DisabledStudentPolicy

The Disabled Student & Weber State University

A Guide for Faculty, Staff, and Students

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to provide basic information and suggestions to faculty and academic staff who have occasion to interact with students with disabilities at Weber State University (WSU). This guide will also let students with disabilities who attend WSU know what to expect from the University and our program. WSU believes that individuals with disabilities should be included in all aspects of University life. This is in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973* (see last page) and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Utah State law, as well as University policy which parallels the federal requirements. Faculty and students should bear in mind that there are highly technical, legal, and sometimes complex requirements for accommodating college students with disabilities. At SSD we keep abreast of these technical requirements to ensure as best we can that students are being appropriately accommodated, that faculty are generally aware of their obligations and where to go for assistance, and that our office provides resources and expertise so that faculty can devote their energy to instruction and research.

Since needs and disabilities vary considerably, this booklet should be viewed only as a general guide to working with disabled students. We have included some suggested adjustments that can be made in the academic environment, in teaching style, and in a laboratory to enable full participation. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at (801) 626-6413 or (800) 848-7770 (voice), or (801) 626-7283 (TTY - telecommunication device for the deaf), or come by our offices in the Student Services Center, Room 181.

This handbook is available in alternative formats upon request. A simple text version may be found here.  It is also available in booklet form through SSD.  You may call one of the numbers above to request your copy.

Keys to Understanding

Awareness

Campus personnel who may need to be aware of disability accommodations and procedures include faculty, academic department staff, laboratory staff, computer lab staff, staff in academic support units such as the Student Support Center or Academic Advisement, and Library personnel. It is equally important that the disabled students whom we serve understand these same policies and procedures. Most importantly, everyone involved needs to be aware that SSD does exist and that we are prepared to provide our unique expertise and assistance.

Common Sense

In general, accommodating students with disabilities in the classroom may be more a matter of common sense than a change in teaching style or curriculum. In fact, it is our policy that SSD will never ask an instructor to change her teaching style or curriculum without consulting the instructor and her department chair in advance. When the student first initiates a request for an accommodation, or asks for a course adjustment of any kind due to a disability, your first question should be: "Have you met with an advisor in the Services for Students with Disabilities office?" If the answer is no, your next response might go something like this: "In order to get the assistance you need, you should meet with an SSD advisor; they represent the university in these situations." Meeting with a SSD advisor is simply common sense for any disabled student. SSD is where the student will find a sympathetic ear and knowledgeable replies--based upon decades of combined experience--to all their questions.

Independence

It is possible that the student would much rather work with the instructor than with SSD. It is equally likely that the student has already been to see SSD at least once. SSD encourages as much independence on the part of the student as reasonably possible. When an individual student makes any kind of simple request which would likely be granted to any other student-- disabled or otherwise--the instructor may wish to provide certain adjustments without the assistance or intervention of SSD. The last thing SSD would ever wish to do is to complicate the faculty/student relationship unnecessarily. If you are unsure about how to proceed in these situations, or you feel the accommodation is unnecessary, refer the student to SSD.

Standardized Procedures

When a student is referred to SSD, it is important for the student to understand that SSD represents the university in all matters related to requests for academic accommodations. It is equally important for the student to realize that the decision to grant or deny any request for an academic accommodation must be made with care. SSD staff are trained to evaluate these requests, and the office is the only department at the University expressly assigned to authorize such requests. The role of the instructor in this process is to recommend the best course of action for the student to receive the accommodations he may need.

As a matter of policy, SSD offers each student a letter of verification which lists any accommodations which the student is entitled to receive. The instructor is perfectly justified to ask for the letter before providing any accommodation. If the student does not have one, SSD will be glad to provide the letter once the student's situation, including documentation of the disability if needed, has been evaluated. Often, it will just be a matter of getting new letters for a new semester if the student has previously registered with our office.

Experience

As much has SSD encourages students to be responsible for their own educational needs, the issues surrounding accommodations for disabilities are extremely complex. There are legal and ethical issues to be considered, far too many to enumerate here. SSD staff have the experience and training required to evaluate requests for accommodations. Just as significantly, SSD personnel are extensively familiar with the ethical and legal issues which may arise.

Remember that some students have had much experience in explaining their accommodation needs. Others may be reluctant to discuss their needs with faculty for fear of being treated differently or stigmatized. Some with recently acquired or diagnosed disabilities have never had to discuss such issues with faculty, some students may be new to our campus and apprehensive about faculty time and willingness to talk, while others have experience in having their requests denied . Many have never been given the responsibility to talk with teachers or faculty about specific accommodation needs.

Remember too that even students with the same disability may have different accommodation needs or methods (e.g., some blind students use Braille while others use taped material or computer scanning with speech output, some students with limited motor skills may take their own notes but others use a note-taker in class, some students with learning disabilities need note-taking assistance or front-row seating while others only need extended time for tests.)

About our Philosophy

Students with disabilities are students. Faculty are not expected to lower expectations or evaluation standards. The various services and accommodations are designed and provided so that students have equal opportunity to be full participants in the academic process. At SSD we have designed the accommodations to minimize or eliminate the need for faculty to arrange or provide the accommodations. This approach emphasizes student responsibility and independence, enables faculty to devote their attentions to instruction, and ensures an appropriate level of consistency in what or how aids and accommodations are provided.

This guide and the information about disability accommodation procedures and requirements apply to WSU students with disabilities who are enrolled as regular students, as well as to qualified individuals with disabilities enrolled or participating in Distance Learning and Continuing Education courses, and any other campus-sponsored activity or program (such as various community events and performances). The information also applies to any WSU-sponsored program or activity held off campus, such as field trips or practicum experiences. Many of the auxiliary aids and reasonable accommodations discussed in this guide are legally required and must be provided by the University at no direct cost to the student or program participant with a disability. Disabled individuals requesting accommodations should be referred to SSD so that disability documentation can be acquired and appropriate accommodations arranged.

Statement on Syllabus and Class Announcement

The following statement should be included on every course syllabus: "Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary."

Since students have been known to misread or overlook material on a syllabus, it is a good idea for instructors to make the same announcement out loud during the initial class session. The instructor might also suggest that any students who have already arranged for accommodations should make an appointment to discuss these arrangements as soon as possible.

Students need to recognize that the first day of classes can be very hectic for most instructors. This is not always the best time to discuss accommodation needs. Disabled students should make an appointment so that the situation can be discussed in detail and in private.

If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this guide, feel free to contact us at: Services for Students with Disabilities (801) 626-6413 (Voice) (801) 626-7283 (TTY) E-mail address: ssd@weber.edu