wealth of information for faculty about accommodating student with disabilities on the DO-IT webpage link in the links section.
University of Delaware Office of the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Office of Human Resources
413 Academy St., Room 165
Telephone 831-4643 :: TDD 831-4563 :: Fax 831-3261
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Last Updated: Mar 10 2006
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