The DRC uses an individualized interactive process to identify accommodations, reduce institutional barriers, and support student development. Through this process, we identify the essential requirements of courses and programs and explore options for ensuring equitable access.
An accommodation is an adjustment to a policy or practice that provides equal access for a disabled student. Common barriers include:
- Environmental distractions
- Working within time constraints
- Accessing technology or information
- Accessing facilities, equipment, or space
- Traditional note-taking methods
- Accessing auditory or visual information
- Practices that inhibit participation in class
Accommodations
Determining and arranging academic accommodations is a partnership between the student, the instructor, and the DRC. Each party has a role in this process:
Student role:
- Describe lived experience, impacts and barriers
- Provide information/documentation as needed
- Share strategies and/or accommodations that have worked in the past
- Consult with assigned access consultant when there is a need to consider modifying accommodations, instructors are not implementing accommodations, or questions about resources and services arise
DRC access consultant role:
- Work with student and instructors to identify barriers to access
- Determine reasonable accommodations that may reduce barriers but do not fundamentally alter the essential functions of the course, program, service, or activity
- Provide an accommodation letter that identifies course-related accommodations
- Recommend resources
- Work with the student and other University personnel to identify, document, and implement non-academic accommodations
Instructor role:
- Identify essential elements of the course or program
- Offer ideas for meeting access needs
- Contact the student’s DRC access consultant if there are questions about how to implement the accommodations or concerns about the effect of the accommodation on essential requirements
More about Working with the DRC
- Students can begin the interactive process by submitting an application for the Maroon or Gold path. These pathways allow for information sharing between the student and a DRC access consultant.
- Documentation from health providers is a valuable source of information, but it is not necessary to get started.
- The access consultant provides a digital accommodation letter for coursework or programmatic accommodations.
- The accommodation letter must be shared with the instructors or other contacts within their courses/program in order for accommodations to be implemented.
- Accommodations are intended to be used proactively, not retroactively.
- Students and instructors have a conversation about how the accommodations will be implemented in the course to ensure a shared understanding.
- The access consultant who signs the accommodation letter can serve as a contact point for the student and the instructor throughout the semester if there is a need for consultation.
- Students are responsible for informing their access consultant if accommodations are not being provided in one of their courses, so that the access consultant can take action.
- Students work with their access consultant if they need changes or adjustments regarding accommodations.
Students with Temporary Health Conditions
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) works with students on a case-by-case basis who have temporary conditions that significantly impact major life activities. Please email [email protected] if you have questions.
Additional resources that might be helpful for you: