Responsibilities

Primary Student Responsibilities Include

• Be proactive and use early registration to schedule courses so you are able to utilize your accommodations;
• Each semester, the DRO asks students to request an accommodation letter for courses at least six weeks prior to the semester. In circumstances where this may not be possible, the DRO will provide its best effort to complete requests; however, without enough lead time the opportunity to use accommodations may be lost;
• Initiate a meaningful conversation with the course instructor and others about reasonable accommodations for academic courses by the second week of classes;
• Take the lead in coordinating the accommodation process for any course or otherwise;
• Lead conversations reasonably prior to the event (test, paper, attendance policy, campus program, etc.) in question where accommodations are sought – once an event occurs, opportunity to use accommodations is often forfeited if no previous conversation took place with prior arrangements made;
• Disclose any other academic, health, or personal concerns that may impact participation in courses or otherwise due to personal or environmental variables;
• Contact the DRO as soon as possible should any problems with the accommodation process arise, delaying contact with the service provider can limit possible resolutions.  This includes an Instructor refusing to implement an accommodation listed in the accommodation letter.

Primary Faculty/Instructor Responsibilities

• Log in to the DRO portal to review letters and set up testing (if student should test at the DRO.) To review detailed instructions click Testing Information;
• Assess the course design in regard to the student’s need for accommodations (What is essential? Where might flexibility exist? What exceptions can be made?);
• Contact the DRO Access Consultant if an accommodation in the letter can not be implemented.  All denials of an accommodation must be communicated from the DRO to the student;
• Coordinate with the student about implementing  reasonable accommodations when an accommodation letter is received;
• Consult with the DRO  when students make late requests or when concern exists about the reasonableness/appropriateness of an accommodation request;
• Be respectful toward the student’s situation and be available to speak with the student upon student request about accommodations for one’s course;
• Be prudent with regard to whom information is shared. While the DRO may be contacted at any time to discuss this matter, information with others should only be shared on an educationally need to know basis. Casual conversation with other instructors, including within department, may influence (perhaps adversely) future student-instructor interactions;
• Refer students to the DRO when they make an accommodation request that is not listed on this letter, as the DRO only supports requests specifically listed.