Author: Rocio Perez de Matos

North Dakota State University

Disability Services

Pointers for Faculty/Instructors Working with Students with Disabilities
Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty/Instructors

Disability Services Dept. 5160
170 Wallman Wellness Center
PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-6050
(701) 231-8463
Fax (701) 231-5205

Table of Contents

Introduction 3
Pointers for Faculty/ Instructors 4
Frequently Asked Questions from Faculty/Instructors
Is the information regarding a student’s disability and
his/her need for academic accommodations
confidential? 6
How can I encourage students with disabilities to talk
with me about their accommodations? 6
Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious
difficulties whether he/she has a disability, or to refer the
student to the office that provides disability support services? 6
How do I know a student is qualified to receive disability-
related accommodations? 6
How can I encourage students with disabilities to
register with NDSU Disability Services? 7
Can a faculty member forbid a student with a disability
to use a tape recorder in class? 7
How do I know what is a reasonable academic
accommodation? 7
What if I do not agree with a recommended accommodation? 8
Some students with disabilities are provided extended
time on examinations. Is this fair to other students? 8
How are instructors informed that a student needs an
academic accommodation? 8
May I fail a student with a disability? 8
Compliance Checklist 9
Disability Services Staff 10
Additional University Resources 11

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North Dakota State University

Introduction
Each year faculty/instructors teach students with various types of disabilities. These students are protected from discrimination by federal laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA Amendments Act, Section 504 and Section 508 Act.
The mission of the Disability Services office is to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for students with disabilities to fully participate in the university environment. To ensure equal access, reasonable accommodations are identified. Implementing reasonable accommodations is a collaborative effort between the student, the faculty/instructor, and NDSU Disability Services staff.
This booklet provides general information about teaching students who have a disability. For additional information, please contact the Disability Services office at 231-8463. Disability Services staff look forward to working with you.

These materials are available upon request in alternate format. To request, please contact the Disability Services
office at 231-8463.

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Working with Students with Disabilities: Pointers for Faculty and Instructors
1. On each course syllabus include an invitation for students who need an accommodation due to disability to notify the instructor as soon as possible. See example below:
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Disability Services Office (231-8463). If you have a letter or form from their office indicating you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, present it to me so we can discuss any accommodations you might need in this class. In addition, consider reading the statement to the class and making your syllabus available on the Internet.
2. Ask students who request reasonable accommodations based on disability to provide a completed Verification of Disability Form from the Disability Services Office (signed exam reservation forms and note taker verification forms may substitute for the Verification of Disability form) Please note: You are not required to accommodate students who have not provided the proper verification from Disability Services. Examples of reasonable accommodations include: Alternative testing, note takers, sign language interpreters, tape recorders, auxiliary aids such as captioned videos & large print services, assistive technologies such as auditory trainers, text scanning and speech synthesis, computer readers, and speaking tactile graphics systems.
3. Students with disabilities are expected to inform their faculty members of their needs as early as possible in the semester. Students are not required, however, to reveal the precise nature of their disability to the faculty member; that information is maintained confidentially in the Disability Services Office. A student may choose to sign a release of information but is not required to do so. .

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North Dakota State University

PLEASE NOTE: Treat any information received about a student's disability as highly confidential and do not share it with others unless the student has provided a signed release of information form.
4. Be prepared to make modifications in degree or course requirements to reasonably accommodate the needs of students with disabilities; such modifications should be made on a case-by-case basis after consultation with appropriate campus personnel. Be aware of university offices available as resources when seeking answers to questions about these responsibilities. (See available NDSU Resources on page 10).
5. Adapt teaching techniques and materials used in the classroom, as needed, to provide accessibility and accommodation in individual cases. Disability Services staff have expertise to assist faculty in deciding which accommodations and modifications are most appropriate and helpful. For example, frequent use of visual projections may be inappropriate for a class that includes a student with a severe visual impairment. In addition, offering to share lecture notes or encouraging students with visual or motor impairments to tape lectures may greatly enhance their learning. 6. Do not advise students with disabilities toward more restrictive careers than students without disabilities (unless such advice is based on strict licensing or certification requirements in a profession).
7. Have a plan for emergency exit from the classroom and building. Consider which procedures are most appropriate for the particular disabilities of students currently enrolled; consult with the student(s) in making this determination.
8. Encourage the inclusion of people with disabilities in instructional materials and classroom discussions to facilitate positive learning experiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions
from Faculty/Instructors
Is the information regarding a student's disability and his/her need for academic accommodations confidential?
Privacy of student information, including that regarding students’ disabilities or accommodation needs, should generally be handled according to guidelines of FERPA. Personal information of this nature should only be shared with those people within the institution who have an educational need-to-know.
How can I encourage students with disabilities to talk with me about their accommodations?
Announce at the beginning of the course that you are available to discuss instructional methods and appropriate course accommodations with students who have disabilities. In addition, include a note on your course syllabus.
Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he/she has a disability, or to refer the student to the office that provides disability support services?
No. It is not a good idea to ask directly about a possible disability for a couple of reasons. First, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability. These inquiries usually relate to hiring or pre-admission screening, but when talking with students such inquiries should also be avoided. A direct inquiry such as this could also be considered intrusive or insensitive. You may simply tell the student that you notice he/she is having academic difficulty and encourage him/her to talk with you about gaining assistance, just as you would any other student.
How do I know a student is qualified to receive disability-related accommodations?
At NDSU, a student who wishes to receive disability-related accommodations must register with the Disability Services office. The student must provide documentation from an appropriate professional about his/her condition to determine eligibility for services. Once a student is determined eligible, reasonable accommodations are identified.

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North Dakota State University

The student then works with Disability Services staff to provide faculty with a verification letter/form documenting the need for academic accommodations. Accommodations are implemented by instructors or departmental designates to ensure equal access to the academic environment. In some cases, instructors will partner with DS staff to implement reasonable accommodations.
How can I encourage students with disabilities to register with NDSU Disability Services?
You may make an announcement to your class and print a statement on your syllabus referring students with disabilities to the Disability Services office. You may give students information about various campus resources including the Disability Services office.
Can a faculty member forbid a student with a disability to use a tape recorder in class?
An instructor is typically required to allow a student to audio record the course if audio access to the class is determined to be an appropriate accommodation for the student's disability. Audio recording is specifically mentioned in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as a means of providing full participation in educational programs and activities. Occasionally, classroom discussion reveals items of a personal nature about students. During these times, it would be appropriate to ask the student with a disability to stop recording during these discussions.
How do I know whether or not an academic accommodation is reasonable? Staff in the DS office carefully review the documentation and other resource information to determine reasonable accommodations. The student will provide you with some form of verification from the DS office. This verification will outline appropriate accommodations, indicating the student has followed procedures in obtaining accommodations. The student may also share with you strategies/instructional techniques or accommodations that have proven effective for her/him in classes. You can consult with DS staff if her/his requests do not seem reasonable.

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What if I do not agree with a recommended accommodation?
The institution is required by federal regulation to establish formal grievance procedures for providing prompt and equitable resolution of disagreements. When a dispute involves a specific course or academic program, these procedures provide for consultation between the faculty member responsible for the course, the student, and a representative from the Disability Services office.
Some students with disabilities are provided extended time on examinations. Is this fair to other students?
The Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) state: “the results of an examination should accurately reflect an individual's aptitude or achievement level or whatever the test purports to measure, rather than reflecting an individual's impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills.” The courts have held repeatedly that a lengthening of the standard examination period is a fitting accommodation for some students with disabilities.
How are instructors informed that a student needs an academic accommodation?
Students who wish to exercise their right to disability-related accommodations must open a file with the NDSU Disability Services office. The student must provide documentation of their disability. Students are encouraged to open a file and request accommodations prior to the beginning of the academic term. However, a student may open a file and request accommodations at any time during the course. The students are informed the accommodations are not retroactive. Disability Services staff collaborate with the student to notify their faculty/instructor about the specific accommodation needs.
May I fail a student with a disability?
Yes. It is possible to fail a student with a disability. The laws mandate access to education, not guaranteed academic success. A student with a disability is required to meet the same academic, performance, behavioral, or technical standards as a student without a disability.

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North Dakota State University

The following is a compliance checklist that may be helpful.
Stand by academic standards and freedoms, which include full and equitable access to academic programs.
Provide verbal and written notice to your students of your willingness to accommodate. For example: “I encourage students with disabilities to discuss accommodations with me.”
Communicate clear and concise expectations for performance to your students. Distinguish between essential and non-essential components of the course.
Respect requests for reasonable accommodations.
Permit students to use auxiliary aides and technologies that ensure access (examples: notetakers, sign language interpreters, readers, scribes, tape recorders/players, assistive listening devices)
Assure that your course materials, whether printed or electronic, are accessible and available in alternative formats (examples: Braille, computer electronic text, large print, internet, CD/cassettes, videos).
Consult with the office of Disability Services if you have questions when a student requests accommodations.
Keep student disability-related information strictly confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions from Faculty/Instructors was adapted from The Faculty Room, DO-IT, University of Washington, 2001-04.

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Disability Services Staff
Disability Services Director
Bunnie Johnson-Messelt
231-7198
B.johnson-messelt@ndsu.edu
Disability Specialist
Jennifer Erickson
231-7714
jennifer.erickson@ndsu.edu
Disability Specialist
Anita Hanson
231-7323
anita.hanson@ndsu.edu
Accommodations Coordinator
Beth Fiechtner
231-7340
beth.fiechtner@ndsu.edu
Administrative Secretary Judy DuBois 231-8463
judy.dubois@ndsu.edu
OFFICE LOCATION
170 Wallman Wellness Center
231-8463
231-5205 (FAX)
E-mail address: ndsu.disability.services@ndsu.edu

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Additional University Resources
Assistive Technology Lab
Bunnie Johnson-Messelt, 231-7198
B.Johnson-Messelt@ndsu.edu
Jennifer Erickson, 231-7714
Jennifer.Erickson@ndsu.edu
Anita Hanson, 231-7323
Anita.hanson@ndsu.edu
Student Support Services (TRIO Programs)
Aida Martinez-Freeman 231-8028
Aida.Martinez-Freeman@ndsu.edu
Division of Equity, Diversity, and Global Outreach
Evie Myers, Vice President
231-7708
evie.myers@ndsu.edu
Counseling Center
Bill Burns, Director
231-7671 william.burns@ndsu.edu
Academic Collegiate Enhancement (ACE) Tutoring
Angela Seewald—Marquardt, 231-5554
Angela.Seewald-Marquardt@ndsu.edu
Athletic Academics
Kelli Layman, 231-5791
Kelli.layman@ndsu.edu

North Dakota State University

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Dept. 5160
PO Box 6050
Fargo ND 58108-6050

Phone: 701-231-8463
Fax: 701-231-5205
www.ndsu.edu/disabilityservices Compiled/Revised by BJM/JD
July 2012

“North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, martial status, national origin, public assistance status, sex, sexual orientation, status as a U.S. veteran, race, or religion. Direct inquiries to the Vice President for Equity and Global Diversity and Global Outreach, 205 Old Main, (701) 231-7708.”