Table of Contents

Collaboration

The Student Accessibility Office (SAO) is here to support interactions between students and faculty. The institution has designated an accessibility services office to evaluate documentation and notify faculty regarding academic accommodations. An institution of higher education protects faculty members from unwarranted and dysfunctional pressures by designating a particular office as the place where documentation about disabilities is filed, and where the institution’s experience is concentrated for accommodation design and development. Faculty members are protected by complying with the accommodations recommended by the SAO, keeping the Reasonable Accommodation Policy in mind, and are encouraged to consult with SAO staff regarding the propriety of accommodations within the curriculum.

Faculty are encouraged to announce at the beginning of the semester, and to include a statement in the syllabus, inviting students with disabilities to schedule a meeting to discuss the nature of the disability. If a faculty member suspects that a student has a disability, they should discuss the concern with the student and then, if appropriate, refer the student to the SAO. If a disability is brought to a faculty member’s attention, the faculty member is encouraged to refer the student to the SAO so that appropriate accommodations can be put in place. The SAO will not ask faculty to compromise the quality of instruction or evaluation, or to sacrifice class standards or objectives.

Syllabus Statement

Faculty members can copy and paste the statement below into their syllabus:

Services for students with disabilities are provided through the Student Accessibility Office in the Global Resource Center, Meeting Room E. Services include, but are not limited to: alternative text format, assistive technology information, campus accessibility, testing accommodations, advocacy, academic accommodations, and assistance with any other campus need related to a student’s disability or diagnosis. These services are available to all WNMU students. Please reach out to the Student Accessibility Office at (575) 538-6277 or accessibility@wnmu.edu to get your accommodation needs processed.

Testing and Accommodations

Testing accommodations are provided when there is a disability-related need for them. Faculty are not expected to lower their academic standards. Using approved reasonable accommodations, students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge without the need for alternative tests or different evaluation and grading standards. An Accommodation Letter states the appropriate testing accommodations, which depend upon the nature of the coursework and the disability-related needs of the individual student. A faculty member should not modify their evaluation or grading standards, but rather ensure that they are providing the reasonable accommodations already approved for that specific student.

Commonly Requested Accommodations

Extended time on assignments

A request for extended time on assignments is one of the most common accommodations across all disability groups. A student must always request the extension before the assignment’s due date; this is never a blanket accommodation. The faculty member and student discuss a specific time frame for the extension according to the student’s need and the assignment’s requirements. This accommodation requires communication from both the student and the faculty member to be carried out properly. If a student is unable to communicate with the faculty member about the need for an extension, the student should contact the SAO as soon as they are able, so that we can work toward a resolution.

Accessible seating

Students who may need front-row seating include those who cannot walk up or down steps, who have difficulty maneuvering through a row of seats, who have a vision or hearing impairment, or who have disabilities that affect their ability to remain focused on visual or auditory lecture material.

Quiet testing environment

If a student has this accommodation, the faculty member needs to provide a quiet testing environment for the student to take all quizzes and exams, with the exception of strictly online classes. The faculty member may either let the SAO know that they have a student who needs to take an exam in our proctoring space, or provide a low-distraction environment in their own building — the classroom next door, their office, or the department assistant’s office, for example. A student who wishes to test with the SAO must notify us at least 24 hours before the exam date and time. The faculty member sends the exam to the SAO by email at accessibility@wnmu.edu, or drops the exam off at the SAO in the Global Resource Center, Meeting Room E.

Alternative text format

If a student requires an alternative text format, the SAO is primarily responsible for providing it.

Excused medical absences

Students often need excused medical absences when they are actively working through their disability with a health care professional, or when they have a flare-up type of diagnosis. When a student must miss a class because of a disability, the student notifies the SAO and provides documentation showing that the absence was medically necessary. The SAO will then notify the faculty member, and the absence will be excused.

Faculty FAQ: Disability and Accommodations

Why do students with disabilities need extra time on a test even if they understand the material being tested?

Students with disabilities may use assistive technology or services that require additional time to use. Students with learning disabilities may also require extra time in order to process and comprehend the information on the test, or to write their answers to the questions.

Can I look at a student's documentation concerning their disability?

A student’s documentation is given in confidence to the Student Accessibility Office. As long as a student has an Accommodation Letter from our office, the instructor is required to implement the accommodations. If you have any questions about the accommodations, please contact the SAO to discuss your concerns.

How will I know if a student needs an accommodation in my classroom?

The student will give you an Accommodation Letter that verifies their qualification to receive accommodations. The letter also states what types of accommodations the student will need. If you have questions or concerns about the letter, please contact the Student Accessibility Office rather than asking the student.

A student told me after class that he has a disability and would like accommodations, but did not give me an Accommodation Letter. Do I provide the accommodations?

You are under no obligation to provide accommodations to a student who does not have an Accommodation Letter from the Student Accessibility Office. Direct that student to the SAO so that our staff and the student, together, can determine what eligibility and accommodations are needed to meet that student’s needs.

What should I do if a student with a disability cheats on an exam?

Students with disabilities are held to the same honor code stated in institutional policy. When a student with a disability breaks the code, they face the same consequences as students without disabilities.

There is a student in my class who tells me he has a disability, even though it does not look like he has one. How do I know if he really has a disability?

Disabilities are often described as “visible or invisible.” Invisible disabilities are those whose characteristics are not obvious to an independent observer, and may involve cognitive processing or psychological challenges. Typical invisible disabilities include learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and several health and psychological impairments. Encourage students to get an Accommodation Letter from the Student Accessibility Office, where staff will review the student’s documentation to determine whether the student has a disability and authorize appropriate accommodations.

Is it fair to other students in my class to give students with disabilities extra time on tests and assignments?

By providing the extra time, the student can be evaluated on what they know about the material being tested, rather than on the effects of their disability. This levels the playing field.

I've had several students request accommodations in the middle or end of the semester. Why do students wait so long to let me know that they need support?

Some students with disabilities attempt courses without obtaining accommodations, as they may feel embarrassed to disclose their disability, or may not need an accommodation at first. When they realize that they need to access accommodations, they seek support in order to maximize their classroom performance. Instructors can help facilitate the disclosure process by including a statement about disability and accommodation options in the syllabus. When a student speaks with you about their disability, refer them to the Student Accessibility Office if they do not have an Accommodation Letter.

Do I need to change my academic standards and objectives in order to meet the needs of students with disabilities?

No. Students with disabilities are held to the same academic standards as all students. However, students with disabilities may require modifications or accommodations so that they can fully participate in lessons, assignments, and tests.

I mainly teach through lecturing. Is this a problem for students with disabilities?

Students with an auditory processing problem may have a difficult time relying only on lectures to access information. Whenever possible, it helps to add a visual prompt to your lecture. This enhances learning not only for students with auditory processing problems, but also for the visual learners in your class, who benefit from having an outline of the class material before the lecture.

Further Support or Questions

Faculty who have questions about how to navigate accommodations in a classroom or course are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility Office for guidance. The SAO will always seek to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations that help both the student and the faculty member in the classroom. Please reach out with any question or concern at (575) 538-6277 or accessibility@wnmu.edu.