Faculty Resources
Academic Accommodation Approval Form FAQ's
How will I know if a student needs an accommodation in my classroom?
The student will give you an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval Form that verifies the qualification to receive accommodations. This document also states what types of accommodations the student is approved to receive at DU. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact the ADA office instead of asking the student. We can provide insights and coach you on the best way to navigate the approved accommodations in your class.
There is a student in my class who tells me that they have a disability even though it does not look like they have a disability. How do I know if they really have a disability?
Disabilities are often described as “visible or invisible.” Invisible, or non-apparent, disabilities are those in which the characteristics are not obvious to an independent observer, and may involve cognitive processing, psychological challenges, or medical needs. Typical non-apparent disabilities include chronic health conditions and neurodivergent diagnoses such as learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, traumatic brain injuries, psychological impairments/mental health conditions. You will know a student really has a disability if they provide you with an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval Form. Please contact the ADA office with any questions you have, and we will do our best provide you with support while also maintaining the student’s confidentiality.
What do I do if a student discloses a condition/disability?
Be supportive! If a student discloses their condition/disability and does not have an accommodations form, please refer them to our department at ADA@dom.edu, to ensure the student receives the support they need on campus. If they have shared an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval form and you are not sure how a certain accommodation can be executed in your class, please contact us. We can also answer questions you may have regarding what the student disclosed to you. We are here to support and advise you.
A student approached me after class and told me that they have a disability and would like accommodations although they did not give me an ADA Approval Form. Do I provide the accommodations?
You are under no obligation to provide accommodations to students who do not have approved accommodations at DU. Please direct students to the ADA office so that staff and the student, together, can determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations. If the student shares that they do have approved accommodations at DU, but they don’t believe they have an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval form, please refer the student back to the ADA office to review how to communicate accommodations to professors.
Can I look at a student's documentation concerning their disability?
No. Faculty should not see documentation of disability or ask students for information about their diagnoses. The student’s documentation is given in confidence to the Accommodations and Disability Access office. As long as a student has an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval Form from the ADA office, the professor is required to implement the accommodations, as deemed possible based on the learning objectives or structure of the course. We encourage faculty to reach out to the ADA office to ask questions if you’re unsure how a particular accommodation may or may not work in your class, or if you have questions or concerns about a student’s behaviors. We are here to partner with you and support you!
What do I do if I receive an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval form from a student?
Once you receive an approval form, please look at the accommodations the student is eligible for. We encourage you to contact us with any questions you have at ADA@dom.edu. We want you to feel supported in determining if/how you could implement a particular accommodation.
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 accommodations or format modifications so that they may fully participate in the lessons, assignments, and tests. We encourage faculty to contact the ADA office if they are ever unsure of how to implement a particular accommodation or if they believe a particular accommodation may be a fundamental alteration of a course learning objective or structure of the course. If we determine together that an accommodation would be a fundamental alteration of the course, we can collaborate on communication to the student regarding that determination. Collaborating on communication will reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings and frustrations.
I received an Accommodations and Disability Access Approval form from a student, but I don’t think a particular accommodation would work in my class. What should I do?
Call us! Determining appropriate accommodations for each class is an interactive process that involves faculty. The Accommodations and Disability Access Approval Form is the notification that a student is approved for accommodations and should be seen as an invitation to contact the ADA office to ask your questions and receive support in determining the best approach for the student’s needs. We’ll strive to learn more about the learning objectives and structure of your class, and work with you to determine how a particular accommodation can work in your class. Sometimes a particular accommodation would be a fundamental alteration of a course, and therefore not appropriate. Other times, faculty just need clarification.
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 do not feel they need an accommodation. When they realize that they need to access the accommodations, they seek support in order to maximize their classroom performance. Instructors can help facilitate the disclosure process formally to the university by including a statement about disability and accommodation options in the syllabus. When the student speaks with you concerning their disability, refer them to the ADA office if they do not have an ADA Approval Form.
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 would be helpful to add a visual prompt to your lecture. This not only enhances learning for those students with auditory processing problems, but also for the students in your class who are visual learners as they benefit from having an outline of the class material prior to class lecture. Some students may use assistive technology to “capture” the lecture in order to review at a later time.
Exam Accommodations FAQ's
A student is approved for exam accommodations, how should this work?
Visit our Exam Proctoring page to understand the procedures you and the student should follow. If you are able to meet the student’s accommodation needs independently, you can do that. Alternately, you can tell the student to take the exam in the Academic Success Center. Keep in mind that you and the student must follow our procedures in order to ensure we can proctor. If a student has an extended time accommodation, please remember that faculty must add the additional time on canvas or other online platforms, even if we are proctoring. Only you can add the time online. If there are every any questions about how an exam should be proctored, please contact ADA@dom.edu.
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. Also, students with certain physical impairments may need additional time to physically complete tasks, and those who are neurodivergent (Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Autism, mental health diagnoses, etc.) may require extra time in order to process information, regulate anxiety, and retrieve what they know.
Is it fair to other students in my class to give students with disabilities extra time on tests and assignments?
Of course! By providing the extra time, the student can be evaluated for what he/she knows about the material rather than the effects of his/her disability, therefore, leveling the playing field. Studies have shown that providing additional time to students without disabilities does not impact their performance. Additional time is a reasonable accommodation for students with many disabilities.
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 the institutional policy. When a student with a disability violates academic integrity, they must also face the consequences as students without disabilities.
I have a student who needs to take a makeup exam, but they do not have accommodations. Can your office proctor their exam?
Unfortunately, we can only proctor exams for students who have been approved for exam accommodations. We don’t have the space or staff to operate as a testing center for the university. Faculty can reach out to their college for assistance with proctoring make up exams.
Other Common Accommodation FAQ's
Why do students with disabilities need textbook information before classes begin?
For some students, reading a textbook can be a laborious or impossible task due to conditions like a learning disability or a visual impairment. These students require textbooks in an alternative format in order to have access to the information presented in the books. In order for the books to be put in an alternate format (i.e. digital, audio or Braille), textbooks are scanned on campus or ordered through external sources; both processes are very time consuming and can take months to complete.
A student asked to record my class. Do I have to allow that?
Occasionally a student has an accommodation of the ability to tape record lectures, due to physical challenges or challenges with attention, processing, working memory, or long term retrieval. If the student is approved for this accommodation, it should typically be allowed for lectures. Students may use their phones, computer software, a tape recorder or a smart pen to record lectures. If you have questions or concerns about this accommodation, please contact us! We can help you determine if the accommodation would not be appropriate in your class (or for parts of your class), or we can have the student sign an acceptable use agreement.
A student has an accommodation regarding absences and deadline extensions. How should this work in my class?
We recommend that faculty consult with the ADA office and communicate with students early in the semester regarding expectations for these accommodations. Depending on the learning objectives and structure of the course, these accommodations may not always be possible in every class or for every assignment (labs, group assignments, etc). With regard to absences, it may be appropriate to establish an agreement regarding the number of absences that may be possible, as well as a protocol for communicating the need for a disability related absence. Putting everything in writing via email can be very helpful to establish expectations for both of you. With regard to deadline extensions, it’s helpful to communicate to students that you would need to receive a request for an extension in advance of the deadline. You and the student should agree on a specific alternate deadline, and you should communicate clearly how missing the alternate deadline could impact their performance in the class. Again, please contact ADA@dom.edu if you ever have questions or need support making decisions or communicating with students.
A student is approved for a note-taker as an accommodation. How could this work?
If you have copies of lecture notes to share with the student, great! That may be all they need. If not, students can complete the top of the Note-Taker Contract, and give it to another student in class who agrees to receive a $50 Amazon gift card for sharing their notes. The contract advises the note-taker to connect with our office to register as a note-taker. Occasionally, a student with a note-taker accommodation may not know who to ask, or may prefer to have some level of anonymity as a recipient of class notes. In this situation, a student may approach you for help finding a note-taker. You can keep the student’s identity confidential, and make an announcement to the class or send an email to the class asking if anyone would be interested in sharing their notes for a $50 gift card from SSE. You could then provide the note-taker contract to the volunteer. Alternately, you can share your class email list with the ADA office, and we can contact the students in the class to find a note taker. We’re always happy to help!
Accessibility Features for the Classroom
- Extending Time on Canvas
- Adding Captions on Zoom*
- Importing and Editing Captions in Panopto*
- Enabling Multi-Pinning on Zoom
- Creating Accessible Microsoft and Adobe Materials
*Please contact IT if you are having difficulty providing captioning for a student at support@dom.edu
Dominican Faculty or Staff with a Disability and/or Condition
If you are a faculty or staff member at Dominican University who needs support concerning their disability and/or condition, please reach out to the Office of People and Culture at opc@dom.edu.
Syllabi Template
We encourage faculty to integrate the statement below into their syllabi so students are aware of the services and supports our office can provide.
Accommodations and Disability Access
Dominican University is committed to creating a learning environment that is accessible and meets the needs of a diverse student body. Students who are neurodivergent or who may have medical, psychological, physical, or neurological disabilities should contact the Accommodations and Disability Access office to request accommodations. The coordinator will invite you to engage in an interactive conversation about the barriers you may experience, as well as your accommodation and accessibility needs. If you are approved for accommodations, please share your Accommodation Approval form with me, as soon as possible, and we will arrange a time to talk about how your accommodations and accessibility needs can be met in this class. I am also happy to consult with ADA staff regarding your needs. The Accommodations and Disability Access office can be reached at ADA@dom.edu, or students can visit Crown 126, in the Academic Success Center, which is located in the Learning Commons on the 1st floor of the Rebecca Crown Library. Students can also visit the department website at dom.edu/ADA to learn more.