Guide to Accommodations

New DSS Instructor Portal

The Instructor Portal makes it easier for instructors and faculty to manage student accommodations. Through this portal, instructors can:

1. View all student accommodation letters across all their courses in one location.

2. See all exam requests submitted by students in their courses.

3. Bulk upload exams and instructions for the Test Accommodation Center.

Find User Guides on the Instructor Portal Page

When and How to Refer Students to DSS

If a student discloses to you that they have a diagnosis that is affecting their participation, please regard it as confidential information and encourage the student to contact DSS.

If a student hasn’t disclosed to you that they have a disability but you suspect they may need DSS support, provide them with various campus resources including DSS. Other campus resources can include the Center for Counseling and Student Development and Academic Coaching and Tutoring.

Disability Statement for Syllabi

All instructors are encouraged to include a disability statement on their course syllabus. This statement introduces the university’s accommodation process, creates a collaborative vehicle for making legally-mandated accommodations and helps to build a positive and welcoming environment for students with disabilities.

Example Statement:

Any student who may need an accommodation based on a disability should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) as soon as possible. For more information, please visit Getting Started.

Contact DSS by phone: 302-831-4643; fax: 302-831-3261; website: udel.edu/dss; email: dssoffice@udel.edu; or visit 240 Academy Street, Alison Hall, Suite 130 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.).

What Happens When a Student Seeks DSS Support

Students who register with DSS will work with an Accommodation Coordinator to determine the functional impact of their diagnosis. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis using an interactive process.

Students registered with DSS are responsible for sending their Faculty Notification Letters each semester. DSS encourages all students to speak to their instructors about accommodation implementation.

Need Training? We're Here to Help

We offer presentations and informational sessions designed specifically for faculty and staff to increase awareness of the academic accommodation process, disability issues and accessibility best practices.

DSS Presentation Request Form

UD Accessibility

The UD Accessibility page provides training, tools and other resources to help faculty and staff meet UD’s accessibility standards. 

For additional support, Academic Technology Services (ATS) provides personal assistance for teaching in the classroom and online. Visit the Canvas Help for Faculty page from Academic Technology Services for resources and to request a consultation. 

Test Accommodations

As an instructor, you may be asked to provide reasonable academic accommodations for a student in your course who has a documented disability on file with Disability Support Services (DSS). This is likely to include assisting with approved test accommodations. Faculty may choose to make arrangements to provide appropriate test accommodations for students.

Accommodating Students in Canvas

Academic Technology Services (ATS) provides resources for instructors on using Canvas, including how to add extra time to a quiz in Canvas.

Visit Canvas Help for Faculty for additional resources and/or to request a consultation.

Test Accommodation Center (TAC)

DSS provides a proctored test center that is available to support disability-related testing accommodations.

Students taking exams through an online platform such as Canvas will need to bring their own device. If a lockdown browser is being used, students will need to have that downloaded to their device prior to coming into the TAC.

While every effort will be made to accommodate students at the time and day of their exam, DSS expects there will be times when the student cannot take the test at the same time or day of the class. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Faculty Responsibilities for Exams at the TAC

1. Please communicate privately with students who have approved accommodation(s) as to the best way to access accommodation(s) for your course. Faculty may choose to make arrangements to provide appropriate test accommodations for students.
2. If a student in your class is testing in the TAC, please provide the test and the noted instructions at least 48 hours in advance. You may upload your test and instructions to the secure DSS Portal link that you’ll receive through email, hand deliver your test or email your test and instructions to dssproctor@udel.edu. Please do not send exams through campus mail or USPS.
3. Please ensure that tests are legible, complete and in an accessible format.
4. If a student uses Kurzweil or other assistive software for reading or writing, it would be best to check with the student to see what they need for exams. Several of the assistive technology tools are compatible with Canvas. If you are using a different platform for exams, you can contact the DSS office for more information. Students taking exams in the Test Accommodation Center will have access to approved assistive technology.
5. Students taking exams through an online platform such as Canvas will need to bring their own device. If a lockdown browser is being used, students will need to have that downloaded to their device prior to coming into the TAC.
6. Faculty may indicate on the exam instruction link if they prefer to pick-up the test after completion.
7. Please contact the TAC directly with questions during regular hours of operation.

Test Accommodation Center Responsibilities

1. TAC proctors will receive provided exams and administer them in accordance with clearly noted instructions. When needed, the proctors will assist in putting the test materials in an accessible format when assistive technology is an approved accommodation.
2. TAC proctors will attempt to contact faculty/course instructors with questions or concerns regarding the test or administration. The proctors will also attempt to reach faculty if students have questions while taking the test in the TAC.
3. Unless otherwise noted on the exam instruction link, tests will be delivered to your department, generally within 24 hours of their completion. DSS can hold tests for faculty to pick up in the TAC if noted on the exam instruction link.
4. Please be aware that while attempts are made to provide needed software/programs for tests, not all software/programs are available in the TAC. In general the computers in the TAC do not have internet access and therefore web based tests may not be able to be administered in the TAC. Please contact the proctors with questions regarding software programs or web-based tests.