Receiving student requests
Take action by responding promptly to both official and unofficial accommodation requests.
Official requests
Faculty will receive an official accommodation letter from the student, issued ODE. This letter serves as formal notification of approved accommodations.
Unofficial requests
If a student requests accommodations without an official letter, refer them to ODE before making any arrangements. This ensures consistency with university policy and legal compliance.
Responding and implementing accommodations
Follow these three steps to support students and implement accommodations effectively.
Step 1: Review the letter
- Read the letter carefully to understand the student’s approved accommodations.
- If you have questions or concerns, contact the student's access consultant (See Consulting with ODE below).
Step 2: Meet with the student
- If the student hasn’t reached out to you, invite them to connect with you.
- Use this conversation to clarify how accommodations will be applied in your course, collaborate on practical approaches, and establish clear expectations for communication and timelines.
- Document any agreed-upon arrangements.
Step 3: Implement the approved accommodations
- Refer to the common accommodations page for guidance on accommodations.
- Maintain confidentiality and treat all disability-related information as private.
Consulting with ODE
Contact the student's access consultant before taking action in any of the following situations:
- You’re unsure how to implement an approved accommodation.
- You’re uncertain how to adapt course activities to meet accommodation requirements.
- A student requests accommodations not listed in their letter.
- An accommodation may conflict with essential course requirements or policies.
- You are considering denying an accommodation.
Addressing potential fundamental alteration
If you, as a faculty member, believe an accommodation may fundamentally alter an essential course requirement or academic standard, ODE will initiate the interactive process upon your inquiry.
Step 1: Faculty inquiry
Contact the student's access consultant to discuss your concerns.
Step 2: Evaluation
The access consultant reviews relevant materials, such as the syllabus, and consults with you. If a reasonable alternative is identified, the access consultant notifies the student and updates the accommodation letter.
Step 3: Collaborative review
If needed, the access consultant and the assistant director may consult with faculty from the academic unit, department chairs, or other knowledgeable administrators to:
- Identify essential course or program requirements.
- Determine whether the requested accommodation is reasonable.
- Explore alternative accommodations that meet the same learning objectives.
Step 4: Decision notification
All relevant parties, including you and the student, receive the decision from the assistant director. If the requested accommodation is denied or modified, the notification outlines the reasons for the decision.
If the student disagrees with the decision, the student may request a reconsideration from the director.
Key reminders
- Do not inform the student directly if an accommodation cannot be provided. Do contact the student’s access consultant to discuss essential course requirements and explore alternative accommodations.
- Do not request disability documentation from students. Do reach out to the access consultant with with questions or concerns.
- Do not provide unapproved accommodations. Do consult with the access consultant if implementation challenges arise.