Faculty Guide to Disabilities Services

In recent years, Wesleyan has experienced increasing numbers of students diagnosed with physical and/or learning disabilities. The presence on campus of special needs and different learning styles presents pedagogical challenges to our faculty, both in the classroom and in their individual relationships with students. The Student Affairs/Deans' Office provides services to students with disabilities, and also assists faculty, both in understanding their role in disabilities services provision and in dealing with challenges as they arise.

Wesleyan's disabilities services provision is based upon Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which states: "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States . . . shall solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 extends some of these stated provisions.

Wesleyan does not offer special academic programs for individuals with disabilities. The University is, however, committed to providing services and reasonable accommodations to all students who need and have a legal entitlement to such accommodations, providing the accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of an academic course or an institutional policy. The purpose of this guide is to outline Wesleyan's disabilities services and explain how, under Section 504 and the ADA, Wesleyan faculty can best accommodate students with documented disabilities.

Process for Student Requests of Accommodations

Students who would like to request 504/ADA accommodations are expected to self-disclose by making an appointment with Dean Sarah E. Lazare (learning and physical disabilities) and establishing a disabilities file. The purpose of the meeting is to review documentation of the student's disability, to discuss the disability in the context of the student's academic and nonacademic plans and, at the student's request, to assist with arranging appropriate accommodations with faculty and other university offices, as needed. The dean may also suggest using the academic support services available to all students, such as the Writing Workshop, the Math Workshop, and other services you will find listed through the Student Academic Resources Network (SARN) and at the end of this guide.

At this meeting, the student is expected to provide current documentation of her or his disability and the recommended accommodation. Upon receipt of the student's documentation, Dean Lazare will review it in consultation with the Office of Behavioral Health for Students (in the case of learning disabilities) or Health Services (in the case of physical disabilities) to assess the request for accommodations.

All students with disabilities who request accommodations from faculty should have received prior approval for the accommodations in the form of a written letter from Dean Lazare. Students with documented disabilities are sent a reminder at the beginning of each semester to see the appropriate dean. If the student is requesting accommodations that semester, s/he provides a list of the courses in which s/he seeks accommodation. The dean then provides the student with letters addressed to instructors, which indicate the appropriate accommodation(s). These letters serve as the student's entry point into a dialogue with you. The dean will act as a mediator when needed; however, it is expected that the student will advocate for her/his own needs directly with you. Please note that without a letter from Dean Lazare, you are not obligated to provide accommodations.

In some cases, students who request accommodations, but are in the process of acquiring proper or updated documentation, may be granted provisional accommodations. Provisional accommodations are generally granted for one semester only.

Students are responsible for providing you with letters of accommodation in a timely manner; however, some may wait until just before an exam to do so. To prevent your being asked to make last-minute accommodations, the Disabilities Services encourages you to note on your syllabus that concerned students should consult with Disabilities Services within the first few weeks of the semester.

Accommodations

Disabilities Services may review requests for accommodations with either the Office of Behavioral Health for Students or Health Services. With the student's permission, the student's class dean may be notified when a student establishes a disabilities file.

Accommodation requests are considered within the context of both warranted documentation and available resources. Each student's situation is reviewed together with the relevant documentation to determine the type of accommodation recommended. Accommodations that are considered reasonable are those that do not fundamentally alter the nature of an academic course or the institution's policies, and do not place an undue hardship on the institution. Reasonable accommodations are distinguished from services of a personal nature, which the University does not provide but the student may choose to employ. Such services of a personal nature may include individual assistants or coaches.

If you are ever unclear on what is expected of you when a student requests accommodations, or if you feel that a request compromises your course content or expectations, please do not hesitate to contact Dean Lazare. If agreement on accommodations cannot be reached by you and Dean Lazare, Vice President of Student Affairs, Michael Whaley will be consulted. Our aim is to work in partnership with you to provide access to students in need.

Accommodations currently used for students with learning and/or physical disabilities that, as a faculty member, you are likely to encounter, include the following:

• Extra time for in-class assessments and timed assignments
  Extra time is arranged with you by the student. The recommended amount is one-and-one-half times the standard time given to all students. If more time is recommended, the Disabilities Services letter will specify this.
• Space free of environmental distractions for exams
  You are asked to arrange this; it should be separate and quiet room. Disabilities Services can work with the Office of the University Registrar to help you find a suitable location.
• Printed material, including books, in alternate formats
  As it can take some time to purchase alternate format material, Disabilities Services may request a copy of your syllabus several months in advance, in order to have material ready at the start of class.
• Tape recording of classes
  The student is responsible for providing equipment.
• Note takers
  You may be asked to recommend a note taker, or to make an announcement to the class soliciting a note taker. Note takers are paid for their services by Disabilities Services and are provided carbon-free paper. The student is generally responsible for obtaining the notes.
• Readers
  You may be asked to make an announcement to the class soliciting readers. Readers are paid for their services by Disabilities Services and are provided tape recorders. The student is generally responsible for obtaining the readings.
• Sign language interpreters
  Interpreters will be employed and arranged by Disabilities Services.
• Relocation of class or university events to an accessible space
  Relocations can be arranged by the Disabilities Services Office. Please see also the Accessible Pathways and Parking Map.
• Laptop computer for in-class exam use
  With advance notice, laptops can be borrowed from Disabilities Services.
• Assistive listening devices
  These are available in some classrooms.

Academic Resources

The Student Academic Resources Network (SARN), coordinated by the Student Affairs/Deans' Office, provides a network of academic services to assist all Wesleyan students. Students with disabilities are encouraged to seek out these resources, which include:

Writing Workshop

Writing mentors work individually with students and assist many students with disabilities. The Writing Workshop is located at Downey House, Lower Level. For more information, contact Professor Anne Greene, phone (860) 685-2240, or visit www.wesleyan.edu/writing/workshop.

Math Workshop

This drop-in tutoring service is available to all members of the Wesleyan community. The Math Workshop is located in Exley Science Center, Room 127. For more information, contact Professor Carol Wood, or phone (860) 685-2205.

Deans' Office Peer Tutoring Program

Peer tutors are provided free of charge for individual students in need of further course-content instruction. Students interested in this program should contact Associate Dean of Student Academic Resources Sarah E. Lazare at (860) 685-2332 or slazare@wesleyan.edu.

Workshops

Various offices on campus sponsor workshops on such topics as time management, study skills, note taking, test taking, and math and writing. For more information, visit the SARN website.

Contacts

Sarah E. Lazare administers services for students with disabilities. Her office is in North College, Room 218. Her telephone number is (860) 685-2332, and her e-mail address is slazare@wesleyan.edu or disabilitiesservices@wesleyan.edu.

 

last updated May 2008