University life is unpredictable. Students may require temporary accommodations due to a short-term disability such as a broken bone or complicated pregnancy.
Instructors and students can often work together to minimize classroom barriers without DRC involvement. We invite you to consult with us during Info Session hours as needed for additional guidance.
This document contains strategies and resources over and above those noted in the U of M Policy regarding makeup work and excused absences.
Access is everyone's everyday work.
Please review suggestions for both students and instructors to understand a range of possibilities.
What can students do?
Students who need temporary accommodations can:
- Speak with instructors right away to develop a plan.
- Share documentation from your healthcare provider that indicates estimated recovery time, treatment plan and follow-up appointments you will need to attend.
- Consider barriers in classrooms, labs, studio or physical education classes.
- Explore a reduced course load and/or discuss incompletes with your instructors.
- Discuss the impact of schedule changes on financial aid with OneStop.
- Speak with your advisor to plan next steps and learn about the process for withdrawal and leave of absence.
- Contact Housing and Residential Life for on-campus housing modifications.
- Discuss workplace accommodations with your supervisor.
What can instructors do?
Instructors can take steps to informally accommodate students with short-term disabilities.
- Provide time extensions for exams or assignments.
- Allow students to record lectures if taking notes is difficult.
- Share your notes or PowerPoint presentations, or ask students to serve as peer note takers.
- Contact classroom management for alternate seating or room arrangements.
- Provide lab assistance as needed.
- Consider the essential elements of your course and whether alternate forms of participation and access to course content are possible and reasonable:
- Allow student to join lecture via online video (Zoom, Facetime, Google Meet, UNITE videos).
- Invite students to office hours.
- Post discussions or course content to Canvas.
- Create voicethreads or recordings on Canvas
What resources are available?
Please explore the resources below.
Getting Around
- Paratransit (612-624-8338) is a curb-to-curb service for anyone with short- or long-term disability-related transportation needs.
- Wheelchair and scooter rentals are available through various sources in the area including Handi Medical* and Fairview Home Medical Equipment.
- Campus maps indicate accessibility of university buildings and transportation routes for the campus circulator and campus connector.
Facilities
- Adaptive Technologies are available or can be arranged at many on-campus computer labs.
- Classroom management (612-625-1086) can assist you in identifying accessible seating options for your classrooms.
- Locker rentals are available on East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul campuses.
Support Services
- Student Parent Help Center assists students who are expecting or have children.
- The Aurora Center provides confidential support and resources related to sexual assault and relationship violence.
- Boynton Health Services is a physical and mental healthcare provider available to eligible students.
- Student Counseling Services is a mental health provider available to eligible students. Services include academic, group and individual counseling.
- UMN Personal Wellbeing Resources.
- Disability Hub* can answer questions and find community resources about healthcare, finances, equipment, insurance and more.
When is it important to contact the DRC?
We invite students and instructors to consult with us any time about disability-related concerns. It may be necessary to contact us when:
- You are having difficulty communicating your needs.
- The ability to participate in academics is significantly disrupted.
- There are concerns about confidentiality.
- We can also assist in the process of:
- Exploring or providing reasonable accommodations.
- Requesting classroom furniture or relocating your class.
- Providing accommodations in clinical or fieldwork training, field trips or physical education classes.
* All resources are on the Twin Cities campus unless noted with an asterisk.
Further Information
For further information contact the DRC at [email protected] or 612-626-1333.
The DRC offers virtual and in-person info session hours Monday-Friday, from 11 AM-12PM and 2-3PM. Contact [email protected] or 612-626-1333 if you have further questions or would like to speak to someone during our Info Session Hours.