Explore Faculty Resources

Faculty have the right to:

• Establish the academic standards for their courses.
• Offer modifications or adjustments beyond accommodations if prepared to provide this to all students. Please make sure it is clear that the adjustment is not an accommodation.
• Consult with the Office of Accessibility to determine reasonable accommodations for a given course. It is therefore, the responsibility of an instructor to provide accommodations, as determined by the OA-provided “Accommodation Letter,” as long as they do not undermine the academic integrity of the course.
• Evaluate the academic work of students with disabilities according to the same evaluation criteria utilized for all other students in the class.
• Fail a student who does not perform to passing standards
• Remind a student that accommodations are not retroactive
• Include a syllabus statement reminding students about requesting timely accommodations.

• Ensure that each course, viewed in its entirety, is accessible, e.g., content, texts, materials, assessment method, online instructions, time requirements, etc.
• Direct all questions/concerns regarding accommodations for students with disabilities to the Office of Accessibility.
• Provide the accommodations listed on the student’s accommodation letter.
• Direct students, they suspect, have a disability to Student Disability Services.
• Provide accommodations only after receiving the accommodation letter from the Office of Accessibility. Accommodations should not be provided without a letter, nor should additional accommodations be provided unless the accommodation would be provided to all students in the class.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Create an Inclusive Climate

• Refuse to provide an approved accommodation for a documented disability
• Challenge the legitimacy of a student's disability
• Bringing concerns about an approved accommodation to the student. Contact your SDS coordinator
• Review/Accept/Requesting a student's documentation, including diagnostic data, medical records, etc.
• Disclose a student's disability without consent
• Ask the student for information about their disability
• Give recommendations to students regardless of education and credentials
• Have conversations with students about their accommodations in front of others
• Sharing anything beyond need-to-know information for coordinating accommodations

Course delivery methods and materials should be accessible, and the following tools should be useful in assessing and achieving accessible course content:

• The Canvas Course Accessibility checklist is a tool to help faculty understand how accessible their course materials are and provide instructions on how to address any inaccessible elements.
• WAVE is a web accessibility evaluation tool that can provide feedback and guidance about web pages.

Faculty often have more contact with students than administrators and are in the best position to realize when a student is facing difficulties in the classroom. There are a range of resources where a student can be referred, including. It may be easiest to fill out a Student of Concern Form if you are not sure what may be impacting the student.

If the student does report a possible disability including ongoing medical conditions, letting them know about how to contact the Office of Accessibility will be important, especially since it is our legal obligation to share this information whenever a disability is reported or accommodations are requested without a letter from the Office of Accessibility.

Here is information that can be shared directly with the student:

“Accessibility Services is available to provide support to students who are being
impacted by a disability and who may want to explore or request accommodations or services related to it. You can contact the Office of Accessibility and Student Inclusion, at accessibility@ndm.edu

If you are ready to request accommodations, you can submit the Accessibility
Intake Form online as a first step in that process.”

The Office of Accessibility is also available to discuss or consult about any concerns before you refer a student. While we cannot share information about specific students without their explicit consent, we can provide information about our process as well as possible accommodations. SDS can expedite requests when students are injured or have a change in needs that may require new accommodations. Please make sure to let us know if your outreach is time sensitive.

In postsecondary settings, students are the best source of information regarding their accessibility needs. They are responsible for disclosing their disabilities or medical conditions to the Office of Accessibility and requesting accommodations.

An accessibility syllabus statement also demonstrates your course is in compliance with the Notre Dame of Maryland University policies in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For example:

“Accessibility services and accommodations are available to students in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodations in this course, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Director of Accessibility who will meet with you, review the documentation of your disability or medical condition, and discuss the services offered and any accommodations you seek for specific courses.

It is extremely important that you begin this process at the beginning of the semester as accommodations are not retroactive; please do not wait until the first test or paper. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to share any determined arrangements or accommodation plan with the course instructor as soon as possible within the semester to assist in your success.

The University also recognizes that students who are experiencing temporary medical conditions may also require accommodations. Students who are pregnant, nursing, or those with other temporary medical conditions should also contact the Office of Accessibility to discuss any accommodations requests.”